We are pleased to announce a new initiative in which CUI will endeavor to make power abuse in academia more visible. And this is where you come in! Every person participating in the workshop will contribute to a larger project that, hopefully, helps to eliminate power abuse from the academic system in the long run. If we have sparked interest, you can find further information below.
Context & Project: Power dynamics are inherent in academic settings—between supervisors and researchers, colleagues, or administrative staff. While they can facilitate growth and collaboration, they also have the potential to lead to misuse of authority, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct. Addressing these issues is crucial for creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and perform at their best. The overall goal of our initiative is to create a multimedia art exhibition on “Power Abuse in Academia” that abstractly tells stories, enhances awareness, and encourages dialogue.
Workshop Details: Workshop on December 4th in person (HARBOR), 13:00 – 16:00, with Dr. Ira Maschmann & Prof. Dr. Stahl, University of Cologne. Dr Ira Maschmann is a psychologist whose research focuses on social perception and gender equality. In her work as a counselor and trainer, she develops and implements awareness concepts. Prof Dr Jutta Stahl is a psychologist and has many years of experience as an ombudsperson at university level and deals with issues relating to mistakes and power both in terms of higher education policy and academically.
To kick off this initiative, supported by the new Hub of Academic & Research Culture at UHH, we invite you to a short workshop focusing on the following topics:
Awareness and Consciousness Raising: Learn about the empirical basis of the topic and reflect on your own experiences with power abuse.
Finding Solutions:
· Role Clarity: We will discuss possibilities and pitfalls related to power use and abuse, exploring the various, sometimes overlapping, roles in daily academic life.
· Action Tips and Strategies: The range of possible actions stemming from role clarity will be discussed. Initial suggestions for action will be shared and exchanged. By participating, you will have the unique opportunity not only to learn how to react if you are affected by power abuse but also to contribute ideas on how to make power abuse visible. An artist will participate in the workshop to collect initial ideas for the exhibition. Rest assured, participants’ sensitive stories will remain confidential and will not leave the room and the entire process is accompanied by the psychological counselors. There will be no pressure to share anything if you prefer not to.
