10 December 2015 – Parallel Session

Strategic Impact of COFUND projects for the Development of Freie Universitaet’s

Career Path Model

Martina van de SandFreie Universitaet Berlin

“Synergies to fuel Researchers’ Careers”Luxembourg, 10 – 11 December 2015

organised by

Faculties 11 plus Charité

Degree programs 176 (66 BA + 110 MA)

Students 30.000 (17 % int.)

Doctoral candidates 5.500 (29 % int.)

Professors 349 tenured 126 fixed term

Funding 290 mio. € state 125 mio. € external

2

Freie Universitaet (FUB) Key Figures

Traditionally strong in Humanities and Social Sciences

Recently increasing trend for collaborative research across the borders of the institution

in Ancient Studies (3)*Area Studies (6)*Plant Sciences (1)Mathematics (4)*Nanostructures (3)Biomedicine (8)*

* Thereof 6 projects funded by the German Excellence Initiative

3

Freie Universitaet (FUB)Research Strengths

In addition to the 6 Research Projects, Freie Universitaet was successful with its Institutional Strategy:

International Network University

The strategy consists of three Strategic Centers for

1. Collaborative Research 2. Internationalization

3. Doctoral Candidates → Dahlem Research School= Umbrella structure for selected doctoral programs

Major Tasks

• Quality assurance• Complementary qualification• Welcome services

5

Freie Universitaet &The Excellence Initiative

2010

Application for a COFUND project targeting Incoming international postdoctoral researchers

Features• Runtime 2011 - 2015• 20 Fellows in 3 cohorts• Funding 15 months p.P.

Attain the next career step, i.e.Submit a grant application for a follow-up research project

7

Expanding from doctoral to postdoctoral candidates

Aims

1. Recruit and retain international high potentials

2. Boost research careers by exposure to environments of research excellence

3. Promote career development through comprehensive institutional support

Expandingmeasures and experiences from doctoral to postdoctoral level

8

The First COFUND Project

With the COFUND project new territory was entered.

2011

Implementation of a complementary postdoc project exclusively funded by Freie Universitaet

Increasing the number of fellows from 20 to 30

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Complementary Postdoc Project

The measures and standards developed in the frame of both projects should become the blueprint for the

• Promotion of early career researchers at FUB from the doctorate to the professorial appointment

• Development of the Career Path Model in the Excellence Initiative 2012 – 2017

Providing Systematic Support to RECRUIT, RETAIN and REGAIN the Best

10

Further Expansion

2012

The Career Path Model was approved in the new Competition.

Upon approval a new COFUND proposal was submitted

Aims• Matching funds and increasing the number of fellows • Integrating a regain component

Features• Runtime 2013 – 2017• 50 fellows in 3 cohorts• Funding 18 + 6 months p.P.

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The second COFUND Project

12

The Career Path Model

The new COFUND Project became an integrative component of the Career Path Model

within the current Excellence Initiative

The 5 CRUCIAL FIELDS OF ACTION

1. Recruiting and Selection Processes

2. Financial Conditions and Duration of Funding

3. Comprehensive Institutional Support

4. Integration into Research Environment

5. Qualification and Career Development

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The Career Path Model

Broad Recruiting Strategy

• International Calls: Academics, Euraxess, Nature, Science

• Support by the university‘s 7 International Liaison OfficesBeijing, Brussels, Cairo, Delhi, Moskow, New York, Sao Paulo

Online Application with personalized login

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1. Recruiting & Selection

1.305 Applications from 75 countries

Distribution according to Regions

15

1. Recruiting & SelectionBalance 2011 - 2015

41%

18%

8%

7%

7%

4%

4%4%

4%

2%

Europe

South and South East Asia

Middle East & North Africa

East Asia

North America

Central and South America / Latin America

CIS

Germany

Sub-Saharan Africa

Australia & Oceania

Highly competitive selection procedureon 5 levels

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1. Recruiting & SelectionProcedures

Pe

rso

na

lize

d o

nli

ne

ac

ce

ss

to s

ele

cti

on

pro

ce

du

re

Dahlem Research SchoolEligibility Check

Preselection Internal Board of Project

Peer Review

Selection Board of ProjectInterviews

International Experts

Final Selection according to ranking University‘s Executive Board

Eligible

>3,75 of 5 points

>3,75 of 5 points

>3,75 of 5 points

1.305 Applications for 86 Fellowships

300 % Increase in 4 Years

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1. Selection Balance 2011 - 2015

2012 2013 2014 2015 20160

100

200

300

400

500

99

183

271

349

403

12 15 18 21 20

Applications Fellowships

1.305 Applications for 86 Fellowships

Distribution according to Fields of Research Strength see slide 3

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1. Selection Balance 2011 - 2015

Humanities Ancient Studies Area Studies Plant Science Mathematics Nanostructures Biomedicine0

100

200

300

400

500

234195

481

9766

143

89

9 16 334 11 9 4

Applications Fellowships

Welcome & Orientation

Elements

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3. Comprehensive Institutional Support

• Introduction to Freie Universität• Research & Working Conditions in GermanyOrientation Days

80 units according to individual level (Goethe Institut)

German Language Training

Experienced fellows support new fellows Buddy Program

General advice regarding Working contract, Visa & residence, insurance, etc

Welcome Service & Support

Fac

ilit

ate

Inte

gra

tio

n

University’s most prestigious research projects(Projects of the German Excellence Initiative)

• Offer adequate working space

• Integrate fellows into existing structures of the research environments

• Provide access to necessary infrastructure

• Subject specific advice by scientific supervisors (supervisory agreement)

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2. Integration into Areas of Research Excellence

Qualification

Compulsory Elements to be selected from the following offers

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5. Qualification &Career Development

• Funding Opportunities for Postdocs• Proposal Writing• Application Counselling & Peer Coaching

Grant Application Writing

• Didactics & Methods• Planning of Lectures & Seminars• Supervision of Master & Doctoral Candidates

Teaching & Learning

• Project Management• Time & Self Management• Motivation and Performance

Project Management

• Developing a Career in Academia• Sharpening your Profile• Leadership Skills in Academia and Beyond

Career Development

Fac

ilit

ate

Ret

enti

on

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The Result - RETENTION Preliminary Balance

Follow-up positions33

Proposals submitted54

Fellows86

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

21

40

36

12

14

3

50

not successful /not yet decided

at FUB external

former fellows Currently funded

Successful7 at FUB / 7 external

no information available

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The Result - RETENTION Preliminary Balance

Analysis of Follow-up positions(most positions are temporary)

14 Successful ApplicationsFUB: 3 DFG, 1 FUB, 1 Marie Curie, 1 Henkel, 1 BMBFexternal: 2 DE, 2 GB, 2 FR, 1 NL

4 Bridge Funding from Freie Universitaet

3 Tenure Track Positions (1 GB, 2 US)

8 New Postdoc Positions (1 FUB, 2 DE, 3 GB, 1 KR, 1 QA)

4 Return to existing positions (2 CN, 1 PK, 1 KE)

1. Recruiting Strategy

Increasing the participation of researchers from natural & life sciences→ calls in journals of the respective scientific community

2. Retention Strategy

a) Extension of funding period (2,5 + 0,5 yrs.)

b) Targeted screening of candidates with regard to potential for prestigious follow-up projects (ERC, Noether, JPs)

c) Improved tracking

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Potential for Improvement

CONCLUSION

The COFUND Projects have been Role Models and have had a Major Strategic Impact on the Development of a System for the Promotion of Early Career Researchers

at Freie Universitaet Berlin.