Family at the university
Finding a good balance between work or studies and family commitments – whether that involves caring for your own children, grandchildren, or dependent relatives – can be a real challenge. The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development is committed to supporting all members of the university community in meeting this challenge to the best of its ability.
Areas of Responsibility
Our tasks cover the following areas:
- Providing information and counselling for (expectant) parents of our university
- Advising members of the university community who care for dependent relatives
- Designing and implementing measures to improve family-friendliness in cooperation with HR managers and the Equal Opportunities Officer
- Referring individuals to external partners and institutions that complement the services of our family-friendly university
Dates & Events
The family-friendly university regularly organises events such as the parent-child welcome meeting, family afternoons with a variety of activities, and training courses. In this way, we offer all families at the university the opportunity to network.
You can find upcoming dates via → Campusworks.
Studying or Working with Child(ren)
Studying or working while raising child(ren) is not always easy and often requires extra organisation. The family-friendly university provides infrastructure and information to help you maintain a healthy balance between family life and your studies or work.
The parent-child rooms are designed to provide parents with children, as well as pregnant university members, a comfortable space to take breaks, change nappies, breastfeed, and work. There is a parent-child room on each campus. To use this service, you will need a code, which you can request at familie(at)hnee.de.
Both canteens offer a play area and several high chairs for your children. On request, the staff will gladly warm up any baby food you bring.
In addition to the nappy-changing tables in the parent-child rooms, you will find further nappy-changing facilities on the City Campus in buildings 2 and 7, and on the Forest Campus in buildings 14 and 15.
The enclosed computer workstation provides parents with the opportunity to work alongside their child without disturbing the quiet atmosphere of the library. To book a study carrel, please speak to a member of the library staff.
Every year at the start of the winter semester, the family-friendly university awards a grant to student parents. Information on how to apply can be found on Campusworks.
In addition, a childcare allowance is available if childcare is required during lecture times that are not covered by regular childcare arrangements, e.g. in the late afternoon.
To help ease the financial burden on families, students with children receive a one-off welcome grant of up to €200. The grant is paid by the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg upon application.
The HNEE Student Union plants a tree for every newborn child. Please contact the Social Affairs Department to register.
The family-friendly university offers laptops for loan to HNEE students and staff with family responsibilities. These are intended to make it easier for you to work from home for your studies or university tasks.
To make spending time in the office or lecture hall more enjoyable for children, mobile toy boxes and painting or craft bags are also available to borrow.
The university’s Waldcampus site houses premises used by the “Sonnenschein” nursery (run by the City of Eberswalde). Here, 10 children aged 0 to 3 are looked after daily from 7.30 am to 5 pm, and on Fridays from 7.30 am to 4 pm. When applying for a nursery place via the nursery place finder, you can specify the Waldcampus nursery as your preferred choice. Please note that you are affiliated with HNEE.
The university also maintains contact with local childminders.
Contact persons for those affected in the Barnim region.
Bereavement counselling centre in Berlin: counselling/therapy (including early pregnancy loss), grief groups, postnatal courses.
Support for parents who have lost a child before, during, or shortly after birth, as well as for affected families, friends, and helpers.
Help and support for everyone living with or affected by the death of a child—regardless of age.
Network Maternity & Science (Netzwerk Mutterschaft & Wissenschaft)
A forum for parents in academia to exchange experiences and provide mutual support.
Studying or Working with Caring Responsibilities
As part of its commitment to family friendliness, the university strives to support members of the university community who are caring for a relative alongside their studies or work, helping them to balance both responsibilities as effectively as possible.
We work closely with the university’s HR department and, in a personal meeting, can also refer you to specialised counselling and support services.
1. Eberswalde Care Centre – Local advice and support services
2. Pflegebrücke Foundation – From emergency assistance and stroke prevention to home emergency call systems, the foundation organises and manages a range of services for those in need of care and their relatives.
3. Pflege in Not – Advice centre for conflicts in care
5. The brochure ‘Balancing Care and Work’ from the Brandenburg Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Family is highly recommended as an introduction to the topic.
6. Study on the compatibility of paid work and care in the state of Brandenburg
7. Caring at Home – A Guide to Home Care
8. Care Guide – Everything you need to know about care
9. Dementia Guide – When memory fades – from diagnosis to care
Do you have questions about balancing family life with work or studies?
You are welcome to make an appointment for a counselling session on campus. Online or telephone consultations can also be arranged.
Sign up for the parents’ mailing list to receive up-to-date information on financial support, events, and other relevant news.
We aim to tailor our services to your needs and continuously improve them in a way that is responsive to our target groups. We therefore welcome constructive feedback, suggestions, and your active engagement.
You can reach the family-friendly university team at → familie(at)hnee.de