A transformation at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Hohenheim?

An upward trend is only noticeable after the turn of the millennium. In 1999, a year after Ellen Kandeler, Anne Valle Zárate became a full professor in Animal Husbandry. After her, from 2001 to 2023, five junior professors and 13 full professors were appointed—during the same period, three men received junior professorships, and 45 scientists were appointed as full professors. Thus, in Hohenheim, the proportion of women was about one-third, in line with the national average.

Especially from 2010 onwards, there was a significant upward trend. This was likely due to the increasing number of female students and doctoral candidates at both Hohenheim and the other seven universities offering agricultural science programs. In 2016, for the first time, there was gender parity in completed doctorates at the University of Hohenheim (see figure).

As a result, more qualified women—including those from abroad—applied for advertised professorships. Significant contributors to this were the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s Professorship Program I to III, the newly introduced junior professorships, and the Wrangell Fellowship. Most former Wrangell Fellows from the University of Hohenheim are now professors at other universities or have pursued junior professorships. This demonstrates the importance of funding programs for driving change.

Despite these successes, Professor Martina Brockmeier, President of the Leibniz Association, former chair of the German Council of
Science and Humanities, and since 2009, Professor of International Agricultural Trade and Food Security at the University of Hohenheim (on leave), warns:

“In my opinion, the development of a university also significantly depends on the stronger representation of women in university committees. We know that committees only respond to a heterogeneous composition when both genders make up at least 30% each.” Martina Brockmeier, who herself became the first dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in 2012, speaks from experience. As the former chair of the German Council of Science and Humanities, she also reports that “with gender-balanced committees, significantly different and, in my opinion, better decisions are made.”

Therefore, it should be a priority at Hohenheim and every university to encourage female scientists to participate as prorectors,
senators, chancellors, or members of the university council. After all, they have a say in the appointment of professorships and thus set the course for the future.

Since when have habilitations existed in Germany?

The habilitation, as a qualification path for a university professorship, has a long tradition in Germany and dates back to the 19th century. It‘s challenging to pinpoint an exact founding year since the development of university systems evolved gradually over time.

The core idea behind the habilitation is that, following a PhD, researchers demonstrate their qualification for a professorship through further independent research achievements and teaching experience. In Germany, the habilitation has been and continues to be a crucial requirement for obtaining teaching authorization at universities.

In recent years, German universities have revised their habilitation regulations or introduced alternative career paths, such as the junior professorship with a tenure track system. Despite these changes, habilitation remains an important qualification route for attaining a professorship at many universities.

What is a full professorship?

Appointment to a full professorship is based on outstanding academic achievements and experience in both research and teaching.

The exact title and requirements for full professorships vary by country. For example, in Germany, there is a distinction between W2 and W3 professorships, with W3 positions generally offering higher pay and more responsibilities.

What is a junior professorship with tenure track?

The „junior professorship with tenure track“ is a relatively new career path in the German higher education system, designed to support talented early-career researchers and offer them a clear path to a permanent professorship. The tenure-track model originates from the Anglo-Saxon academic system.

This model aims to increase the attractiveness of the German academic system for promising young scientists while also improving the quality of research and teaching at universities. After a successful evaluation period, junior professors on a tenure track can transition to a permanent professorship, providing a secure career progression.

The key characteristics of a junior professorship with tenure track:

1. Junior Professorship: The junior professorship is a temporary position for early-career researchers, allowing them to conduct independent research and gain teaching experience.

2. Tenure Track: The term „tenure track“ refers to a defined career path with clear criteria and evaluations. During the tenure track process, the performance of the junior professor is regularly assessed.

3. Tenure: If the junior professor meets the required performance standards, they are typically offered a permanent professorship (tenure). Tenure means the position is no longer temporary, providing the researcher with long-term job security at the university.

4. Promotion of Research and Teaching: The goal of the tenure track model is to promote excellence in research and teaching while offering outstanding early-career researchers a clear path to a permanent professorship.

What professors have to do with doctoral studies

Under Margarete von Wrangell, a total of 16 PhD students completed their doctoral projects. During this time, she served as the primary advisor 12 times and as a co-advisor four times (according to the Doctoral Register of Agricultural Sciences).

Her first PhD student, Ludwig Meyer, defended his dissertation on February 19, 1926, three years after von Wrangell’s appointment, with the title “Studies on Root Solubility and the General Solubility Conditions of Soil Phosphoric Acid,” earning the distinction “with honors.”

The number of supervised PhDs at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim steadily increased over more than 100 years (see figure). There is now parity between male and female PhD graduates.

A significant proportion of PhD supervisions have been carried out by the female professors appointed after von Wrangell. Since 2015, more than 130 PhD projects have been supervised and successfully completed by female professors currently working in Hohenheim as the primary academic advisor.

The development of doctoral degrees in Hohenheim over 100 years

Habilitation and teaching authorization associated with private lectureship

In Germany, the habilitation is an academic qualification process that takes place after the completion of a PhD, or the awarding of a doctoral degree. During the habilitation, researchers conduct independent research and publish scholarly works in a specialized field. The habilitation is generally a prerequisite for a professorship at a university. The specific requirements for habilitation can vary depending on the university and the field of study.

After successfully completing the habilitation, a researcher can pursue teaching authorization along with the title of „Privatdozent“ (PD). This requires a separate examination. A Privatdozent is then authorized to give lectures and conduct examinations. Privatdozents are required to teach but are not typically employed on a permanent basis; they work independently and are also permitted to supervise PhD students.

The academic qualification of university lecturers is not only required in the DACH countries (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), but also in other European countries. In particular, in Central and Eastern European countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, and Russia, as well as in Finland and Sweden, habilitation is a prerequisite for university teaching.

In many other countries, a state-certified additional qualification replaces the habilitation, such as in Denmark and the Netherlands. In France, the Habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR) has once again become the central qualification for obtaining a professorship.