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Leadership Programmes

Promote leadership and supervision skills | Improve work culture

Great leadership and support are crucial for the University of Freiburg to promote the motivation, creativity and well-being of all its members. Academic leaders are responsible for the organisation of research and teaching and the individual career development of their team members. They support equal opportunities and inclusion and make a significant contribution to the achievement of university goals at faculty level and in the committees. At the same time, they face the challenge of meeting the growing demands of various leadership roles as well as increasing management and transformation tasks.

The University of Freiburg supports future and established leaders in their individual development of leadership, supervision and management skills and offers assistance in challenging leadership situations. The Centre for Advanced Researcher Development designs and organises tailored and diversity-sensitive leadership programmes for postdoctoral researchers, newly appointed and established professors, deans and members of the rectorate. These serve to systematically expand the leadership, supervision and management skills of our academic leaders. They are based on the university’s mission statement and, in future, on our leadership guidelines.

Offers for Academic Leaders

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Leadership Training for New Professors



Our two module leadership training supports you in your new role and in establishing your professorship.

Next dates:
Module I 2025: 20/21 February 2025 Module II 2025: 09/10 October 2025


Contact:
Dr. Marco Tomaszewski

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Individual Leadership Coaching


Whether you are new to your role as a professor, want to strategically develop your professorship, optimise your management and work structures or specifically promote your team – our coaching offers you the right support.

On request, we will fund up to six hours of individual leadership coaching with professional external coaches from the academic world. Together we will select a suitable person for you with whom you can work flexibly and independently.

Contact:
Dr. Ramona Wurst

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Peer Consulting


Professional peer consulting offers a valuable method for reflecting on professional challenges together with other professors and developing solutions. In a structured, moderated exchange with colleagues in similar leadership positions, you will gain new perspectives, receive helpful impulses for your leadership and working style and strengthen your decision-making skills.

Peer consulting also helps you to build a supportive network and contributes to your personal and professional development.

On request, we organise a professional introduction to peer consulting with external coaches for small groups, during which further exchange meetings in the small group are planned in a structured way.

Contact
Dr. Ramona Wurst

Leadership Programmes in Development

UFR | lead & supervise

Established Researchers (R3)

Certificate programme in English for advanced postdoctoral researchers for the basic development of leadership and supervision skills in academia.

Planned topics include:

Basic knowledge of leadership & supervision
Strategic career planning & third-party funding
Consolidation of leadership skills
Setting up and leading your own group

UFR | führen & betreuen

Professors (R4)

Modular and compact programme in German to deepen leadership, management and supervisory skills for established professors.

Planned topics include:

Personnel and team leadership
Strategy & change management
Lateral leadership & management of research networks

UFR | führen & managen

Rectorate & Deans

Compact workshops and supervision to deepen specific leadership and management skills for senior management positions in academia.

Planned topics include:

Strategy & Governance
Change management
Leadership exchange
Counselling

Dr. Ramona Wurst [she/her]

Deputy Head of the Academic Personnel Development unit
Personnel development measures for post-doctoral researchers