Award for fair and transparent appointment negotiations TU Braunschweig holds the DHV seal of approval for five years
Joint press release of TU Braunschweig and the German University Association
Clear and transparent decision-making processes, an appreciative climate of negotiation, extensive equipment packages and procedures that were also completed quickly were highlighted by the professors as feedback on their appointment negotiations at Technische Universität Braunschweig as part of the DHV seal of approval procedure. For the first time, the university has now received the seal of approval from the German University Association (DHV) for fair and transparent appointment negotiations. The award, which is valid for five years, is currently held by only 20 other universities in Germany. After the University Hannover, TU Braunschweig is the second university in Lower Saxony to receive the seal.
(f.r) The President of the German University Association Prof. Bernhard Kempen handed over the DHV seal of approval for fair and transparent appointment negotiations to President Angela Ittel (2nd r) and Vice President Dietmar Smyrek and Head of Division Bernt Erlewein. Photo credit: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig
“For us as a university, appointments and the associated selection of the best ensure excellence in research and teaching and also in our transfer activities. That is why appointment processes are an important instrument of quality assurance. The DHV seal of approval provides us with a welcome feedback and suggestions for the ongoing development of our appointment management,” explains Dietmar Smyrek, Principal Vice President for Human Resources, Finance and Infrastructure at TU Braunschweig.
The DHV certifies that TU Braunschweig has clear decision-making processes in its audit procedure. It successfully concludes appointment processes quickly. The negotiation process is always appreciative, respectful and structured. There are specific contact persons for questions in connection with the appointment negotiations, and the cooperation between administration, faculties and university management functions smoothly. The discussions take place in a relaxed, constructive atmosphere that is also perceived as very good by the participants. Appointment holders also received extensive equipment packages. The ability of new professors to work is also quickly established.
“Very well positioned in the competition for the best persons”.
According to the DHV, the support services after taking up employment are also wide-ranging and designed for specific target groups. In particular, the welcome events for new appointees, such as the President’s summer party for new professors, are impressive proof of the welcoming culture that is practised. The assistance with childcare or finding a job for a partner is exemplary.
“Universities define their profile in research and teaching through appointments. The DHV seal of approval procedure identifies strengths and weaknesses so that universities can improve their appointment practices,” explains DHV President Professor Dr. Bernhard Kempen. “The DHV seal of approval sustainably confirms that we are very well positioned in the competition for the best persons,” emphasises the President of Technische Universität Braunschweig, Professor Dr. Angela Ittel. “Appeals policy as an existential component of successful higher education policy contributes decisively to our higher education development and higher education strategy. We are already in the process of examining the recommendations associated with the certification process to bundle our customised services even more and to communicate information even more proactively by means of an appointment process monitor. Future fields of action will be to optimise processes with the aim of attracting more female and international colleagues to TU Braunschweig. We are well on the way here.
Background to the process
The DHV seal of approval is based on a weighted questionnaire with 42 questions. The DHV advises researchers in about 70 percent of all appointment and retention negotiations in Germany. The focus of the evaluation is on fairness, appreciation, transparency and reliability in appointment and retention negotiations. Statements from the reviewed higher education institutions are also included in the evaluation. In addition, there are interviews with professors appointed to the respective higher education institution on their experiences in the appointment process as well as the empirical knowledge of the DHV legal advisors.
In addition to TU Braunschweig, the RWTH Aachen, the University of Cologne, the TU Kaiserlautern, the FernUniversität in Hagen, the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of Bremen, the University of Siegen, the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, the University of Hannover, the University of Hohenheim, the University of Münster, the University of Bayreuth, the BTU Cottbus, the University of Wuppertal, the University of Mainz, the TU Chemnitz, the University of Passau and the TH Köln have so far been awarded the DHV seal of approval for transparent and fair appointment negotiations. In addition, the Department of Medicine at Goethe University Frankfurt and the University Hospital Frankfurt have been awarded the DHV seal of approval for fair and transparent appointment processes in university medicine. The German Association of University (DHV) is the nationwide professional representation of researchers with more than 33,000 members.