Confidants

We, the confidants of the University of Potsdam, offer our support to members of all status groups – whether students, staff and/or lecturers – in university-related conflict situations.

The aim is to provide an internal university authority that can be consulted at a low threshold. You have the opportunity to talk about your problem in a calm and friendly atmosphere and to reflect on the stressful situation together with the confidant and develop possible solutions. In addition, the confidants can provide information for further steps and, if necessary, refer you to other counselling services.

Potential conflict scenarios include:

• You feel down or burdened by worries.
• You have been feeling uncomfortable in your team for some time.
• You are experiencing a conflict you would like to speak about with a neutral person.

The commitment of the confidants is voluntary and honorary. The confidants are regularly trained and further qualified in their counselling skills. They work according to the following principles:

• Independence
  The confidants act as autonomously as possible, independent of their assignment to departments or institutions.
• Neutrality
  The concerns are dealt with neutrally, without prejudice to the outcome and in a solution-oriented manner.
• Confidentiality
  Concerns are treated confidentially.
• Appreciation
  The confidants always show esteem for the persons concerned and their concerns.

The Code of Conduct is available here.

As an affected person you can freely choose from the following list to which confidant you would like to address your concerns. The list is arranged according to location, but this does not have to play a role in the selection.

Would you like to become a confidant yourself to support a conflict-positive university climate? Then please contact the team at the Equal Opportunities Coordination Office, which organises this service.

Choose how you would like to contact us.

• Email to all confidants
  • Write to: vertrauenspersonuuni-potsdampde.
• Contact one confidant directly
  • In the list below, you will find both the email addresses and telephone numbers of individual confidants. For your reference, their location, institution and languages spoken are also indicated. You are completely free to choose whom you wish to contact.
• Contact form (to all confidants)
  • This option is ideal in urgent cases or if you do not want to or cannot decide on one person. Your message will be sent to all confidants and one of them will reply as soon as possible. You may use the contact form anonymously, but we will not be able to reply to you in this case.