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Who we are - The Hochschule Niederrhein

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The Hochschule Niederrhein is one of the largest and most efficient universities of applied sciences in Germany. We open up new perspectives: With a future-oriented academic apprenticeship and problem- and transfer-oriented research , we create the foundation course for our graduates to be in demand on the job market.

We are a renowned educational and research institution in the German university landscape. With ten faculties, campuses in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach and around 14,000 students, we are an important contact for companies in the region when it comes to research and transfer.

Our 87 Bachelor's and 27 Master's degree programmes cover a wide range of subjects and are tailored to the needs of the region. The Faculties of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical and Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Health Care are located at Krefeld South Campus. The Krefeld West Campus is home to the Faculties of Chemistry and Design. And in Mönchengladbach, in addition to the largest faculty of the university, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, the Faculties of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Social Sciences and Textile and Clothing Technology are based.

Numerous advantages

A professorship at The Hochschule Niederrhein offers you numerous advantages, which we have briefly summarized for you here.

teaching education

The Hochschule Niederrhein is committed to the quality of studies and teaching education. In addition to programme content and methods, we also focus on the general conditions of studies. Our degree programmes should lead to sustainable employability and the ability to assume social responsibility. We regularly address the question of which key competencies are necessary for our graduates to be successful on the job market. We therefore develop our degree programs in constant exchange with professional practice. We teach scientific problem-solving skills, but do not train students for a specific job. We stand for a consistent practical and application-oriented approach to teaching education. Cooperation with companies is important to us. Theory and practice in studies are not contradictory but complement each other.

Our group of first-year students has become more heterogeneous. This places high demands on our teaching education. At the same time, the diversity of our students offers great opportunities and potential for teaching education. We want to take advantage of this through project-oriented, problem-based and research-based learning in differently composed learning groups.

Research

The Hochschule Niederrhein has made impressive progress in the area of research in recent years. This is due to an appropriate appointment policy, the establishment and promotion of cooperative doctoral projects, the sharpening of the research profile and the sustainable financial resources of the affiliated institutes. We also support individual outstanding academics, but we particularly want to promote the formation of alliances and also establish professorships with a reduced teaching load.

We want to further develop our core research areas accordingly. These are: Functional Surfaces, Applied Health and Nutrition Research, IT and Logistics Concepts [Research Focus der HN], Innovative product and process development [Research Focus der HN], Social and Economic Innovations [Research Focus der HN] and Energy Efficiency [Research Focus der HN].

Proximity to cooperation partners

Transfer as a performance dimension is a key profile feature of The Hochschule Niederrhein. Transfer enables us to distinguish ourselves as an innovation driver and think tank in the region. At our university, young people receive academic training for their future careers by participating in one of the many transfer processes at the university into business, society or politics. In this philosophy, participation in the process as such leads to the actual goal of higher education, the development of one's own personality, academic preparation for a profession and active testing of the methodological and professional skills learned during studies.

We are a founding member of the Hochschulallianz für den Mittelstand, an association of more than twelve universities of applied sciences throughout Germany, which aims to raise the profile of our type of university nationwide. We form networks with regional institutions and companies. Networking includes numerous events such as the welcoming ceremony for newly appointed professors, which we traditionally hold together with the Middle Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Half of the Advisory Board for Research and Development is made up of representatives from regional companies and is an important communication channel to the regional economy. And the transfer of knowledge to companies is strengthened by a portfolio of scientific training courses.

Safe workplace

If the requirements under civil service law are met, the candidate is initially appointed as a probationary civil servant, which is usually converted into a permanent civil servant position after a period of twelve months once the candidate's suitability as a teacher has been established.

In the event that the requirements for employment under civil service law are not met, the candidate is initially employed under a fixed-term employment contract under private law. This will be terminated once pedagogical suitability has been established.

If the pedagogical aptitude has already been determined in a previous employment relationship prior to taking up employment as a professor at The Hochschule Niederrhein, the candidate will be immediately appointed as a tenured civil servant or as a permanent civil servant.

Attractive location

Our Krefeld and Mönchengladbach sites are located on the left bank of the Lower Rhine, just under 20 kilometers apart. With 225,000 (Krefeld) and 260,000 inhabitants (Mönchengladbach) respectively, both cities are major cities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The NRW state capital Düsseldorf can be reached within half an hour's drive from both cities. The Netherlands can also be reached in just under half an hour by car or train.

Krefeld is rich in greenery and, according to its own figures, is the second greenest city in Germany. This is demonstrated by the large number of avenues and public green spaces, several parks and, above all, the Krefeld city forest, a popular recreational and woodland area close to the center of Krefeld. The Elfrather See recreation area offers many opportunities for water sports and a bathing lake. One of the main attractions is Krefeld Zoo. It was founded in 1938 and is currently home to around 1300 animals from 225 different species on an area of 13 hectares.

Mönchengladbach's cityscape is a combination of urban flair and rural charm. It is not for nothing that the city, with its numerous parks and forests, is also known as the "city in the countryside". Important architectural monuments such as Rheydt Palace and the prestigious Abteiberg Museum as well as an agile cabaret, creative and cabaret scene characterize the city's cultural offerings. Summer customs are firmly anchored in society on the Lower Rhine and also in Mönchengladbach. The shooting fraternities are an important pillar of regional customs. The Bundesliga soccer team Borussia Mönchengladbach enjoys nationwide popularity beyond the city limits.

Family and gender-friendly university

The Hochschule Niederrhein has been certified with the "family-friendly university audit" since 2010. The university sets itself sustainable goals in various fields of action in order to create good framework conditions and support employees and students in balancing family and career or studies. In this context, existing and established offers relating to work-life balance are strengthened and new needs-based offers are developed and tested. In addition, the university is actively committed to equal opportunities and gender-equitable studies and working conditions.

Dual Career

The Hochschule Niederrhein is a member of the Dual Career Network Rhineland. This means that we will support and accompany you or your partner in your career start in our region.

Further information: http://www.dualcareer-rheinland.de

Your way to a professorship

Unlike at a university, there is no set path to a professorship at a university of applied sciences. In addition to academic qualifications, a prerequisite for appointment to a HAW professorship is proof of suitable professional experience outside of academia. Applications require references from academia and industry. In addition to an ideally above-average doctorate, they should be able to provide evidence of academic publications. In addition, at least five years of professional experience, including three years outside the university sector, in the relevant fields of work is mandatory. However, a habilitation is not required.

Didactic training and continuing education

The Hochschule Niederrhein offers didactic training and continuing education, especially for newly appointed professors. In this way, it supports their arrival in teaching and the development of teaching education with a practical emphasis / orientation. This includes the higher education didactic program "Arriving in teaching education at the HN". It includes a basic range of workshops on teaching education in the digitalized world and coaching in teaching didactics. In addition, further higher education didactics workshops can be attended in the higher education didactics network hdw nrw of the universities of applied sciences in NRW.

General recruitment requirements § 36 HG

  • completed studies at a university;
  • special aptitude for scientific work, which is usually demonstrated by the quality of a doctorate;
  • special achievements in the application or development of scientific knowledge and methods gained during five years of professional practice, of which at least three years must have been spent outside the university sector, in a field corresponding to the above-mentioned subjects.

Target groups

Our calls for applications are aimed at doctoral candidates in business, industry, administration and science who are considering a professorship at a university of applied sciences (HAW).

General conditions

  • Tenure as a professor if you have not yet reached the age of 50 at the time of appointment (i.e. you must still be 49 years old).

Family periods (parental leave, care periods), military service and alternative service can be taken into account, so that the age limit is raised accordingly if such creditable periods exist.

If it is not possible to become a civil servant, employment will be under private law (employment contract).
Civil servant status is only granted on a full-time basis.

  • The teaching obligation is 18 contact hours per week (SWS)
    • A reduction of the teaching obligation is possible, for example, through the assumption of tasks in self-administration (e.g. Chair of the Examinations Board) or through the performance of research and development tasks on application
    • A reduction of the professorship for personal reasons (Part-time) is possible.
  • Tasks of a professorship
    • Student counseling
    • Supervision of project, degree and qualification work
    • Assumption of tasks of academic self-administration / administration (Examinations Board, boards and committees, program management, ...)
    • Application-oriented research
  • possibly part-time work (subject to approval)
  • As a rule, no mid-level staff

The professorship salary is made up of the basic salary, family allowance and possible additional benefits(salary overview for a professorship)

Structure of our tender

Structure of the tender
Structure of our tender

The attached PDF document contains explanations of the individual sections of the invitation to tender.

Note: There may be display problems when opening the document in a browser, so please download the following PDF (right-click on "Structure of our invitation to tender", then "Save link as").

 

Tender structure »

Information on the appointment procedure

Are you interested in the appointment procedure at The Hochschule Niederrhein? You are very welcome! Appointments set the course for the future of the university. That is why we carry out the procedures with the greatest possible care and as a participatory process. Transparent requirements and clearly defined rules are important to us. On this page you will find information that you may need if you are interested in the path to a professorship, would like to apply for a professorship with us or are involved in an appointment procedure.

Checklist
  • Cover letter
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Application form
  • List of publications
  • Exposé of previous and planned research activities and cooperation ideas within the university
  • Teaching profile
  • Proof of university education (diploma or master's certificate, diploma or master's certificate, doctoral certificate, etc.)
  • Proof of previous professional activity
  • If applicable, work samples in the form of an artistic portfolio (for artistic professorships)

Your application

Application documents

Please make sure to submit the required documents digitally with your application (for security reasons, possible formats: pdf, jpg). Only the documents you provide us with can be evaluated:

  • an informative cover letter
  • a curriculum vitae
  • the completed application form
  • proof of your degree (certificate and diploma); if you have a foreign degree, it is helpful for the appointment committees if you provide a certificate that this degree is recognized in North Rhine-Westphalia. Information on recognition can be found on the website of the Ministry of Schools and Education in North Rhine-Westphalia.
  • proof of your doctorate (certificate and diploma); if you completed your doctorate abroad, it is helpful if you include a note on the recognition of your doctorate in Germany with your application
  • Further evidence required in the call for applications
  • Proof of your professional activities (e.g. in the form of job references)
  • a list of publications
  • an exposé of previous and planned research activities and cooperation ideas within the university
  • a teaching profile

What happens if documents are missing?

Have you noticed after submitting your application that you have forgotten to upload documents to the application portal? You are welcome to send additional documents by email, stating your application number (you will receive this with the automatic confirmation of receipt), to the Appointment Management Office:

berufungsmanagement(at)hs-niederrhein.de

. The documents will then be uploaded to the system.

Professional experience / practical work expe

Professional experience is counted after the first university degree (e.g. Bachelor's degree) that is related to the professorship being advertised.
Internships or periods of training are not counted as professional experience.

You can provide proof of your professional experience by submitting your CV and the completed application form. You can provide evidence of your work experience in the form of job references, for example.

If you have not worked full-time for family reasons (e.g. parental leave, care leave), you will not suffer any disadvantages as a result. If you have worked at least 50% of the time, this period can be taken into account when proving your professional experience (irrespective of the proof of professional experience outside the university).
Example: You have worked Part-time (at least 50% of the job) for three years after the birth of your child. Accordingly, you will need proof of a further two years in order to meet the 5-year work experience requirement.


Professional experience within and outside the university

For example, after graduating from university, you are employed in an academic position at a university (job share of at least 50%). This professional activity is counted as activity within a university.

If you have worked for a company or an affiliated institute of a university, this will be counted as professional experience outside the university. However, the affiliated institute must be legally independent.

Professional periods at Helmholtz, Leibniz, Fraunhofer and Max Planck Institutes are recognized.

Note: A look at the organization chart or the imprint of the institute's website can help to determine the legal status of an institute.


Self-employment

If you are or were self-employed, these periods can of course also be taken into account in your professional experience.

Please send us suitable documents that allow us to gain an insight into the extent of your self-employment, e.g.

  • List of references with details of companies and projects
  • Confirmation from a tax office certifying the scope of your self-employed activity compared to an employed activity.

Proof of acquired third-party funds

Proof of the third-party funding you have acquired is relevant for assessing your research competence. Of course, we are aware that, from a funding perspective, it makes more sense to state a different surname as the applicant in the applications (e.g. the supervising professor or the head of the institute). Then explain what part you played in the application and implementation of the projects.

Quality of the promotion

The doctorate and its quality serve as proof of your ability to carry out academic work.

If a doctoral grade is specified in the call for applications (e.g. magna cum laude), you must provide evidence with your application documents that your doctorate was graded at least "magna cum laude", for example. If you are unable to do this because you have only completed your doctorate with "cum laude", you will be excluded from the procedure as you do not fulfill this KO criterion.

If no doctoral grade is specified as a requirement in the call for applications, your doctoral grade fulfills the aspect of quality if you have completed your doctorate with at least "laude". A doctoral grade of "rite" leads to exclusion from the procedure.

If you have completed a doctorate without a grade, it will help the committee if you can submit an assessment / evaluation of the quality of your doctorate by the issuing university, for example.

Research exposé

In the research exposé, you present your previous work and experience in the field of research. Based on the research exposé, we are able to assess whether and which externally-funded projects you have already submitted to which project management organization.

At the same time, you provide an outlook on future topics of your research activities, which you may also want to tackle with colleagues at The Hochschule Niederrhein.

Note: Take a look atthe research landscape at The Hochschule Niederrhein. With over 240 professorships in ten faculties, there may well be thematic overlaps.

Teaching profile

In the teaching profile you describe

  • the specializations you wish to focus on in teaching education and how these fit in with the faculty's profile,
  • your academic career with regard to your previous teaching experience (e.g. from the time of your doctorate; type and scope of courses) or experience in imparting knowledge and skills,
  • why you have chosen a position with a high teaching component,
  • your understanding of teaching and which didactic goals will guide your future teaching education.

 

Note: A look at the module manual of the degree program or the faculty's module manuals can help here.

Further information

Selection procedure

The selection process for filling a professorship is very complex. In the following, we briefly outline the most important points of the procedure.


Who is involved?

The selection procedure is primarily accompanied by a specially appointed appointment committee.

The appointment committee usually consists of

  • five lecturers (professors from the faculty for which the appointment is being made, plus one professor from another faculty or another university),
  • one academic employee,
  • one employee from technology and administration (in an advisory capacity, without voting rights)
  • two members from the group of students.

All members are bound to secrecy and are aware of the confidential treatment of all documents in the procedure.

The committee is assisted by the appointment officers, who support the committee in applying the appointment regulations.

The Head of Department, the Equal Opportunities Officer and, if applicable, the Representative for Severely Disabled Persons may attend the meetings of the Appointments Committee in an advisory capacity.


Who decides on the appointment?

The Hochschule Niederrhein President decides on the granting of an appointment.

The decision is based on the report of the appointment committee, the presentation of the appointment officer, the statement of the Equal Opportunities Officer and a description of the appointment management procedure.


Duration of the procedure

An appointment procedure usually takes between eight and twelve months.
This is partly due to the involvement of the various boards and committees and external experts, which require a certain amount of preparation and processing time. We endeavor to carry out the procedure as quickly as possible in compliance with the applicable rules.

If you have any questions about the status of the appointment procedure, you can always contact the chair of the appointment committee.


Information on the status of the procedure

Once your application has been received, you will receive confirmation of receipt from the appointment management team.

As a rule, you can assume that you will receive an invitation to a personal interview within 8-12 weeks of the closing date if your application has been assessed as suitable.

However, you will only receive a rejection once the procedure has been completed.

If you have any questions about the status of the appointment procedure, you can always contact the chair of the appointment committee.

However, you will only receive a rejection once the procedure has been completed.

If you have any questions about the status of the appointment procedure, you can always contact the chair of the appointment committee.


On what basis does an appointment procedure take place?

An appointment procedure is carried out on the basis of the appointment regulations of The Hochschule Niederrhein and is supervised by the appointment officers.


Stages of the selection procedure

An appointment procedure usually involves various stages at which your suitability for the professorship is assessed:

  • Application documents
  • Structured interview with predetermined questions that are asked equally of each applicant (ensures objectivity, comparability and equal treatment of all applicants)
  • specialist presentation, in which you give a presentation on a predetermined topic that is the same for all applicants or a topic of your choice
  • Technical interview with predetermined questions that are asked equally of all applicants
  • Trial course, in which you give a course to students on a topic previously determined by the appointment committee for all applicantstwo external reviews based on the documents you have submitted (application documents, presentations for the trial course and specialist lecture, etc.)

Data protection

We assure you of the absolute confidentiality of your application documents.

For this reason, only those persons who are involved in the procedure on the university side (including the appointment management, appointment committee, equal opportunities officer, representative for severely disabled persons if required, presidium, faculty council, external reviewers if necessary) may view the documents.

Do you have any further questions?

Then simply get in touch with us!

Appointment management team:
berufungsmanagement(at)hs-niederrhein.de

Central Equal Opportunities Officer:
gleichstellung(at)hs-niederrhein.de