Accessibility at academics

Accessibility Statement 

We are committed to ensuring that our content is accessible to everyone, regardless of individual abilities, limitations or technical aids used. We see accessibility not only as a legal obligation, but also as an integral part of our responsibility and our own commitment to providing excellent digital products. That is why we are continuously working to optimise our platform in order to provide all users with an equal and high-quality experience. 

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define requirements for design and engineering to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Three levels of compliance are defined: Level A, Level AA and Level AAA. 

academics GmbH complies with WCAG 2.2 Level AA. 

Where we stand?

We are currently working on several improvements to improve accessibility. We are developing features based on the requirements of the Accessibility Improvement Act with an internal team consisting of product management, development and UX/UI design. Accessibility is an integral part of our development process and is established in our company culture as a fundamental requirement for engineering and UX design. 

What pages are we improving? 

• academics.de and subpages 
• academics.com and subpages 
• jobs.zeit.de and subpages 
• inserieren.academics.de

What are we doing? Individual measures to ensure accessibility 

• Completion of A11y tests, monitoring and regular audits 
• Optimisation of colour contrasts and font sizes 
• Regarding WCAG and APCA: To prevent deviations from existing corporate design, certain elements currently adhering to the APCA standard will not be changed, as internal consultations have found that relevant colour combinations do not cause any noticeable accessibility issues. 
• Semantic HTML for screen-reader compatibility 
• Ensuring keyboard navigation on all pages 
• Optimisation of touch targets

Identification of problems and their resolution 

The accessibility of web applications is a complex and ongoing challenge. As such, we never consider our work in this area to be complete. We are aware that certain content – such as external integrations like social media embeds – may present barriers. We are actively working with our partners to develop solutions or provide alternative access to ensure the greatest possible accessibility in this area as well. 

Technologies used 

Our platforms are based on modern web technologies and adhere to the principles of progressive enhancement: Content and functions remain accessible even with limited technology support.  

To do so, we use: 

• Automated audits using tools like Google Lighthouse and axe DevTools 
• HTML5 and semantic markup for improved interpretability by assistive technologies 
• ARIA-Attribute to optimise accessibility for screen readers 
• Barrier-free and intuitive UI components 
• Responsive design for cross-device usability

Feedback and contact 

Should you encounter any accessibility issues on our platform, please let us know. You can contact us at any time by emailing info@academics.de. Even minor difficulties or inconveniences are important to us. 

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to implement every request immediately or completely remove every barrier, but we assure you that we will carefully review your feedback and take it seriously.

Drafting of this accessibility statement 

This statement was drafted and reviewed on 22.07.2025. 

Contact information for the relevant market supervisory authority 

In order to fulfil the requirements of the Accessibility Improvement Act, Germany’s federal states are currently establishing a joint agency, the Market Surveillance Authority of the States for the Accessibility of Products and Services or MLBF. Until the MLBF is formally established, please direct your inquiries to:

MLBF (in establishment), c/o Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health, and Equality of Saxony-Anhalt, P.O. Box 39 11 55, 39135 Magdeburg. Telephone: 0391 567 6970 

Email: MLBF@ms.sachsen-anhalt.de.