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Leadership in Science

Leadership in Science

Leadership in Science
Image Credit: iStock.com/deimagine

Being a leader means setting goals together with people and traveling the path toward those goals with them. That is often easier said than done, especially in a work environment as multifaceted as the academic world. Over the course of their specialized careers, researchers receive little preparation for future leadership duties. By the time they receive their first appointment, professors therefore face the challenge of embracing their new leadership role positively and filling it constructively.

Modular program “Leadership in Science”

This is where the modular leadership-development program “Leadership in Science” comes in: it helps professors at the Berlin University Alliance’s partner institutions fulfill their leadership role as effectively as possible. We offer workshops tailored specifically to the needs and interests of professors, enabling you to strengthen and further develop your leadership skills. The program is designed so that both new leaders and those with many years of leadership experience can benefit.

The events in “Leadership in Science” can be booked individually according to your interests and needs. To accommodate the limited time budget of our target audience, our workshops are generally organized as half-day or full-day sessions. Small participant groups allow for an effective and intensive exploration of each topic. Finally, an evidence-based, scholarly orientation and the continuous evaluation of our events ensure that we set the highest quality standards for the professional development of our academic leaders.

Your point of contact for this program is N. N..

Further information about our certificate, organizational details, and an overview of our trainers can be found on the following pages (in German):

Workshop Dates and Registration

Please note that currently only some of our workshops are offered in English, these are listed below (to register, use the link at the bottom of each workshop description). For our full program, please see our German site.

Leadership in Science: Introduction

personalführung in der wissenschaft

Goals

As a professor, there are many different tasks and roles to take on in the day by day business of a university. The spectrum of requirements - from acquiring third-party funding to excellent teaching - is comprehensive. In order to manage these various tasks and to maintain a degree of professional freedom, it is essential to lead and manage one’s team appropriate. The workshop will show you how to implement efficient structures and proven leadership tools to fulfil your role as a leader successfully and sustainably. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to work on specific questions regarding the challenges of leadership in scientific environments. In sum, the workshop aims at professors who wish to reflect on their leadership experience and acquire new skills and knowledge in this area.

Content

  • Status quo: Where do I stand as a leader right now?
  • Fundamental principles of effective management in a scientific environment
  • Overview of leadership theories and practical leadership tools
  • Expectation management: responsibilities, expectations, and interests within and outside one’s work group
  • Leading through goalsetting - providing orientation and structure
  • Transformational leadership – how to appreciate success and to provoke enthusiasm

Methods

In addition to its theoretical input, this workshop relies on participation and interaction to tailor the contents to your needs. Various opportunities for self-awareness and peer exchange allow further discussions of individual questions. All case studies and exercises are taken from scientific and university settings.

Organizational details

Date: Thursday, 05.03.2026, 9 am to 5 pm
Venue: Freie Universität Berlin, 2.2051 Besprechungsraum (2. Ebene, Holzlaube/Neubau kl. Fächer, Fabeckstraße 23-25, 14195 Berlin).
Duration: 8 hours (9 am to 5 pm)
Your trainer: Prof. Dr. Uta Bronner
Participation requirements: This event is open for professors as well junior research group leaders (Nachwuchsgruppenleiter*innen) of the Berlin University Alliance partners.
Notes: Please note that this workshop forms a unit with a second event, the "Leadership in Sciene: Follo-up" (see below). To get the most out of the course, we recommend that you attend both events in the same semester. However, if you are unable to attend the follow-up course this semester, you can also attend it at a later date.
Participation fee: Participation is free of charge.
Maximum number of participants: 12
Registration: Please use this contact form for your registration.

Leadership in Science: Follow-up

Personalführung in der Wissenschaft Vertiefung

Goals

This workshop is aimed exclusively at participants of the course "Leadership in Science: Introduction" or "Personalführung in der Wissenschaft: Einführung". During the half-day event the concepts covered in the introductory workshops will be discussed in depth. Further leadership tools for professional communication will be presented.

Content

  • Elaboration of various topics already tackled in the introductory workshops
  • Having "directional" conversations and addressing critical issues
  • Selecting employees: The foundation of effective leadership
  • On demand: Collegial consultation

Methods

In addition to theoretical units, the event will use interactive methods to make its content applicable to everyday work at universities. All case studies and exercises are related to situations in an academic and scientific working environment. Reflection units and collegial exchange allow for an elaboration of the content in addition to the presentation of theory (including overviews and checklists for participants).

Organizational details:

Date: Friday, 06.03.2026, 9 am to 2 pm
Venue: Freie Universität Berlin, 2.2051 Besprechungsraum (2. Ebene, Holzlaube/Neubau kl. Fächer, Fabeckstraße 23-25, 14195 Berlin).
Duration: 5 hours (9 am to 2 pm)
Your trainer: Prof. Dr. Uta Bronner
Participation requirements: The event is exclusively intended for participants who have already attended the course "Leadership in Science: Introduction" or "Personalführung in der Wissenschaft: Einführung" during the current or previous semester.
Participation fee: Participation is free of charge.
Maximum number of participants: 12
Registration:  Please use this contact form for your registration.