A Career with Impact: The Path to a HAW Professorship

As a professor at a university of applied sciences (HAW), you can shape the future through research and practical application, while at the same time working closely with both students and partners from industry and society. Here, you can integrate your professional expertise into your teaching, promote up-and-coming talents, and develop applied solutions to real challenges the world is facing. More than that: a HAW professorship offers the unique opportunity to pass on your knowledge and experience, set your own research priorities, and meaningfully combine professional and personal interests in an inspiring, enriching environment.

 

Create, research, teach: the cornerstones of a HAW professorship

A professorship at a university of applied sciences is an intricate weaving of tasks with serious responsibility. The main focus of these tasks revolves around active teaching in a practice-oriented academic environment. Beyond this, however, HAW professors are expected to engage in applied research, manage their academic affairs, and promote knowledge and technology transfer in industry and society.

All of these tasks share something in common: they offer space for you to incorporate your own ideas, collaborative partnerships and future perspectives.

 

Teaching with impact: practical, personal, future-oriented

HAW professors shape the future through their teaching: They impart specialist knowledge to their students, but also promote important professional and personal skills: independent thinking, problem-solving acumen and the ability to thrive in a team environment. Teaching is at the heart of any professor’s work, but perhaps more so at universities of applied science. HAW professors give lectures, guide seminars and exercises, and oversee laboratory internships. They teach subject-specific content and provide individual support to students during their studies and as they transition to a career. What is more, HAW professors advise students, administer exams and supervise bachelor’s theses, master’s theses and Ph.D. dissertations. The close practical relevance inherent to their professorships makes it possible to incorporate into these tasks – and the university as well – current and future challenges facing businesses, tech, healthcare or society at-large.

Small groups, dedicated students and modern educational spaces combine to form an inspiring environment for teaching with lasting impact, both for individuals and practice.

For teaching-related questions, the dedicated Centre for Quality Development in Studies and Teaching (ZfQ) at HSRW is always available to help.

 

Application-oriented research: innovation you can touch

Research at universities of applied sciences is practice-oriented, collaborative and focused on finding solutions. Professors at universities of applied sciences work closely with companies, public institutions and other organisations from society to address specific challenges with innovative solutions. HAW professorships offer many opportunities to work in an interdisciplinary manner, initiate third-party funding projects, and actively involve students in research processes. You will be responsible for developing research projects, acquiring third-party funding, publishing your results and participating in international conferences and conferences. Fortunately, you can count on the support and expertise of both your faculty and the Centre for Research, Innovation and Transfer (ZFIT) at HSRW for these responsibilities.

If you want to generate knowledge and leave a lasting impact, HSRW offers you the ideal environment to do so.

 

Academic self-governance: contributing to our development and future

Every HAW professor is expected to contribute to the self-governance of the university. Whether in appointment committees, faculty councils or strategic committees, professors play a leading role in shaping the future of HSRW. Here, professional expertise dovetails with autonomy and responsibility to our shared benefit, resulting in improved academic quality, better study programmes, enhanced research profiles and a living, breathing academic culture.

If you want to have a say and work towards a common goal, HSRW offers you a platform to leave your mark.

 

Knowledge transfer and continuing education: building bridges between science and practice

HAW professors are mediators at the interface of theory and practice. They engage in knowledge transfer, accompany companies with innovative ideas, develop training courses with real-world relevance, and contribute their expertise to social debates. Through collaboration, project partnerships and practice-oriented teaching formats, they strengthen the university’ position in both regional and supra-regional networks.

If you seek an open dialogue with industry and want to shape education beyond traditional academic borders, HSRW offers you a broad field of work with deep relevance for society.

 

 

Formal requirements for a HAW professorship

The prerequisites to become professor at HSRW are defined by Section 36 of the Higher Education Act of NRW. In addition to expert knowledge of your field, you must also meet the following formal requirements by law:

 

  1. Fully completed university degree
  2. Excellent academic and research skills, usually demonstrated by the quality of your doctoral dissertation
  3. Pedagogical aptitude, demonstrated by appropriate education or experience such as courses you have taught before or during the appointment process. Teaching during the appointment process usually takes the form of a teaching demonstration.
  4. At least 5 years of professional experience relevant to the professorship, 3 of which were acquired outside of academia

 

 

Selection and appointment process for professorships at HSRW

The path to a HAW professorship is laid out by the Higher Education Act NRW (in particular (Sections 37 and 38), in conjunction with applicable appointment regulations of the universities themselves. You can learn more about the appointment regulations of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences here. 
In general, the appointment process involves the submission of a formal application, a structured interview, a specialist talk and a teaching demonstration on a predefined topic.

Currently vacant professorships at HSRW can be found here. 

 

 

What awaits you as a newly appointed professor at HSRW?

As a professor at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, you will become part of an international, research-oriented and dynamic university with a clear focus on applied teaching, research and transfer. You can look forward to a versatile working environment with significant leeway for individual decisions, an inspiring exchange with dedicated, hard-working students, and an open, supportive team of colleagues. HSRW strives always for a close community and friendly work atmosphere. Rest assured: we will help you along the way, particularly in the early phase of your new role, thanks to a well-structured, interdisciplinary onboarding programme offering orientation discussions, networking events and tailor-made training offers to make it easier to acclimate to your new responsibilities and surroundings. Your research projects will often be funded through the university’s budget, with additional support through partnerships with regional partners and close cooperation with the Graduate School for Applied Research in North Rhine-Westphalia (PK NRW). Flexible work, childcare support and a wide range of offers and services for personal and professional development round out the already attractive overall benefits you will enjoy as a professor at HSRW.

Discover the opportunities of a professorship at HSRW, where you will find fertile soil for your own ideas, personal growth and ability to shape the future.

 

 

Advantages of a HAW professorship

If you are currently working in a company, a public authority or a university, you may wonder why you should choose a HAW professorship in the first place. The answer is simple: unlike many other professions, HAW professorships offer the unique opportunity to combine teaching, knowledge transfer and application-oriented research in the ways you see fit. Moreover, as a professor at HSRW, you can look forward to these benefits:

 

  • Freedom of self-determination: As a HAW professor, you are in charge of shaping your teaching approaches, research and projects as you see fit. In general, you will enjoy a high degree of freedom in how you go about your daily work.          
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
  • Creative freedom: You can look forward to a large amount of creative leeway in your responsibilities, allowing you to develop innovative teaching formats, research approaches and joint projects, as well as set your own priorities.   
     
  • Job security: A HAW professorship offers long-term occupational stability with the possibility of tenure as a civil servant (Verbeamtung) or a permanent employment contract. 
     
  • Flexible work hours: HSRW promotes a good work-life balance and provides the tools to make it possible. For professors, these include, for example, flexible course scheduling and a large degree of autonomy in the workplace.  
     
  • Supporting early-career researchers on their personal journeys: As a HAW professor, you are uniquely positioned to accompany, mentor and inspire students who have embarked on their own paths to industry or academia, shaping and leading the next generation of researchers and industry experts.  
     
  • Interdisciplinary and international work: Through a wide range of projects and collaborations, you can work with colleagues and partners from manifold disciplines and international backgrounds. 
     
  • Combine theory and application: As a HAW professor, you will translate academic findings into practical contexts outside of the university while working closely with companies, institutions and stakeholders in society. 

 

 

FAQ

  • How much will I earn as a HAW professor? 
    Remuneration for HAW professors is set by the State Salary Act NRW (LBesG NRW), in particular Section 32, Annex 4, and Annex 9. As a rule, HAW professors will receive a W2 salary. 
     
  • Is a post doc required for a HAW professorship? 
    No, a post doc (Habilitation) is not required for a HAW professorship. Sufficient expertise is demonstrated in particular by the relevant work experience requirement set forth in Section 36 (1) number 5, HG NRW.
     
  • What is the teaching obligation for professors at a HAW?  
    According to the Teaching Obligation Regulations of NRW (LVV NRW), HAW professors are generally obliged to teach 18 contact hours per semester. One contact hour in Germany is equal to 45 minutes of a teaching activity per week (LVV NRW, Sections 1a, 3). 
     
  • How long does the appointment process take? 
    The appointment process for a HAW professorship takes several months or more. After the initial call for tenders and the passing of the application deadline, the appointment committee will review all candidates, arrange teaching demonstrations, and draw up a final ranking of candidates. At this point, the final appointment negotiations will be held. This part of the process may take several months, but the overall process may take up to a year or more, depending on the university and their specific procedures.
     
  • Who is on the appointment committee? 
    Appointment committees are usually composed of professors, academic staff and students, all of whom have voting power. Information on the composition of appointment committees at specific universities can be found in their respective appointment regulations. 

  • What are my chances at a HAW professorship if I have not yet acquired professional experience outside of academia? 
    Even if you do not currently have the legally required three years of relevant work experience outside of academia, new programmes are emerging to prepare candidates like yourself specifically for a professorship at a university of applied sciences. One example is the Junior Professorship Programme in NRW (Nachwuchsprofessur), which was introduced as part of the amended Higher Education Act.   

    Junior professorships offer candidates with research credentials and an interest in teaching and research the opportunity to grow into the role of HAW professor at an earlier stage in their career than before, even if they lack the relevant work experience required for HAW professors. The aim of this programme is to provide avenues to acquire practical experience outside of academia while at the same time acquiring relevant experience in teaching, research and transfer within the university. Essentially, the Junior Professorship Programme creates a structured career path toward a HAW professorship for potential candidates. In addition, work on third-party funded projects with practical partners, temporary employment in business or work at application-oriented research institutes can be leveraged to acquire the required professional experience over time.

    If you are interested in a HAW professorship, but are still gathering qualifications to apply, we would be happy to advise you personally on the various opportunities and funding programmes available to you. Contact HSRW’s Department of Academic Personnel Development & Continuing Education (proactive@hochschule-rhein-waal.de) or the appointment representatives within our individual faculties.

  • What is the age limit for new HAW professors? 
    In North Rhine-Westphalia, HG NRW Section 39a defines 50 years of age as the upper limit for new professors entering into a tenured civil service position. At the same time, this section of HG NRW also identifies mitigating factors that can raise this age limit (e.g. due to caring for minors, or caring for a close relative with a legally recognised need for care (Section 39a (2) numbers 3 and 4) or when universities are legally able to grant exceptions to this age limit (Section 39a (5)). 
     
  • What does “pedagogical aptitude” mean exactly? 
    Pedagogical aptitude generally refers to experience in teaching and leading various types of courses, which is usually shown through prior teaching education and/or experience. If you are interested in acquiring additional teaching experience, please take a look at our sessional teaching assignments for a suitable introduction. 
     
  • Are unsolicited applications accepted? 
    We only accept applications for specific, advertised and currently vacant professorships. If you have a keen interest in a career as a HAW professor, please begin instead by contacting the Department of Academic Personnel Development & Continuing Education (proactive@hochschule-rhein-waal.de) auf.