First step in tackling abuse of power
What is abuse of power in the university context? How can those affected be supported? How can TU Dortmund University counteract abuse of power? These questions were the focus of the first university-wide event on abuse of power at TU Dortmund University on 23 October 2024.
In the Audimax, Professor Daniel Leising (Netzwerk gegen Machtmissbrauch in der Wissenschaft) first gave an overview of forms and causes of the abuse of power at universities. He also named possible solutions. He defined abuse of power as the ‘illegitimate use of power to increase one's own advantage at the expense of others’ through acts such as bullying, sexual harassment and exploitation. Leising - Professor of Diagnostics and Intervention at the Faculty of Psychology at TU Dresden - explained why organisations often have no interest in stopping unethical behaviour. He showed how much power professors have and how the structures of the German academic system favour the careers of people with low integrity. Victims and witnesses of abuse of power often remain silent out of well-founded fear of negative consequences, while weak control and sanction mechanisms protect the perpetrators. It is therefore necessary to sharpen these mechanisms, said Leising, who also researches the abuse of power in science. He also calls for, among other things, a reorganisation of working and supervisory conditions during the doctorate and thus a ‘relative disempowerment’ of professors. The aim here should be to separate academic collaboration, the assessment of qualification theses and personnel responsibility.
Discussion with representatives of all status groups
The (so far limited) options for protecting victims of abuse of power and holding perpetrators accountable were discussed in detail following the keynote speech. Professor Leising was joined in the discussion by the Rector of TU Dortmund University, Professor Manfred Bayer, the Chair of the Academic Staff Council, Dr Anja Szypulski, as well as Melanie Kozub (Chair of the Non-Academic Staff Council), Laura Marklewitz (Autonomous Department for the Disabled and AStA Social Affairs Officer) and Professor Petra Wiederkehr (Vice-Rector for Diversity). Students and employees from various status groups also took part with questions and statements. All TU members had the opportunity to leave comments via Padlet before and during the event. The numerous entries showed that the topic of abuse of power affects many people at the TU - some authors also reported anonymously how they themselves had been victims of such abuse.
Further steps must follow
From the prespective of the PRwiss, this event is an important first step in addressing the issue of abuse of power across the university - but further steps must follow. In our counselling - as well as in the comments left via Padlet - the focus is on the double dependency in qualification positions and the associated concentration of power among professors. As those affected understandably often do not want to step out of anonymity for fear of negative consequences, sanctions are difficult to impose. Nevertheless, there are a number of possible approaches to counter abuse of power. These include, for example, (mandatory) management training for professors, the establishment of an independent ombuds persons as well as extended options to sanction perpetrators as included in the planned amendment to the Higher Education Act.
The Forum on Abuse of Power was organised by members of the cross-departmental working group on abuse of power, in which the PRwiss is also involved. In this working group, representatives from various departments and contact points at TU Dortmund University discuss measures to curb the abuse of power and promote fair and respectful communication and relationships.
