With a clear stance for more equal opportunities in architecture and construction, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) at its Munich location actively participated in the nationwide WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE (WIA) 2025 festival. Under the programmatic title "LET'S TALK TRANSFORMATION," three publicly accessible events took place in the heart of Munich on June 26 and 27 – conceived by IU professors and dual students of the architecture programme in collaboration with the Ruffinihaus Creative Hub Munich and the architectural firm bmquadrat | Architektur + Design.
The aim of IU was not only to conduct the discourse on equality in the construction industry, but also to make it visible in the public space – through lectures, dialogue formats, and a temporary dialogue kiosk at Rindermarkt. The first day already demonstrated the great interest in the topic: Numerous guests from practice, academia, and the public engaged in lively discussions about structural barriers, personal experiences, and sustainable strategies for a more equal opportunity planning environment.
The second day of the event was devoted to the question: "What does it actually take to achieve equal opportunities in the construction industry?" Interdisciplinary teams conducted workshops addressing topics such as the gender pay gap, leadership positions, career access, and funding structures. Key questions addressed were: How do construction projects benefit from diverse teams? What scientific evidence is available on this topic? How can equality be specifically promoted - at universities and in professional practice?
The background is clear: Over 60 per cent of architecture students are female. Yet, according to Statista, the proportion of practicing female architects is only 34.1 per cent in 2024. In academic teaching, only 27 per cent of professorships were held by women in 2023, leadership positions in architecture and construction companies are two-thirds male-dominated - and the wage gap between male and female architects persists. And there's a lack of awareness that building culture must work for everyone, regardless of gender, generation, or professional group.
"The numbers speak for themselves. But even more crucial for us is the potential: Diverse planning teams demonstrably produce better results – they work more efficiently, more innovatively, and more socially sensitively. Research that takes a multi-perspective approach is published more frequently and is therefore more relevant. Construction processes that are developed in a mixed-gender and, above all, intergenerational manner shape a building culture for ALL," says project leader Prof. Dr Bettina-Maria Müller, Professor of Architecture at IU in Munich. "Therefore, we see it as our educational mission to continue to promote this discussion and actively involve students in the necessary transformation processes."
