It's not over yet
"For me, the senior prophecy was a great happiness," says Volker Gerhardt. He is 76 and came to Berlin as a professor of practical philosophy. For many years he was the director of the Institute of Philosophy. 2012 ended his time as a regular professor. Gerhard was able to stay at the HU and the Institute. As a senior professor he now gives two events per semester, a lecture and a seminar.
The senior professor is a special award, because not every professor or professor can count on such a position when he retires. 2017, following a survey by the German Association of Higher Education (DHV), some 50-senior professors were employed in Berlin, divided into the three state institutions which run the relevant bodies: the Charter, The Free University and the Humboldt University. But senior professors are not equal to senior professors (see box). "There is no senior professorship in the Landeshochschulgesetz in Berlin," explains Sven Hendricks, Justice for University Law and Civil Service Law in the University Association: "Whether, for what purpose and in what form, senior professors are introduced is thus a matter for the individual universities."
He still works in science, oversees projects
From 1975 onwards Volker Gerhardt has been active in science, to this day he works in various scientific academies and supervises two major editing projects. He has accepted the offer, also because discussion and exchange with the students have always helped him to familiarize himself with new topics, he says. As a senior professor, he now enjoys greater freedom on the subject than before: "I no longer have to pay attention to covering the examination requirements in teaching in terms of content and can concentrate on both general and highly specific aspects," he says. That's a win.
Senior professorship is one of several possibilities, as professors in Berlin can continue to work at the university even after the age limit of 65 years. Because seminars and lectures can be offered, and in principle every emeritus and every emerita can do so. The Venia Legendi, the academic teacher's license, lasts a lifetime. "However, this principle is limited by different conditions depending on the country," says Justiziar Hendricks. For example, in the case of space scarcity, employee events usually take precedence, even if the test authorisation is often limited or subject to conditions. In Berlin, an emeritus or an emerita is no longer a member of the university. "This can lead to basic but even more serious obstacles to further scientific work, such as problems with the use of the university library," says Hendricks.
A senior professor will deal with these problems. In addition, it allows the university to be renewed: unlike an extension of service, which allows a professorship to continue up to three years after retirement, with the adoption of a senior professorship after retirement, the regular professorship will be free again, and can be re-employed. "An extension of service also means continuing to have full duty," Hendricks emphasises. The senior professors, on the other hand, could be flexible. Likewise, content preferences, for example, whether one wants to learn more or delve more deeply into one's own research, can be taken into account.
He was asked, he said yes
"I did not influence the negotiation of my senior professor in 2012 or the annual extensions," says Gerhardt. At that time, his colleagues would have asked him if he wanted to take over a senior professor and thus two events per semester. He did say that some time later the Bureau's commitment was received.
"The proposal for a senior professorship, which is usually an appreciation of particular professional and institutional merits, usually comes from the respective field," Hendricks confirms. The decision will then normally be made by several university bodies, and ultimately the College Bureau will have to decide, with the financial aspect also playing a role.
[And what exactly is going on in your jaw? 12-Berlin districts, 12-day mirror newsletter and already 220.0000 subscriptions. The daily mirror newsletter is available free of charge and in full length here: people.daymirror.de ]
You don't apply for a senior professor, the position is assigned to someone. Hendricks advises that it is all the more important for a senior professor to try to position himself early and raise his interest among colleagues, and to find out about the possibilities and models at his own university. The best contacts can be found here mostly in the personnel administrations of the universities themselves. Hendricks also offers a weekly speaking session.
But a senior professor doesn't make a lot of money. If the position is remunerated, it is normally not more than within the range between the pension and the last salary. If new remuneration and pension go beyond that, the pension is usually reduced accordingly.(徳囯ASK电容器)