The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) is increasingly concerned with the qualification of young academics. Prof. Dr. Kathleen Diener, HSNR's Vice President for Research and Innovation, says: "We want to address the shortage of young professors, as we also have a shortage in the natural sciences in particular. We are delighted to have a group of committed young researchers who have a particular passion for research coupled with practical orientation."
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research supports the efforts of universities of applied sciences (UAS) to improve the applicant situation for advertised professorships and to promote tandem structures with industry in the "UAS personnel" guideline. Participants go through a three-year qualification phase and thus prepare themselves for a subsequent appointment procedure. This can be at the HSNR or at other UASs.
Since January 2023, the HSNR has employed 11 PostDocs and one doctoral student who have already successfully completed a doctorate or have yet to do so and are now gaining half of their experience in teaching education and research at the HSNR and half of their practical professional experience in a company or organization outside the university.
At the second PostDoc Day, 12 participating PostDocs and one doctoral student from the project had the opportunity to present themselves and their cooperation projects to the university and representatives of the cooperating companies. These were the University Hospital Düsseldorf, BYK-Chemie Wesel, Peters Research GmbH Kempen, Novonesis Group Pohlheim, CURRENTA GmbH & Co. KG Leverkusen, Siemens Mobility Krefeld, Fynch-Hatton Textil-Handelsgesellschaft Mönchengladbach, Dreidoppel GmbH Langenfeld, DEHOGA e.V. Berlin, Sozial-Holding der Stadt Mönchengladbach GmbH, Helios Klinikum Krefeld GmbH and Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH Munich. "We are very pleased about the cooperation and would like to express our thanks. Without the interest and commitment of the companies, the project would not have come about," says Dr. Antje Hambitzer, who is in charge of the project. The HSNR assumes that it can substantially increase the attractiveness of the HAW professorship by establishing this new, predictable path.
