We know that excellent research requires more than just innovative ideas and specialist knowledge. That is why we place great importance on ensuring that our researchers have the opportunity to undertake continuous professional development. Our programmes are designed to strengthen academic skills, develop personal abilities and pave the way for a wide variety of career paths.
By creating opportunities for exchange, professional development and the assumption of responsibilities, we support researchers in realising their full potential – for their own personal development and for the future of science.
The Heidelberg University of Education offers a wide-ranging programme of professional development for researchers. From subject-specific workshops and seminars on methodology and soft skills to individual counselling services – our programmes help researchers to expand their skills in a targeted manner and prepare themselves as effectively as possible for their academic and professional future.
Our services include:
- PhD
- Postdocs
- Habilitation
- Junior professorship
- Research semester
The Heidelberg University of Education is the only university of education to have its own graduate school. The Graduate Academy is a joint academic institution of the universities of education in Baden-Württemberg. Its main aim is to support early-career researchers in the field of educational sciences. To this end, it offers an inter-university training programme. This programme is designed to provide interdisciplinary academic development and networking opportunities. In this way, early-career researchers are optimally prepared for the complex challenges facing academia, business and society.
The Heidelberg University of Education is authorised to award doctoral degrees and confers the following doctoral degrees
- Dr. paed.
- Dr. phil.
following the successful completion of doctoral research projects in all subjects represented at the University, in accordance with the University’s remit. The University attaches great importance to the support and further training of early-career researchers in the field of educational science.
The Heidelberg University of Education also offers the opportunity to take up a junior professorship. It provides numerous funding and support structures for this purpose, which also prove effective in the context of the academic careers of junior professors.
As a rule, only those who can demonstrate three years’ teaching experience in schools are eligible for appointment to a professorship at a University of Education. Tenure-track professorships therefore offer an attractive academic career path for teachers with a PhD who hold civil service status!
Early-career researchers who have completed their PhDs and are on the career path to a professorship receive a wide range of opportunities as part of academic staff development, tailored to their specific circumstances. Here, too, the Graduate School and its mentoring system play a central role.
Since 2018, postdocs have also been able to become members of the Graduate School. Their membership goes beyond the opportunities available to PhD students: postdocs not only benefit from the wide range of funding opportunities, but also have the chance to further develop their advisory skills. This is achieved, for example, by taking on responsibility for PhD students – whether as a point of contact for specific research topics or by organising workshops independently.