The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV) has awarded Leipzig University the DHV seal of approval for fair and transparent appointment negotiations for the first time. The award, which it will hold for five years from August 1, 2025, is currently held by 22 other universities. This makes Leipzig University the second university in Saxony after Chemnitz University of Technology to hold the DHV seal of approval, which has been awarded since 2013.
According to the DHV, appointment negotiations at Leipzig University are clearly structured and very well organized thanks to a service-oriented HR department and prudent appointment management. Last but not least, an appointment monitor ensures that applicants for a professorship are always informed about the procedures. Thanks to good preparation by the dean’s offices and university management, appointment negotiations are very respectful and take place in a very open atmosphere in which all participants always meet "on an equal footing". In particular, the Rector, Eva Inés Obergfell, is perceived by the academics as a collegial and personally very approachable negotiating partner.
According to the DHV, Leipzig’s appointment offers are generally fair and appropriate in terms of both equipment and salary. There are numerous needs-based support services for new appointees. Welcome and networking events also make it easier to get started. Leipzig University offers a wide range of support for dual-career couples in particular. It is particularly family-friendly. One of the advantages, for example, is that childcare places can be arranged with a high chance of success thanks to cooperation with an independent daycare center close to the university.
fair, transparent and respectful appointment negotiations make universities good and attractive employers. In the intensified competition for the best minds, this can be an advantage that should not be underestimated," explains the President of the DHV, Dr. h.c. Lambert T. Koch. "The audit for the seal of approval supports universities in maintaining and developing high standards in their appointment culture." The Rector of Leipzig University, Eva Inés Obergfell, says: "We are delighted to have been awarded the DHV seal of approval. It confirms that we maintain a very personal and respectful approach to appointment negotiations. We cannot and will not rest on our laurels. The report associated with the award process is consistently positive and at the same time contains valuable information that needs to be examined in more detail in order to improve even further."
The main basis of the DHV seal of approval is a weighted questionnaire with 42 questions, which the DHV has developed based on its consulting experience in appointment procedures. The DHV advises academics in around 70 percent of all appointment and tenure negotiations in Germany. The focus of the assessment is on fairness, appreciation, transparency and reliability in appointment and tenure negotiations. Statements from the universities assessed are also included in the evaluation. In addition, interviews are conducted with professors appointed to the respective university about their experiences in the appointment process as well as the experience of the DHV legal advisors.
In addition to Leipzig University, the following universities are included: RWTH Aachen, the University of Cologne, TU Kaiserslautern, the FernUniversität in Hagen, the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of Bremen, the Universität der Bundeswehr München, the University of Siegen, the University of Hanover, the University of Hohenheim, the University of Münster, university of Bayreuth, BTU Cottbus, University of Wuppertal, University of Mainz, Chemnitz University of Technology, University of Passau, Ilmenau University of Technology, Braunschweig University of Technology, Paderborn University of Applied Sciences, Cologne University of Applied Sciences and Rhine-Main University of Applied Sciences have been awarded the DHV seal of approval for fair and transparent appointment negotiations. In addition, the University Medical Center Mainz, the Medical Faculty Münster and the University Hospital Münster have been awarded the DHV seal of approval for fair and transparent appointment procedures in university medicine.
The DHV is the nationwide professional association of academics with around 34,000 members.
