Comissioners and Representatives

At Viadrina, everyone should be treated fairly and respectfully and protected from discrimination. All students, staff, lecturers and guests can contact the contact point for protection against discrimination if they are discriminated against or experience conflicts at Viadrina or in connection with Viadrina. Learn more

A slipped banknote for a better grade, an expensive gift, a large contract for a service in return - corruption can take many forms and does not stop at universities. However, corruption damages trust in public institutions and jeopardises the independence of science. It also causes economic damage. Cases of corruption must therefore be consistently pursued and ideally avoided. There are Anti Corruption Comissioners at every major public institution in Brandenburg - including Viadrina. They not only support the university management and individual departments in combating and preventing corruption, but also advise staff and students.

Bribery (attempts to bribe) and the acceptance of rewards are both punishable offences. But where does a friendly gesture end and corruption begin? Minor gifts up to a value limit of 15 euros per year can be kept. Gifts to which this does not apply must be returned or passed on to social or charitable organisations, unless permission to accept them has been obtained from the university management. Financial benefits may not be accepted under any circumstances. Unauthorised benefits may also include, for example, extensive hospitality, vouchers, admission tickets, discounts for private purposes or similar.

If you are unsure how to deal with an unexpected situation or suspect a case of corruption, you can contact the Anti Corruption Comissioner confidentially at any time - even without going through official channels. If you wish to submit a report completely anonymously, you can also use the reporting centre under the Whistleblower Protection Act (internal link).

Contact:
Anti Corruption Comissioner
Sahra Damus
Room: AM K14
Postal address: Große Scharrnstr. 59, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)

☏ +49 335 5534 2571
✉ antikorruption@europa-uni.de

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Information and tips:

• We don't take gifts (flyer from the Ministry of the Interior of the State of Brandenburg)
• Sample letter (to be able to react to unwanted gifts)
• Guide for managers on corruption prevention

Legal principles:

• Guideline of the State Government for the Prevention of Corruption in the State Administration of Brandenburg
• Joint administrative regulation of the Minister President and the ministries on the prohibition of the acceptance of rewards, gifts and other benefits by employees of the State of Brandenburg
• Third-party funding guideline and Viadrina hospitality policy (links internal)
• Regulations on the topic of sponsorship
• Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) for the protection of whistleblowers

In accordance with the Brandenburg Higher Education Act, the representative is involved in the organisation of study conditions according to the needs of disabled members. While the Representative for severely disabled Persons and the Inclusion Officer are primarily contact persons for the concerns of employees, the activities of the Representative for the concerns of university members and employees with disabilities focus on the areas of study and students with disabilities and health impairments.

Contact:
Dr Jenny Kuhlmann
Counselling centre for students with health impairments
Representative for the interests of members and relatives with disabilities

Logenstraße 4
15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
AM 113
☏ +49 335 5534 4455
✉ barrierefrei@europa-uni.de

Barrier-free advice centre

The Comissioner for Data Protection is the independent representative appointed by the employer for matters relating to the protection of personal data within Viadrina's sphere of influence. In accordance with § 39 GDPR, he is entrusted with the task of informing and advising the controller with regard to data protection obligations. He also monitors the protection of personal data and the data protection structures and data processing of the employer and reports directly to the employer.

Contact:
Comissioner for Data Protection
Armin Busch
Room HG 282
Tel: +49 (0) 335-5534 4586
datenschutz@europa-uni.de

The Family Affairs Officer offers individual counselling for students and employees with children and dependents in need of care on all questions relating to the compatibility of studies or career and family. Other tasks of the Family Office include the conception and implementation of family-friendly measures at the Viadrina and communication with project partners inside and outside the university. We organise workshops and events and help to arrange childcare for university employees with family responsibilities. Learn more

The Gender Equality Office advises and supports students, lecturers and staff of all genders, for example in cases of discrimination or harassment based on gender or gender identity. It promotes women in studies, science and administration through further education, support for committee work and networking. It works towards the actual equality of all genders at the university and works with an intersectional approach. Learn more

The Inclusion Officer represents the employer in matters concerning severely disabled people. She is therefore the contact person on the employer side for severely disabled employees.

In order to enable severely disabled people to participate in working life, the Inclusion Officer works closely with the employer, the Representative for severely disabled Persons and the staff representatives (§ 182 SGB IX). In accordance with Section 181 SGB IX, she ensures above all that the employer fulfils its obligations. Together with the liaison officer for severely disabled members and equivalent groups of people at the European University Viadrina (SBV), the Inclusion Officer is also the liaison person for the Federal Employment Agency and the Integration Office and supports rehabilitation organisations in fulfilling their tasks.

While the Commissioner for Matters relating to University members with Disabilities is primarily the contact person for students, the Inclusion Officer and the Representative for Matters relating to University members with Disabilities are the contact points for Viadrina employees.

Contact Inclusion Officer:
Steffi Tetzlaff
Tel: +49 (0) 335-5534 4309

The Representative for severely disabled Persons (SBV) are persons of trust who advocate for the interests of all severely disabled and equivalent employees of the university.

Contact:
Birgit Geisler-Franke (main representative)
AM 108
sbv@europa-uni.de
(03 35) 55 34 - 28 51

Nico Lamprecht (deputy)
HG 113b
sbv@europa-uni.de
(03 35) 55 34 - 45 87