in Cases of Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Violence
The Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering (HPI) is dedicated to tolerance, respect, and openness. These values are firmly anchored in our institute’s mission statement. Our goal is a discrimination-free, respectful, and equal-opportunity environment for study, work, and research. No form of discrimination, sexual harassment, or violence will be tolerated on our campus.
We strongly encourage anyone who feels they have been discriminated against or harassed, or who has witnessed such situations, to report their experience or get in touch with a contact point or counseling service. To this end, we offer low-threshold and confidential reporting and counseling options.
The following is a list of internal and external contact points and counseling services for initial and referral couseling as well as reporting options in cases of discrimination, sexual harassment and violence at HPI and the University of Potsdam:
For students and members of the Digital Engineering Faculty
- Decentralized Equal Opportunity Officers of the DEF
- Central Equal Opportunity Commissioner of the University of Potsdam
- Senior Manager Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at HPI
- Ombudsperson for Good Scientific Practice
- Mental Health Counseling by the ias Group for Staff and Students (0800 7777015)
- Counseling Services at the University of Potsdam
Student support services:
- Student Representative Group
- Trusted Advisors (Student Trusted Advisors Intranet)
- Nightline Potsdam e.V.
For HPI employees
- Complaints office for violations of the General Equal Treatment Act (pursuant to Section 13 AGG) (Intranet)
- Senior Manager Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at HPI
- Ombudsperson for Good Scientific Practice
- Institute Council (INRA) – Employee Representative Council (Intranet)
- Internal Whistleblowing Reporting Office (for reporting in accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Act) (more information see Intranet)
- Mental Health Counseling by the ias Group for Staff and Students (0800 7777015)
Incident Response System (IRS) to report discrimination, sexual harassment, and violence
IRS is a simple online form that can be used to report discrimination, sexual harassment, and violence at HPI—also anonymously. Reports are received and documented by the IRS team. Upon request, confidential feedback is provided via the system or by email to clarify whether further steps or counseling sessions need to be taken.
The following are members of the IRS team:
- Dr. Imke Leicht, Senior Manager Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Charlotte Weiss, Decentralized Equal Opportunity Officer
- Hülya Kerschkewicz, Faculty Manager
The aim of the IRS is to identify problem areas and draw attention to where action is needed through a low-threshold, confidential, and anonymous reporting system. At the same time, the IRS team provides initial guidance and support in exploring further options.
Additional reporting offices and contact persons can be found on HPI’s Intranet.
External contact points
- "Violence Against Women" hotline
- Bff – Federal Association of Women’s Counseling Centers and Women’s Emergency Hotlines: Local Support Services
- Sexual Abuse Help Portal
- Autonomous Women’s Center Potsdam
- Women’s Shelter Coordination e-V. – nationwide
- Network of Brandenburg Women’s Shelters e. V.
- LARA – Association for the Prevention of Sexual Violence Against Women e.V.
- Wildwasser e.V. Berlin - Task force on sexual violence against girls*
- Stop: I don’t want this!“ Ways Out of Violence Against Women* (with online counselling)
- LSVD – Association for Queer Diversity
- LesMigraS - Counseling for lesbian & bisexual women, trans*, inter*, non-binary, and queer people
- Schwulenberatung Berlin – Counseling center for gay and bisexual men, lesbian women, and trans* and inter* individuals
- demos – Mobile counseling team on right-wing extremism , xenophobia, and violence prevention in Brandenburg
- The Victim’s Perspective
- Online counseling sessions for Brandenburg university students (scroll down for English version)
- ReachOut – Counseling center for victims of right-wing and racist violence and threats in Berlin (Flyers in multiple languages available for download)
- Entknoten. Counseling center to combat everyday racism and discrimination
- Brandenburg Office for Combating Antisemitism
- RIAS e.V. - Report Incidents of Anti-Semitism
- OFEK Counseling
- Tauwetter e.V. – Support services for men* and for trans*, inter* and non-binary individuals (TIN*), who have experienced sexual violence during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood
- "Violence Against Men" hotline
- Men’s Counseling Network
- Berliner Jungs – Support for boys* who have experienced sexual violence
Last change: 09/06/2026, Patrick Lenz