The selection committee emphasized that numerous gender equality measures taken by Freie Universität can be used as models for other universities, for example, the systematic integration of gender aspects in study and examination regulations, the digital "Toolbox Gender and Diversity in Teaching," or the anchoring of gender controlling in the Strategic Planning and Reporting unit.

Freie Universität has been successful in promoting women, especially at higher occupational levels. The proportion of women in professorships increased from 35 percent in 2011 to 38 percent in 2016, while the proportion of tenured professorships rose from 29 percent to 32 percent. The proportion of women on the higher-salary W3/C4 professorships rose from 24 percent in 2011 to 29 percent in 2016. Of habilitations submitted, 47 percent were by women and of doctoral theses, 52 percent were completed by women.

The nonprofit organization, Total E-Quality e.V., works to establish equal opportunities for men and women in the workplace, with a focus on promoting women in management positions. The name of the association stands for "total quality management," a process of quality assurance, supplemented by the gender component (equality). The award has been given to companies and political institutions since 1996, and since 2002 universities and other academic institutions can also be taken into consideration. Since 2015 a rating for diversity has also been awarded, which recognizes institutions' efforts to support diversity among employees. The nonprofit organization was founded with support from the German Federal Ministry of Education, Research, and Technology and the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth. Freie Universität applied successfully in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017.