Optimal development and career opportunities for scientists as well as for non-academic staff secure the foundation for excellent research and teaching at TU Dresden (TUD). To this purpose, i. a. different components for staff and career development have been formulated, tested and successfully implemented as part of the Excellence Initiative: Extensive, tailor-made information and qualification offers provide support throughout all career phases. From an early stage, a pronounced culture of feedback raises the awareness for a realistic career planning with ambitious, yet achievable goals. The targeted career development is safeguarded by fair, swift and transparent employment-, evaluation- and appointment processes. Manifold offers help TUD members to reconcile work and family life. 

The “Open Topic Tenure Track” professorships, introduced in 2012 at TUD, have significantly contributed to the institutionalisation of transparent and projectable career paths. TUD has consistently pursued the modernisation of the appointment and career system and has created structures, processes and regulations for a sustainable implementation of the Tenure-Track Professorships. The 18 Tenure-Track Professorships applications submitted here, shall support the ongoing cultural change and shall strengthen TUD’s scientific profile. Building on TUD’s Research Priority Areas, the alignment of the Tenure-Track Professorships therefore aims at exploring highly topical issues in cutting-edge research bearing pertinent academic and societal relevance. Furthermore, they are to consolidate the interdisciplinary co-operation between TUD faculties and schools as well as with the DRESDEN-concept partners and shall be able to react to superordinate societal needs.  

A programme for (future) professors and an additional, initial financing strengthen the integration of the Tenure-Track Professorships.