In order to actively support our scientists in advancing their careers, we have created an individual and innovative HR development program at the University of Cologne in recent years. The focus is not exclusively on prospects within academia and our own university. In our view, modern academic HR development schemes should also be designed to open alternative career paths leading, for example, into politics, business or society. We help our researchers shaping their own careers in a proactive and self-determined manner. Our programm focusses on career development in research, teaching, or science management, or indeed on pursuing a career outside of academia.
Albertus Magnus Center
We consider personal orientation and further development courses very important especially for early career researchers. The Albertus Magnus Center is a central point of information and contact combining all offers for doctoral candidates and postdocs. In addition to an extensive range of seminars, we offer early career researchers the opportunity to take advantage of comprehensive personnel development measures, including mentoring programs, information & networking events, and individual coaching. We provide uncomplicated, detailed, and individual advice to doctoral candidates and those interested in a doctorate, thus ensuring a high degree of transparency and planning security in the development of their academic and non-academic careers.
During my graduate studies, I was not only provided with unique research opportunities in the field of ageing, but also received full-spectrum training and support for my future career steps at the same time.
Developing leadership skills
We actively support the development of scientific leaders and thus consistently drive cultural change. In addition to their responsibilities in research and teaching, academic leaders also bear leadership and management responsibilities. Today top researchers are expected to excell in the international competition for third-party-funding, to be well versed in teaching in a digital environment and to manage and develop high performing research teams. We therefore offer all researchers at the University of Cologne between doctorate and professorship the opportunity to acquire basic leadership skills and strengthen advanced ones with proven training courses, consulting & coaching, and further information.
Promoting equality and diversity
For us, gender equality and diversity are crucial success factors for innovation in all areas of university life. To this end, we at the University of Cologne continuously initiate and develop measures to ensure gender equality and manage the diversity of our university members with care and competence. With our programms we encourage both managers and members of staff to develop their competences in these areas. In addition, we offer programs focussing on a variety of topics such as the advancement of women, first-generation doctoral candidates or family friendly university.
Taking part in the International Female Scholars mentoring programme was a helpful step in my academic career. The organising team not only helped me with finding a great mentor but also offered suitable workshops, events and opportunities to further my
personal and professional development.
Our Mentoring Programmes
Cornelia Harte Mentoring
For advanced (doctoral) students and postdocs, Cornelia Harte Mentoring is a year-long effort to hone your professional profile with selected mentors from academia and non-university professional fields. It also offers networking opportunities and target group-specific workshops.
Gender Mentoring Agency
The Gender Mentoring Agency offers measures to promote talented female doctoral researchers and undergraduate students. The aim is to win them over for scientific and scholarly careers within the framework of structured talent management. It offers long-term support in planning and implementing their career steps. In addition to mentoring partnerships, advanced training courses and network meetings for mentees, the programme includes a target group-specific programme for scientific managers and middle management employees who wish to network and professionalize their role as mentors and career developers or gatekeepers.
First Generation Doctorate Mentoring+
‘First Generation Doctorate Mentoring+’ is a programme for doctoral candidates and Master’s students interested in pursuing a doctorate from all Faculties with a non-academic family background. The mentees are accompanied for one year by a mentor who also comes from a non-academic family. The aim of mentoring is to support the participants in overcoming specific challenges during their doctorate – or on their way there – and to encourage them.
International Female Scholars Mentoring
The English mentoring programme for International Female Scholars (IFS Mentoring) is aimed at international postdocs and junior professors as well as advanced doctoral candidates. The programme opens up new perspectives in professional development and offers individual career advancement both within and outside the academic world.
Developing interdisciplinary competencies
In addition to professional expertise in research and teaching, social, personal and methodical competences are basic prerequesites for a researcher's success and satisfaction in the workplace. Being well versed in disciplines such as communication, project and process management, quality management, HR management, diversity or change management, is considered vital for excelling in both university and non-university activities and in one's personal career. The University of Cologne offers its employees an extensive further education program, which is available to all researchers free of charge.