Compatibility of studies and family: approaches at the Medical Faculty Mannheim.

The compatibility of studies or a career with children is becoming increasingly important. This is partly attributable to the fact that it is important for people of either gender to spend time with their families, their children. Not too long ago, raising children was almost exclusively the domain of the mother. On the other hand, more and more women study medicine. More than half of first year students are now female. Many of these young women, like their male counterparts, would like to start families. The possibility to both study and have children is particularly important during the "training" life phase. The Medical Faculty Mannheim realises the need for action and wants to actively tackle the associated challenges in terms of advice, study design and infrastructure. This article represents the steps which the faculty - in close cooperation with the Equality Office, the Dean of Studies and the University Hospital - has taken so far or is currently putting in place to enable students to successfully combine the challenge of studying with that of having children. These include individual advice services on study organisation, information about support services, changes to the infrastructure and more intensive cooperation between the various departments.