Lunch talks, workshops, Opportunities Fair
The Opportunities Fair gave the doctoral candidates and graduates a chance to meet representatives from a range of organizations and find out about career and support opportunities. The events that took place during the lunch break were particular highlights. Attendees got to choose between lunch talks with various companies, a professional résumé photo shoot, and a brief résumé check. In the afternoon, 15 workshops about entering non-university careers took place in 2 blocks.
Career talk: research and higher education management and professorships at universities of applied sciences
An insightful panel discussion with Dr. Muriel Helbig, the president of the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences, concluded the career day. Dr. Helbig, who holds a doctorate in psychology, has first-hand experience of 2 career paths in higher education: research and higher education management and a professorship at a university of applied sciences. She had encouraging words for an audience member asking about the qualifications required for the latter: “If you can imagine becoming a professor, be certain: there are plenty of universities of applied sciences desperate to hire you. Personally, I don’t care how old an applicant is or whether their résumé is particularly straightforward. I need people with doctorates and 3–5 years of practical experience. Having a professional network with good, external contacts is the main thing.” She also pointed out that research and higher education management as an attractive career option between academia and administrative work but issued a word of warning. Those aiming for a professorship, she said, should avoid going into research and higher education management. “It’s a dangling carrot: you can be witness to academic pursuit but it remains beyond reach. You might be writing funding applications, but that’s it.”
