The Tenure-Track Project at Friedrich-Schiller University Jena

Friedrich-Schiller University Jena aims at lowering the academic age at which a young researcher is appointed as professor for the first time. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen an early academic indepence and self-responsibility of young researchers and improve both the plannability and transparency of academic career paths. Consequently, it has established the Tenure-Track professorship and issued a statute on the recruitment and appointment of Tenure-Track-ProfessorshipsExternal link in May 2017 (in German).

With its Concept for the Promotion of Young Researchers and the Implementation of Tenure-Track professorships, the FSU was also a succesful competitor in the first round of the Tenure-Track Programme by the Governement and the Lander in 2017, and was given approval for all 12 submitted applications for Tenure-Track professoral positions. Until 2032, all these twelve professorships will be funded with a sum total of up to 11.3 million EUR.

The funding includes a so-called "strategic addition" that is used to promote the general implementation of the Tenure-Track professorship and the academic cultural change coming with it.

Thereby, FSU invests into the accompaniment of all Tenure-Track professors at the University, regardless whether they be financed by the above-mentioned programme or by other financial means. The accompaniment comprises the Qualification Programme de for Tenure-Track professors and the Mentoring ProgrammeExternal link with mentors from within the professors' faculties. Furthermore, FSU is supporting the nationwide networking of Tenure-Track professors and the network of all German universities that seek to establish Tenure Track as a career path in the long run.