Tenure Track
In recent years, the path towards academic teaching and research at the professorial level has opened up for alternative career paths. Not only a classical Habilitation, but also a successfully completed junior or tenure track professorship have made an appointment to a lifetime professorship possible.
The appointment to a junior or to a tenure track professorship follows the general rules of appointment. The appointment to the (consecutive) lifetime professorship is based on a successful tenure evaluation procedure, which is subject to the regulations of the tenure track order.
With the tailor-made programme for junior and tenure track professors "YOU PROF", the TU Dresden offers special support and assistance in this stage of scientific career.
In recognition of the efforts made in the past, the TU Dresden was able to obtain funding for eighteen tenure track professorships in the programme for the promotion of young scientists (WISNA) in November 2017.
The process beginning with a tenure track professorship to the tenure evaluation process leading to the lifetime professorship works can be found in the overview. Answers to many questions are given below.
A tenure track is understood as a binding commitment to a lifetime professorship following a successful tenure evaluation.
No. The tenure option, i.e. the binding commitment to the appointment of a lifetime professorship, must be explicitly stated in the vacancy advertisement. Only this way, a tenure evaluation procedure can be initiated.
Upon entering the service of the temporary (junior) professorship, the evaluation goals and criteria are agreed on by mutual agreement between the Rector, Chancellor, Dean and the (Junior) Professor.
The procedure will be opened upon request. Eligible applicants are (junior) professors and (junior) professors with tenure track. Alternatively, the request may also be submitted by the Dean with the consent of the designated persons.
There are no fixed deadlines for the initiation of the procedure. Experience has shown that the commission needs six to nine months to complete the evaluation process, after which it will be necessary to consult the faculty council until the rector can take the final tenure decision. It is therefore advisable to submit the application for opening no later than eighteen months before the end of the temporary (junior) professorship.
At the suggestion of the rectorate, the senate of the TU Dresden appointed a tenure evaluation commission, to which belong
- One professorial member from each department of the TU Dresden
- An academic member
- A student member
- A member of the technical and administration staff
The commission is completed by each
- The Dean
- An external member appointed by the commission.
The Equal Opportunities Officer of the TU Dresden also participates in the commission.
Usually, the commission needs three meetings to carry out the procedure: in the first meeting, the appoint of the external member takes place together with the Dean; in the second, determination of external evaluators and, if appropriate, further elements of the procedure. This may include a technical discussion or a teaching test by the (junior) professor. The commission may also set up an advisory commission for technical reinforcement. Usually, in the third session, the decision on the Tenure Recommendation will be made based on all documents.
After initial experience, the commission needs between six and nine months to elaborate the Tenure Recommendation. Afterwards, the faculty council will need to be heard until the rector makes the final decision.
The commission primarily uses written documents such as the self-report to be submitted, the written protocols resulting from the annual status talk with the Dean, at least three external reports and other established documents.
No. The commission is preparing a recommendation to be submitted to the Rector. Before his or her final decision, the faculty council is consulted. Afterwards the call for a lifetime professorship can be made as final decision. This can be followed by appointment negotiations on the equipment of the lifetime professorship as well as personal references.