[Prorat] Newsletter July/August 2015

[Sebastian Manzke <sebastian.manzke AT prorat.tu-freiberg.de>]

Dear recipients of the ProRat newsletter, 

in July we inform you amongst other things about the presence of the ProRat in the new chair of LAMS, the recent development in the renewal of the PhD regulation, and an initiative of the commission of gender equality for a home office regulation.

LAMS conference in Leipzig / election of LAMS chair

The LAMS (Landesvertretung Akademischer Mittelbau Sachsen) invited to a panel discussion with the Saxon State Minister of Science and the Arts, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange, on 13th of July in Leipzig. The ProRat took action in the discussion to stand up for the interests of the Freiberg PhD candidates. Interesting topics were the announced creation or at least sponsoring of a remarkable number of qualification positions at the Saxon universities by the Saxon government. Discussed are PhD positions as well as post-doc positions. Another important issue is the closely settled one of so-called personnel development strategies which will have to be given by the universities to themselves in the future. Saxony-wide minimum standards for employment conditions in the academic sector were discussed as well.  Other federal German states like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have already implemented such guidelines including such standards.

The TUBAF ProRat is now part of the LAMS chair for the next to years which is especially important since we have yet no particular initiative of mid-level faculty representatives at TUBAF.

The renewal of the PhD regulation

The 2nd round through the university councils is actually taken by the newly made PhD regulation. In the most actual draft a rule was added which would give the supervisors an additional vote for the individual decision whether structured PhD or the more and more less common Rigorosum. Addressed to the faculty boards the ProRat pleaded for erasing this rule since this decision is already co-determined by the supervisor when handing in the declaration of intent. From the view of the ProRat the actual status of a decision only by the faculty board is sufficient. Likewise it might help to keep tension away from the relationship between PhD candidates and their supervisors. 

Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz

In the ongoing process of a new Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz ProRat inserted concerns about the suggested regulation which rules whether SHK and WHK employment times count for the membership to the university. We want to avoid disadvantages for students who are employed at the university and later make their PhD. 

Commission of graduate studies decided for sponsorships

The annual meeting of the commission of graduate studies took place. The commission decides over sponsorships by the Saxon government for TUBAF applicants. ProRat is part of the commission. With some shortenings of duration each application was at least successful to effect a sponsorship for the 2015 call. For further information see: http://tu-freiberg.de/grafa/promotion-inkl-arten-promotion/finanzierung#sachsen

TUBAF soon the 1st Saxon university with a home office regulation?

In the most recent meeting the commission for gender equality decided by majority for a proof of ways to implement a home office regulation („mobiles Arbeiten“) at the university which should include also the non-scientific staff. This based on an individual inquiry and enlightened that yet no Saxon university has such a regulation. We will keep you informed about the progress.

// Upcoming meetings and events //

The next ProRat meeting will be held on Thursday, August 13th, 9 - 11 am in the GraFA Seminar room (Prueferstraße 1a).
Everyone interested is very welcome!

Our traditional Herbstfest we will take place in September/October. The detailed announcement follows soon.

Greetings from ProRat

--

Dipl.-Ing. Sebastian Manzke
PromovierendenRat TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Akademiestr. 6
09599 Freiberg

Tel.:     +49 3731 39 - 2161/3961
Mobil:  +49 174 599 63 06
E-Mail: sebastian.manzke AT prorat.tu-freiberg.de

www: http://tu-freiberg.de/prorat