Exploring New Avenues in the Advancement of Junior Scholars

Press Release No. 155/2018

TU Berlin is presenting a new strategy for the advancement of junior scholars. On 18 July 2018, the University’s Academic Senate overwhelmingly decided in favor of a new strategy for junior scholars, as well as its implementation. There was also unanimous approval for the regulations regarding tenure track, which form the basis for a sustainable implementation of the tenure track process at TU Berlin.  The tenure track process offers suitably qualified junior scholars at TU Berlin accelerated secure career prospects regarding a tenured professorship.

Providing its junior scholars with options for career development prospects both within academics and beyond is a central concern for TU Berlin. The substantially shifting requirements in all career areas and the changes in needs expressed by junior scholars themselves has led to TU Berlin thoroughly repositioning its efforts in this area.

Each year some 500 doctoral candidates from Germany and abroad successfully complete their dissertations at TU Berlin. Some 400 postdocs continue their academic careers, deciding later whether to continue to pursue a professorship or opt for a career outside the University. The work carried out by junior scholars makes essential contributions to the innovative development of research at TU Berlin as well as the University's international profile.

How can TU Berlin most effectively support its junior scholars? How can the requirements of their career goals be best addressed? Many members of TU Berlin have been intensively reviewing their current approach to the advancement of junior scholars with these questions in mind. The new strategy lays the foundation for a university-wide implementation phase for the expansion and development of the advancement of junior scholars at TU Berlin.

Professor Dr. Angela Ittel, vice president for strategic development, junior scholars, and teacher education, confirms the importance of the new strategy: "The advancement of junior scholars at TU Berlin has achieved a new level in terms of both content and structure as a result of the participative process that has been pursued; it can now be implemented throughout the University in close cooperation with the faculties”.

In addition to the explicit consideration of multiple career paths, issues such as gender equality and diversity as well as internationalization as it applies to the advancement of junior scholars are to be given special attention in all measures to be pursued. The strategy for the advancement of junior scholars developed out of an extensive evaluation of the advancement of junior scholars which was conducted in all faculties at the start of 2018, as well as the results of the “WM study 2017” (a survey conducted among all research and teaching assistants) and the experiences of junior scholars and other stakeholders.

TU Berlin already provides its junior scholars with a broad range of programs for acquiring qualifications and skills both within their area of specialization as well as at an interdisciplinary level. In the coming years, the programs for junior scholars at TU Berlin are to be coordinated, developed and made more visible.