Preventing Racism and Antisemitism (PRA)

Shaping a Cosmopolitan University of Bamberg

The University of Bamberg advocates for open-mindedness, tolerance, and an appreciation for human diversity. The university opposes racist, antisemitic, and anti-democratic hostility and works toward a respectful, open-minded environment for teaching, studying, research, work, and university life. As stated in its Diversity Strategy, the university is committed to fighting existing types of discrimination, supporting those affected by discrimination, and shouldering its societal responsibility for fostering diversity.

Raising Awareness against Racism and Antisemitism

In order to achieve those goals, the university is enhancing its preventative initiatives against racism and antisemitism. Training courses, workshops, roundtables, and other events are planned to raise all university members' awareness against everyday, institutional, and systemic racism and antisemitism. With a critical eye toward its function and workings as an educational and research institution, the University of Bamberg strives for a safe environment, free from discrimination, that facilitates fruitful academic exchange and compassionate cooperation.

The STIBET-Program of the German Academic Exchange Service is supporting the university's work against racism and antisemitism until the end of 2024. A concept for sustainable preventative measures, also in view of the university's international welcoming culture, is being developed.

Working Definitions

With reference to the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, our understanding of racism is that of an ideology devaluating people due to their appearance, their name, and their (assumed) culture, origin, or religion. Racism means judging and devaluing people because they supposedly belong to some homogeneous group instead of forming an opinion based on their individual merits, abilities, and qualities.

Our understanding of antisemitism is predicated on the working definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance from 2016: "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

There are different forms of discrimination - direct and indirect. As outlined in the university's directive "Grenzen wahren," direct or open discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favorably on the grounds of one or several protected characteristics compared to another person in a similar situation. Indirect discrimination occurs when seemingly neutral rules and regulations put a person at a disadvantage on the grounds of one or several protected characteristics.

Latest News

POSTPONED DUE TO SICKNESS: Event - Talk Times on Preventing Antisemitism at the University of Bamberg

Organized by the Anti-Discrimination Office, the event Talk Times provides an open and safe space for exchanging ideas on needed information, awareness raising, and preventative measures regarding antisemitism. Counseling and advisory services at the University of Bamberg will also be discussed.
Introduction by Jana Hock, Mag. theol. (Chair of Old Testament Studies)
28 October 2024, 1-2 p.m.
An der Universität 11, room: U11/00.16, 96047 Bamberg

Certificate for Critical Education on Antisemitism

Starting in the winter semester 2024/25, all students in Bachelor's, consecutive Master's, and teacher training study programs at the University of Bamberg can obtain a graded certificate in the field of Critical Education on Antisemitism. This certificate is a complement to courses of past semesters and their academic focus on preventing antisemitism.

Roundtable against Racism and Antisemitism

In various branches and on different levels of the institution, through different groups, activities, and research foci, members of the University of Bamberg are committed to fighting racism and antisemitism. To further intensify the dialog among these individuals and their work, the university has initiated a Roundtable against Racism and Antisemitism. Coming together once a semester at the invitation of the Vice-President for Diversity and International Affairs, the roundtable provides a regular platform for exchanging ideas on current subject matters, questions, and approaches to creating a more tolerant, non-discriminatory university environment. The inaugural meeting took place on 08 October 2024.

Contact Points

The Anti-Discrimination Office at the University of Bamberg provides strictly confidential counseling.
The directive "Grenzen wahren" determines measures and procedures for prevention as well as intervention.

The antidiscrimination facility „Füreinander" in Upper Franconia offers support and counseling for the entire region.

Events Calendar

Faces for the Names - Jewish Life and Jewish Suffering in Bamberg

Initiated by Terry Swartzberg, the memorial "Faces for the Names" presents photos projected on house fronts throughout Bamberg to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. Organized by Jews Engaged with Society and Demokratie Leben of the district of Bamberg, commemorative events are taking place from 21 October through 24 October 2024 at 7 p.m.
- 21 October: Villa Dessauer, Hainstraße 4a, 96047 Bamberg; welcome address by mayor Andreas Starke
- 22 October: Old Town Hall, Upper Bridge, 96047 Bamberg
- 23 October: Higher Regional Court of Bamberg, Wilhelmsplatz 1, 96047 Bamberg; topic: Courageous Resistance in Bamberg
- 24 October: Jewish Life in the District of Bamberg; Town Hall Reckendorf, Bahnhofstraße 20, 96182 Reckendorf
Poster and program(840.9 KB) (PDF in German)

Festival contre le racisme Bamberg 2024

Topic: How racist is Bavaria?
Festival against racism - a Germany-wide campaign to combat discrimination, racism, and xenophobia taking place once a year at German universities
25 October through 27 October 2024
Program & more information (in German)

Exhibition "Forget-Me-Not"

Students at the Friedrich-Rückert High School in Ebern created the exhibition with the support of their teacher Daniel Heß and the historian Cordula Kappner. It features information on and biographies of Jewish children from the region during the Holocaust.
Until 08 November 2024
Contact the mayor of Reckendorf, Manfred Deinlein, to gain access to the exhibition (Tel.: 09544/20307, Email: buergermeister(at)reckendorf.de)
Haus der Kultur/former synagogue, Ahornweg 2, 96182 Reckendorf