Single Review on past events

The Fellows of the Zukunftskolleg invited Rector Ulrich Rüdiger to the Jour Fixe at the end of January. The topic was to discuss general questions about the future development of the Zukunftskolleg and especially its perspective after the end of the Excellence Initiative in 2017. As the Rector is currently working on a structure and development plan for the period after 2017 he couldn’t make concrete statements and concessions about the future budget of the university. “In 2014 I have an answer about the budget after 2017”, Ulrich Rüdiger predicted. Moreover it doesn´t seem clear so far how the state government will support the university after 2017.

Besides financial aspects the Rector was asked about the possibility of a seat in the Senate for the Zukunftskolleg, represented by Giovanni Galizia, so that the Zukunftskolleg is better integrated into the university´s bodies. Ulrich Rüdiger agreed to discuss this in the Senate and in the Rectorate. Furthermore the Fellows noted possible changes in the structure of the Zukunftskolleg based on the new ZIF Co-funding programme and the new Fellowship format consisting of 2+5 years. They also emphasised the great advantages of the Zukunftskolleg – early independence and no teaching obligation of the Fellows  – and the necessity to keep this successful model alive after the end of the Excellence Initiative. One problem that the Fellows have to face is the lack of Tenure Track and Transitional Positions for excellent researchers at the University of Konstanz. Eleanor Coghill mentioned that in other countries, like the UK, good people are tried to be kept at the university. Ulrich Rüdiger admitted: “We have too less permanent positions in the “Mittelbau” in Germany. I´m expecting changes in the system of permanent positions, but not in the next five years.” He explained that the so called “Hausberufungsverbot” doesn´t exist anymore and that all Fellows are able to apply for professorships at the University of Konstanz.

Finally, the Fellows deplored the lacking information flow to the AFF (Ausschuss für Forschungsfragen) at the University of Konstanz . It seems unclear if Fellows can apply for calls of the AFF and the Young Scholar Fund (YSF). Some Fellows made the experience that their applications were rejected on the grounds that the Zukunftskolleg has its own internal funds. On the other hand the ERC promotes Fellows to apply for the YSF. The Rector promised to clarify the misunderstanding, so that Fellows are able to apply for these funds in the future as well.