Hof University of Applied Sciences is making a targeted effort to foster early networking in order to strengthen academic careers and practice-oriented teaching. The pool of adjunct instructors initially created a structured way to make external expertise visible and accessible for teaching. Building on this, the doctoral pool has recently been launched to offer all prospective doctoral students the opportunity to establish their academic ambitions early on and find suitable supervision.
In an interview, Jette Petzold from the “Go2Hof4ever” project explains how both tools work, who they are aimed at, and why they are important for the university’s future.
Ms. Petzold, what was the idea behind the lecturer pool?
“The lecturer pool offers qualified professionals with practical experience the opportunity to contribute their knowledge to teaching and actively participate in training future specialists and leaders. At the same time, it makes it easier for the university to specifically recruit qualified lecturers. Interested individuals can register centrally, allowing faculties to quickly access suitable profiles when needed. This simplifies organization while ensuring high quality and diversity in teaching.”
How exactly does registration in the adjunct faculty pool work?
“Interested individuals can find all information regarding teaching positions on the university’s website. They can register directly in the pool via an online form. In doing so, they specify their areas of expertise, qualifications, and potential fields of application—this creates a clear database for the faculties.”
What advantages does the pool offer potential lecturers?
“The biggest advantage is certainly visibility: Anyone registered in the pool can be considered directly when suitable openings arise. Additionally, the structured process makes it easier to get started in teaching and creates a clear foundation for further discussions with the faculties.”
The newly established doctoral pool is a recent initiative…
“Yes. The PhD pool is primarily aimed at master’s students and graduates who are considering pursuing a PhD. It is also open to external interested parties from the business and public sectors. It serves as a central platform to highlight interest in pursuing a PhD and to find suitable supervisors. At the same time, it brings together research topics, professors, and potential collaboration partners.”
Why is it a good idea to register early?
“Registering early increases your chances of getting in touch with potential advisors at an early stage and being involved in relevant projects or topics. It also increases your visibility to professors who are supervising suitable doctoral projects. Those who register early can thus build targeted contacts and significantly improve their chances of pursuing a doctorate.”
What final advice would you like to give to those interested?
“Whether for teaching positions or a potential doctoral program, the key is simply to take the first step. Registering for the respective pools is straightforward and opens up new opportunities. Those who make themselves visible early on have significantly better chances of finding suitable opportunities. If you have questions about teaching positions or need advice regarding a doctoral program, I am always available at Hof University.”
Information on teaching positions
Registration in the lecturer pool
Information on doctoral studies
Registration in the doctoral pool
