Practicing Diversity in Higher Education in Geography: Exploring Spaces of Diversity and Their Barriers in a Geography Department in Switzerland

Figures & data

Table 1 Percentage of women per employment level

GIUB in 2020	• 291 undergraduates	51% female
	• 128 graduates	54% female
	• 63 PhD candidates	43% female
	• 27 postdocs	47% female
	• 181 other scientific, technical, and administrative staff	51% female
	• 12 professorships	50% female

GIUB = Institute of Geography in Bern.

Table 2 Sociodemographic data of the survey participants

Department teaching staff, 50 (30 men, 20 women) Response rate, n = 38 Sociodemographic data, n = 32	Employment status 20% professors 20% higher midstaff (lecturers, PhDs) 50% lower midstaff (PhDs and postdocs) 10% other
	Gender identity 20 male 9 female 1 other 2 no response
	Nationality 13 Swiss 12 German 4 other 3 no response
	First language 78% German 10% French 6% Swiss German 3% English 3% Spanish
	Years at GIUB 1–7 years: 50% 8–15 years: 50%

GIUB = Institute of Geography in Bern.

Table 3 Guiding questions to develop the Web-based questionnaire

Do individuals recognize a common teaching goal of the institution? Do they recognize personal support and professional advancement? Do they have confidence in the implementation of their teaching ideas? Is personal respect and appreciation for teaching part of the institutional culture? Do they feel a sense of belonging to the institution? Do they feel different from others, and if yes, how?

Figure 1 Questionnaire categories. Note: GIUB = Geographisches Institut der Universität Bern.

Figure 2 An example of a survey question.