You have little or no experience with appointment procedures but will be applying soon? The training course systematically prepares you for the different stages of applying for professorships at university. The morning workshop focuses on methodically preparing you for the appointment process and developing an individual application strategy. You will get advice on
• the presentation of your written application documents
• basic conditions and the course of the appointment process, especially in Switzerland (other university systems may also be included)
A team member of our HSG Faculty Affairs Office will share input that will give you insights into the appointment procedure at HSG. A 45-minute one-on-one consultation session can be booked in the afternoon. You can clarify your individual concerns, get feedback on application documents or research and teaching concepts.
Aims
After the training, you will be able to
• systematically prepare for appointment procedures within Switzerland and selected other academic systems;
• understand the contexts, elements and possibiilities in appointment procedures;
• develop application materials that are focused and fitting;
• perform confidently and deal with critical questions by the committee well;
• prepare negotiation in a structured and goal-oriented manner
| Preliminary Agenda Day 1 – From postdoc to professor: Positioning and strategy 09:00 Welcome, expectations, organisational details 09:15 The transition from qualification phase to institutional leadership 09:45 Appointment procedures in different academic systems (focus: Switzerland) • Explicit and implicit evaluation criteria • Procedure overview and key steps • Role of faculty, appointment committee and rectorate • Distinctive aspects across different academic systems 10:30 Coffee break 10:45 Guest speaker, Faculty Affairs: Appointment procedures at HSG 11:45 Preparing for an application • Do you need strategies? • Q&A: Structuring your application dossier (cover letter, CV, academic concepts) 12:30 End of day 1 | Preliminary Agenda Day 2 – Committee interaction and negotiation |
Individual coachings spanning 45 minutes can be booked for the afternoon or online thereafter.
Date: 27 and 28 April 2026 (9:00–12:30 on both days)
Format: Workshops in the morning, one-on-one consultations in the afternoon.
Trainer: Dr. Margarete Hubrath (uni-support), trainer, consultant and coach in academia since 2001 on a national and international level with a main focus on appointment trainings
Target group: Assistant Professors and advanced Postdocs, doctoral students in their last year Academic staff from other universities please contact fd@unisg.ch
Language: German or English (depending on participants' needs)
Crèche: We are happy to cover the costs for childcare if needed. Please contact us at fd@unisg.ch