Paderborn University launches unique programme in Germany with partner universities

While funding programmes for doctoral candidates and postdocs are already established at German universities and colleges, there has been a lack of targeted support for academics in the advanced postdoc phase on the path to a lifetime professorship. In order to change this, Paderborn University, together with twelve other universities from the "University Alliance 11+" (UA11+), is launching "JUMP2 - On the Path to a Professorship", a funding programme that is unique in Germany. The programme is aimed at junior research group leaders, junior professors without a tenure track and tenure-track professors (so-called "R3 Researchers") at the participating universities. The aim is to network researchers, promote the development of their academic profile and prepare them for their next career step in the best possible way. Participation is free of charge.

Targeted support through counselling, mentoring and workshops

Various support options and focal points are planned from this winter semester: peer counselling, Future Leader Mentoring, and workshops tailored to different needs. In the peer counselling sessions, R3 Researchers can network, exchange ideas and support each other with researchers who are in the same career phase and face similar challenges. In the JUMP2 Future Leader Mentoring programme, participants are brought together with research-strong, established professors from one of the participating partner universities. In this way, the R3 Researchers are supported in the further development of their academic profile, receive targeted impetus for their academic career and can expand their professional network in the long term. There are also established mentoring programmes for women. The workshops offered in the JUMP2 programme cover three central topics: "Paths to a professorship", "Paths through everyday university life" and "Paths to a competent leadership role".

"With JUMP2, we are closing a gap in academic career development and offering participants a platform for professional and personal development. After all, an academic career is not built through individual achievements alone, but through collaboration, mutual support and targeted promotion. This is what we want to promote with JUMP2," says project coordinator Dr. Alexandra Wiebke from the Jenny Aloni Centre for Early Career Researchers at Paderborn University.

This text was translated automatically.