April 1, 2021

Universities of applied sciences or universities of applied sciences face special and very specific challenges in recruiting their professorial staff: Professors at universities of applied sciences must not only have scientific aptitude and didactic skills, but also qualified practical experience. Their recruitment is becoming increasingly difficult in some areas. To counter these difficulties, the federal and state governments announced the "FH Personal" program, for which the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences - Technology and Economics successfully applied. It is now being funded in the first round of approvals with a sum of over 2 million euros via the program until 2027, which starts on April 1, 2021. In total, the federal and state governments will provide 431.5 million euros in two funding rounds over a 10-year period for personnel recruitment and qualification at universities of applied sciences/universities of applied sciences.  

Through the ALPAKA project, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences - Technology and Economics intends to continue successfully fulfilling its tasks in teaching, research, technology transfer and continuing education. "To this end, we will systematically test new action strategies for the recruitment and development of professorial staff," explains Daniela Schweitzer, Chancellor of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, "and, above all, take into account our profile and the strategic development goals of the university. For example, the planned personnel concepts will be in line with our orientation as a research-strong university."

Measures to attract professors

Firstly, the university intends to use the funding to test out focus professorships for applicants with strong research skills, the content of which will be geared to the three main research areas of "Energy, Mobility and Infrastructure", "Intelligent Systems" and "Materials and Processes". Furthermore, sustainable measures are to be implemented to attract, retain and develop potential candidates for professorships, for example through a systematic search in the regional university environment. To this end, networks for professorial mentoring will be established and expanded, alumni, doctoral students and other target groups will be made aware of the career option of an HAW professorship, and teaching assignments will be used in a targeted manner as a personnel recruitment and development tool. The locational advantages of Karlsruhe and Baden-Württemberg are also to be used to attract personnel.

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