Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Wolff serves as the university's representative for anti-discrimation at Hof University.

Pursuant to Article 25 of the Bavarian Higher Education Act (BayHIG), the role of the person responsible for anti-discrimination is to ensure that members and affiliates of the university are protected against discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, age, or sexual identity. In this capacity, the person is not bound by any instructions. Information regarding the personal or factual circumstances of affected individuals may not be disclosed to third parties or otherwise used without their consent.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Wolff serves as the university's representative for the prevention of antisemitism.

On the initiative of the Bavarian State Ministry of Sciences and the Arts and at the instigation of the Bavarian State Government Commissioner for Jewish Life and Against Anti-Semitism, for Remembrance Work and Historical Heritage, Dr. Ludwig Spaenle, former State Minister, all Bavarian universities have appointed representatives against Antisemitism. The aim is to combat anti-Semitism at Bavarian universities and colleges. Universities are a decisive factor in the fight against the resurgence of antisemitism, which can best be combated in the academic sphere, where teaching and research meet. To this end, antisemitism officers at all levels should network closely and exchange experiences on a regular basis.

If you have questions about legal compliance in internal processes or other compliance-related matters, or if you become aware of any compliance-related incidents, you can report them to Ute Coenen at the Compliance Office.

The Compliance Office will review the facts of the matter and, if necessary, forward the incident to the relevant Compliance Committee. The Compliance Committee will discuss the situation and issue recommendations. It does not impose disciplinary or other measures; these are carried out by the respective line manager or human resources manager.

The Entrepreneurship Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Michael Seidel, serves as the primary point of contact for all university members regarding any questions about starting a business and provides or facilitates entrepreneurship counseling. He is responsible for raising awareness of entrepreneurship and business in the context of teaching and research.

Cornelia Kneitz is the Equal Opportunities Officer for administrative staff at Hof University. Together with her deputy Katharina Sachs, she supports the university in complying with the Bavarian Equal Opportunities Act.

The Bavarian Equal Opportunities Act (BayGlG) defines the scope of duties. This involves 

• the creation of an equal opportunities concept
• participation in and monitoring of the enforcement of the Bavarian Equal Opportunities Act,
• advising and supporting employees on issues relevant to equality (e.g. working time models, gender discrimination, mobbing, sexual harassment in the workplace),
• improving equal opportunities for women and men in the workplace,
• promoting the reconciliation of work and family life,
• participation in all matters relevant to gender equality within the university.

The Data Protection Officer of Hof University of Applied Sciences is Matthias Schaller.

Based on Article 38(4) and Article 39(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (DS-GVO), the Data Protection Officer has the following tasks:

• advising the university management on data protection law,
• advising the university staff involved in the processing of personal data on data protection law,
• advising the persons affected by the university's data processing on data protection law,
• monitoring of relevant business processes at the university from the point of view of data protection law,
• cooperation with the Bavarian State Commissioner for Data Protection.

The Data Protection Officer fulfils his duties free of instructions and reports directly to the university management (Article 38(3) of the GDPR). He may not disclose facts entrusted to him in the exercise of this function or the identity of the persons communicating them without their consent (Article 12(2) Bavarian Data Protection Act).

The Information Security Officer at Hof University is Prof. Dr. Florian Adamsky.

His tasks include:

• investigating security-related incidents,
• monitoring the status of information security,
• creating security guidelines and concepts,
• raising awareness of information security, for example through training courses,
• supporting and advising on the implementation of security measures.

At Hof University, the representative for disability issues, Prof. Dr. Peter Schäfer, is available for students and prospective students.

Comprehensive information on the topic of studying with a disability (or chronic illness) is also available from the Studentenwerk Deutschland at their Information and Counselling Centre for Studies and Disability (IBS).

Disabled students, like all students, are entitled to equal opportunities in examinations. You can therefore apply for disadvantage compensation if you are unable to take examinations in the prescribed form and/or time due to physical impairments. The examination board of Hof University is responsible for granting compensation for disadvantages when taking examinations. Please submit applications via the PRIMUSS-Portal or via your course advisor.

All members and affiliates of the university may contact the Ombudsperson for Good Research Practice, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Michael Nase,  and his deputy Prof. Dr. Carsten Stark, regarding questions of good research practice, as well as suspected misconduct. The Ombudsperson performs his duties independently, in particular free from directives or informal, case-specific interventions by the university administration and other university bodies.

The Ombudsperson carries out his duties in accordance with Sections 18 and 19 of the Statutes on Ensuring Good Scientific Practice and Handling Suspected Cases of Scientific Misconduct at the Hof University of Applied Sciences (Statutes-GwP) dated June 23, 2023. 
 

Hof University has adopted the National Code of Conduct for German Universities Regarding International Students. 

According to this Code of Conduct, Hof University has established a contact point for international students for handling complaints. Here international students can file complaints and request corrective action in cases of non-compliance with the Code of Conduct. Prof. Dr. Dietmar Wolff serves as the university's Ombusperson for International Students.

The complainant's right to appeal against administrative acts by the university or, in appropriate cases, to take legal action before civil, administrative or criminal courts remains unaffected.

If disputes cannot be settled within the university, international students may appeal to a Joint Arbitration Office based at the HRK. 

The representative for sexual harassment and sexual violence at Hof University is Prof. Dr. Viktoria Bachmann.

The officer aims to protect students, all staff and visitors from sexual harassment.

The tasks include

• Advice and support for those affected
• Prevention and awareness-raising
• Supporting the development of and compliance with measures
• Monitoring and further development of protective measures

The Bavarian University Innovation Act (BayHIG) of August 5, 2022 serves as the legal basis.

The Women's Representative at Hof University is Prof. Dr. Anett Matthäi. Her deputy is Prof. Dr. Manuela Wimmer. They support the university

• in the establishment of equal opportunities as required by the constitution,
• avoiding or eliminating disadvantages for female students, professors and lecturers,
• representing women's interests in university committees,
• helping to increase the number of female professors,
• providing information on funding opportunities for female students,
• providing information on career opportunities for women,
• organising events to teach and practise specific key skills (e.g. application and negotiation training) for female students,
• counselling in cases of discrimination and violence against women,
• supporting and promoting women's issues in teaching, research and practice,
• cooperating with institutions, women's associations, schools, etc. outside the university.

The women's representatives of the Bavarian Universities of Applied Sciences coordinate their activities at state level. Within this framework they

• organise regular conferences,
• inform the public about the situation of women at the universities,
• take a stand on issues of equal opportunities policy,
• initiate measures to promote women in higher education,
• represent the special interests of Universities of Applied Sciences.

Its legal basis is the Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act (BayHIG) of 5 August 2002.

Click here to go to the main page of the Women's Representative.