This lecture series was dedicated to this tension and how a diversification in higher education institutions can be possible and which questions must be confronted. The lecture series was hosted by the Diversity and Gender Equality Network of the Berlin University Alliance's Cross-Cutting-Themes Diversity und Gender Equality. We are proud that six internationally renowned experts accepted our invitation to deliver a lecture in our series. The lectures critically examined the tension between diversity and excellence from different (inter-)disciplinary perspectives.