Tandem professorships
How are tandem professorships structured?
Tandem professorships are an opportunity for (recent) doctorate-holders to gain the professional experience necessary to meet the requirements for appointment as a professor at a university of applied sciences (UAS).
A tandem professorship consists of two employment contracts under private law, usually over three years. Both positions are coordinated and regulated by a cooperation agreement between all parties involved. This agreement specifies, among others, the tasks and roles of all parties. Your responsibilities will be determined jointly with Osnabrück UAS and the cooperating partner company/institution as they depend on your individual profile and specialty. We will additionally ensure that the position allows you to apply and develop scientific findings and/or methods.
The tandem professorship is accompanied by a mentor at the university, a contact person in the company, and the CarLa project. This ensures that you always have a point of contact. Together, we keep an eye on your career development so that at the end of the tandem professorship you meet the formal requirements for appointment as a UAS professor.
Information for interested academics
Doctorate under your belt – now what?
After completing their doctorate, many people must decide whether to pursue a career in academia, with the goal of becoming a professor, or to transition to professional practice. What many postdoctoral researchers do not realize is that they do not necessarily have to choose between the two options. After all, professional experience is a key qualification for a UAS professorship. This is set out in legislation, in the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG). To obtain a professorship at a UAS in Lower Saxony, you must have at least three years of professional experience outside the university environment equivalent to at least 50 percent of a full-time position. We would be happy to discuss the activities that fall under this requirement with you in a no-obligation consultation.
A tandem professorship will therefore enable you to meet the requirements for appointment as a professor at a UAS. The program involves employment (at least 50 percent) at a partner company/institution and concurrent employment (up to 50 percent) at Osnabrück UAS for a period of three years. It enables you to pave the way for various career paths. At the same time, your professional experience can inform your teaching and research activities. The direct link to industry helps students transition into the workforce.
A tandem professorship involves you having two employment contracts. At Osnabrück UAS, you will be paid as a teaching and/or research assistant at pay grade 13 of the TV-L (Public Sector Collective Agreement of the Federal States). Please note that the position falls under the Act on Academic Fixed-Term Contracts (WissZeitVG) and that any prior postdoctoral employment must be considered.
The position with the cooperating partner company/institution should be in the same range, but the exact salary will be determined by them.
Since there are various pathways to a tandem program, we would still be delighted to hear from you – no strings attached. Simply register on our prospective applicant database (form in German) and/or send an email to haw-professur@hs-osnabrueck.de. During a free, confidential consultation, we will lay out the options and review your personal career and life stage. We will work with you to develop a plan for how you can meet the formal criteria for a UAS professorship, taking into account your individual needs.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye on the job offers at the Osnabrück UAS.
In addition, you can always try to find a tandem position yourself with the support of the project. The CarLa project will help you in your search for a cooperation partner, providing you with individual guidance and networking opportunities. The first step involves registering on the prospective applicant database (form in German). We look forward to meeting you.
Osnabrück UAS is notable for its wide range of cooperative ventures and contacts in the region. Examples include the Fördergesellschaft (promotional organization), the Health Campus, the Agro-Technicum, and a variety of application-oriented projects. We will gladly help you network with our cooperation partners. Susanne Klein (s.klein@hs-osnabrueck.de) from the Office of University Advancement and the CarLa project is available to assist you.