- The University of Freiburg’s Dual Career Service (DCS) supports the partners of professors and high-ranking administrative, service, and technical employees faced with the challenge of a move and new career prospects.
- In 2022, the university published its Dual Career Policy, in which it clearly commits to supporting dual-career couples.
- We help you and your families to settle in quickly and easily after a move to Freiburg. The Dual Career Service is the university’s central point of contact for dual career couples and is networked with relevant contacts at and outside of the university.
- The DCS takes action only on the instructions of the University of Freiburg Rectorate.
Applicants to professorships or high-ranking management positions and their partners can use the advising to make an informed decision concerning mobility, to realistically assess their career opportunities, and to receive support in finding a position:
- individual advising sessions
- admission into the dual career network
- support for your own job search
- feedback on application documents
- advice on application processes in Germany
- cooperation with the university’s Family Service
Information on:
- the job market
- the housing market
- life in Freiburg
- continuing education and language courses
On the City of Freiburg
Freiburg offers an excellent quality of life for all needs thanks to its ample green spaces and short commuting distances. The only drawback is that its highly desirable location and geographically limited supply of space are reflected in above-average rent levels and real estate prices. All Freiburg neighborhoods and many surrounding municipalities are accessible by good public transit connections. A successful market and center concept as well as numerous neighborhood markets ensure the local supply of goods for daily needs.
Some of the regional job portals offer the possibility to filter job offers by location, by professional field, or by type of work.
The University of Freiburg offers a wide range of advising and support services. Here is an overview of our services arranged by topic as well as a list of the relevant municipal institutions.
Dual Career Network Germany (DCND)
University dual career service departments help partners of researchers to continue their professional career after a move to a new location. They also advise couples on how to plan and implement decisions concerning mobility. The experts at the dual career service departments of 20 German universities have formed the “Dual Career Network Germany (DCND)” to exchange experience and expertise and to improve the (inter)national visibility of support programs for dual career couples.
The DCND has set itself the objectives of developing national quality criteria for the work with dual career couples, enhancing the attractiveness of Germany as a center for science and research, and professionalizing dual career advisors through further training. The DCND participated in Europe’s largest research project for the promotion of female researchers to date with observer status: GENDER NET, an EU project within the context of HORIZON 2020 (formerly the 7th EU Framework Programme), compares funding instruments for female researchers across Europe and makes recommendations on how to improve women’s career paths in science and research. In Germany, there are currently around 36,000 male professors but only around 10,000 female professors.
Dual Career Network Upper Rhine (DCNO)
In 2010, the University of Freiburg was the driving force in the establishment of an innovative and cross-border network in the Freiburg region that is dedicated to providing high-ranking personnel and their families support in reorienting their careers.
In order to provide effective support to dual career couples, we need to be able to draw on a good regional network. Such a network has been built up in the past years: The first step was the establishment of the dual career network of the Eucor universities Basel, Mulhouse, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg. The next step was the signing of a declaration of intent for the regional Dual Career Network Upper Rhine by 18 participants on 6 December 2010. The network has continued to grow to this day through the admission of new members.
International and Innovative Network
Employers exchange information about applications and vacant positions across international borders. All participating institutions can approach human resources managers directly. In this way, the network establishes promising contacts between universities, research institutes, businesses, government agencies, and professional associations and serves as a model for other regions. This provides a variety of opportunities to reach individual employers, but also entire industries, in order to increase the chances of finding a job for the accompanying spouse or partner.
Personal Relationship
Meeting in person with human resources managers on the one hand and applicants on the other allows us to compare profiles and make recommendations that are a perfect fit.
Participating institutions:
- Agentur für Arbeit Freiburg
- Architektenkammer Südbaden
- Badischer Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
- badenova AG & Co. KG
- Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Lörrach
- Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Villingen-Schwenningen
- Duravit AG
- Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH
- ECG Energie Consulting GmbH
- Evangelische Hochschule Freiburg
- Fraunhofer Institut für Kurzzeitdynamik
- Fraunhofer Institut für Physikalische Messtechnik
- Fraunhofer Institut für Werkstoffmechanik
- Fraunhofer Institut für Solare Energiesysteme
- Freudenberg Sealing Technologies
- FWTM
- Hekatron
- Hochschule Furtwangen
- Hochschule Offenburg
- Hüttinger Elektronik
- IHK Südlicher Oberrhein
- Katholische Fachhochschule Freiburg
- Leibniz-Institut für Sonnenphysik
- KIT Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Landratsamt Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
- Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Strafrecht
- Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie und Epigenetik
- Max-Planck-Institut zur Erforschung von Kriminalität, Sicherheit und Recht
- Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg
- Rechtsanwaltskammer Freiburg
- Schrempp EDV
- Sick AG
- SMP Deutschland GmbH
- Stadt Freiburg
- Testo AG
- Universität Basel
- Universität Mulhouse
- Universität Strasbourg
- Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
- Wirtschaftsverband Industrieller Unternehmen Baden e.V. (WVIB)
We are also connected with the regional alliance for equal opportunities of the Southwest Economic Region in Lörrach. This increases the chances of a successful job search:
Netzwerk der Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH
Further partners are welcome. Please contact the Dual Career Service directly if you are interested (see Contact).
The following links provide an overview of ongoing appointment procedures at the faculties and the current status of the various procedures.
The advice centers for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications offer free advice and information on the recognition process. Also listed are advice centers for cross-border issues.
We want answer your questions and thus offer you an introduction to the topic here.
What are dual career couples?
“Partnerships in which both partners are employed and career-oriented and at the same time lead a (family) life (together).”Source: Prof. Dr. Michel E. Domsch, MDC Management Development Center
Who can take advantage of the advising?
Partners of people who are currently engaged in appointment negotiations with the University of Freiburg or have applied for a high-ranking management position in research, administration, or technical services/IT. Acceptance of the position would require a move to Freiburg. Comprehensive advising can be initiated only by the Rectorate.
What objectives does the dual career support follow?
Recruiting and retaining excellent researchers
Making Freiburg more attractive as a center for research
Promoting equal opportunities
Promoting a balance between family and career
How do I bring up the issue of dual careers?
The desire to receive support from the Dual Career Service is often mentioned in the position paper.
What does the support include?
We start by taking a detailed look at your employment history. Then we discuss specific wishes and possible alternatives with you. Finally, we suggest specific paths for you in Freiburg job market.
The Dual Career Service puts you in contact with the networks and accompanies the application process with qualified advice. In this way, you receive effective advice and support for your own job search.
For financial and legal reasons, we cannot give you a job guarantee.
The Dual Career Service keeps your personal information confidential and adheres to data privacy law as a matter of course.
Who establishes contact with the Dual Career Service?
In most cases, it is the Rectorate, the board of the relevant faculty, or the department responsible for the hiring.
Can I contact the Dual Career Service directly?
The DCS takes action only on the instructions of the University of Freiburg Rectorate.
What documents do we need from you?
The application documents customary in Germany: a detailed curriculum vitae, certificates, possibly a cover letter
How is the advising organized?
The first step is usually a face-to-face meeting or a telephone conversation. In the course of the following days and weeks, we provide you with the names of possible employers or specific contact persons. We ask you to please let us know when you have found a job.
How long does the advising last?
Usually until you receive a job and inform us of the fact. The support is provided for an average of 6 months, or 1 year at the most.
What does an advising session involve?
Examination of your application documents
Discussion of the planning and procedure with the applicant
Detailed description of possibilities for support and their limits
Network-oriented career planning
Advice on application documents and self-presentation
Discussion of potential employment prospects in the region
Writing up of a target agreement:
Target agreement:
- Agreement on the measures and the next steps
- When is the advising process successful?
- Time and form of the next contact
Contact
Mariana Vargas Ustares
Referentin Dual Career Service
