This included, after a short introductory information block, moderated topic islands on the following main topics:
- Career perspectives and further training for WiFa scientists
- Reconciliation of family and career
- Health offers of the University of Leipzig; dealing with uncertainties and personal challenges
- Faculty matters: Organization, concepts, co-determination, exchange formats
Experts for all questions that arose were Ms. Schoder and Ms. Hiebner from the Career Service of the University of Leipzig; Ms. Korek, Ms. Georgi and Mr. Arndt from the Department of Continuing Education and Mr. Teichert as head of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Family. Mr. Heinisch (Head of the Office of Student Affairs), Mr. Barton (staff member of the Chair of Human Resources Management) and Dr. Diesener (Dean's Councilor) were available to answer questions about the faculty.
"I am now aware of the many great offers at the university, e.g. that I can go on a study abroad program during my employment at no cost. Unfortunately, they're not well known enough and could be better bundled."
"Accounting for votes on the ballot proposals for the election of representatives of the academic middle class is anything but trivial."
Said participants at the event. But questions about career orientation and possible options on the private-sector job market when temporary employment at the University of Leipzig ends were also discussed, as was the compatibility of career and childcare or caring for relatives. These are just a few of the many topics discussed.
On the basis of this pilot, it is now to be considered whether and which follow-up offers for the scientific mid-level staff of the WiFa will be launched.
This event was prompted by the 2021 staff survey in which academic staff articulated the following problems, among others:
- Too much to manage at once, time pressure.
- Too little support with regard to career paths outside the university and academic institutions.
- Shared ideas about how faculty should develop.
- Time for scientific qualification.
- Temporary employment contract, although a detailed evaluation of these statements showed that the understanding of the reasons is high. Rather, there is dissatisfaction with the uncertainty of the employment situation and the dilemma of finding a healthy balance between scientific career and family, honorary office, time off, extreme demands.