Welcome of the TU babies in the new parent-and-child room Welcome talk for parents and their babies back in presence for the first time

For the second time, President Angela Ittel invited new parents and their offspring to the traditional welcome talk. Last year, the welcome took place in a digital setting, so this year it was the first welcome talk in presence with the new President. Alongside the President, Ulrike Wrobel, Central Equal Opportunities Officer, welcomed the twelve families. Bernt Erlewein, Head of Human Resources, Legal Services and Student Services, was also available to answer questions. They brought along “baby bags” containing lots of useful information about family-friendly offers at the University as well as a lion-strong companion for the newborns. A very special highlight is this year’s venue: the new parent-and-child room in the Historic Main Building, which was opened at this event and presented to the new parents.

The student and employed parents were able to exchange ideas and make contacts with each other over snacks and drinks. In a relaxed atmosphere, they also had the opportunity to share their personal experiences and express their wishes for a family-friendly university. The opportunities for flexible working at TU Braunschweig, which among other things create time resources for university staff with care responsibilities, were very positively received. The organisation of suitable childcare is still a very pressing issue for parents. The Family Office is also the first point of contact here and is happy to provide support in the search for daycare places. Overall, parents at TU Braunschweig feel well advised.

For the first time, President Angela Ittel handed over the "baby bags" in presence to the new parents, consisting of employees and students. Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

For the children, there was lion-strong company in the baby bags. Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

The new parent-and-child room in the Historic Main Building is now available to families. Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

The young guests were especially pleased with the donation from the caretaker Holger Schulz, who provided the Family Office with wooden play figures for the children. Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

The baby bags contain lots of useful information about family-friendly offers at the university. Photo credit: Luisa Perdomo Lopez/TU Braunschweig

“Family friendliness is a central concern for us at TU Braunschweig and an essential prerequisite for being attractive to qualified researchers, management and specialist staff and students,” says President Angela Ittel. “That is why I am particularly pleased to be able to talk directly to parents and hear how they are doing and what concerns they have as members of our university. Our goal is to consistently offer family-friendly conditions at all levels in the everyday working context and to support the compatibility of work or studies and family in the best possible way.”

More visibility for families

The family-friendly places at TU Braunschweig were also presented at the event. In addition to the new Still.Bar in the Main Lecture Hall, which is accessible around the clock, there is now a parent-and-child room very centrally on the ground floor of the Historic Main Building – a place where parents can talk to each other. “I am pleased that with the parent-and-child room we can create more visibility for families at TU Braunschweig and provide them with a forum for exchange,” says Anne-Christin Eggers, Family-friendly University Officer and Head of the Family Office. “We want parents to feel seen and supported at the university”. The offer serves, for example, as relief for working and studying parents when care in the form of a day care centre or day care is not possible. The children can be taken to the campus and are offered an appropriate, playful environment; the parents are available and can pursue their work. The young guests were particularly pleased with the donation from the caretaker Holger Schulz, who provided the Family Office with wooden play figures for the children. Furthermore, in addition to providing an opportunity for networking, the parent-and-child room also serves to raise awareness that family, work, studies and private life can be reconciled. “Having a contact point on campus that is focused on the needs of children with families can be very helpful, supportive and an important sign of appreciation for parents and families,” adds Anne-Christin-Eggers.

The welcome talks are organised once or twice a year by the Family Office team. All employees and students who have had a baby during their time at TU Braunschweig are cordially invited to register. The Family Office is looking forward to receiving your registration for the next welcome talk, along with the birth certificate and enrolment card, if still studying. Parents who were unable to attend the welcome talk can also pick up a “baby bag” for their young offspring there.