"Acceptance of Variety as the Norm"
The Free University of Berlin has appointed Carolin Loysa as the Commissioner for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination, a role she assumed in June 2025. Loysa's primary task is to ensure that the university promotes equal participation for all members, dismantles existing barriers, and works towards a university where all can develop freely without discrimination.
The Commission for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination at the Free University is a body appointed by the Academic Senate to advise the Diversity and Anti-Discrimination Unit in the future. It is composed to reflect the diversity of the university, with equal representation from the four member groups, and members bringing different experiences of exclusion and disadvantage.
Loysa, a research assistant in the fields of cultural and social anthropology and gender studies at the Institute of Latin American Studies, is also the women's and equal opportunities officer there. As a queer person, a child of the GDR, and an Arab-read woman with a Lebanese father, Loysa has personal experiences of social exclusions and racism that she believes are necessary for effective advice on strategies.
One of Loysa's key focuses is on the budget cuts at the Free University resulting from the austerity measures decided by the Berlin Senate. She intends to closely examine these cuts, with a focus on the situation of marginalized groups. The Commission for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination will pass on the needs from various departments and set topics.
The Diversity Concept of the Free University, published in 2021, will serve as the basis for Loysa's work. The concept requires all universities in Berlin, under the new version of the Berlin Higher Education Act, to promote the equal participation of all university members and work towards ensuring that all members of the university can develop freely without discrimination.
The Diversity and Anti-Discrimination Unit will develop and implement corresponding concepts and strategies based on the needs from the departments. The goal is to dismantle barriers for marginalized groups and embed diversity into all processes and tasks of the university to achieve real equality of opportunity.
Four diversity dimensions are initially in focus: trans, inter, and non-binary individuals (TIN*), people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, those affected by racism, and people from non-academic backgrounds. The Commission for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination will focus on these areas under a diversity microscope.
Loysa will also be involved in appointment committees as the Diversity Officer to ensure diversity in the appointment of new professors. The goal is to develop an organizational culture towards a university that is free from discrimination and sensitive to diversity, where diverse identities, belongings, backgrounds, and experiences of all university members are naturally recognized and valued.
While specifics about Loysa's efforts and how she addresses budget constraints or faculty appointments to promote diversity and prevent discrimination are not readily available, consulting official university communications, press releases, or reports from the Commissioner’s office would provide more detailed information.
[1] Source: Philosophy and Humanities Department at the Free University [2] Source: Unrelated source
The Commission for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination at the Free University, led by Carolin Loysa, will be focusing on external factors impacting the university, particularly the budget cuts resulting from austerity measures, and ensuring these cuts do not disproportionately affect marginalized groups in the finance sector.
As a leading figure in diversity and inclusion efforts within the Free University, Loysa's responsibilities also extend to education and self-development, with a focus on promoting equal opportunities in the business realm, creating a more diverse and inclusive educational environment for all students and staff.
