Certificate programme ‘Qualification for careers in business and society’

What is it about?

The aim of the NRW certificate programme is to support researchers in the doctoral and postdoc phase in preparing for careers outside the university. This includes positions in business and society, but also positions at universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions.

The certificate programme was developed in the NRW Human Resources Development Network (PE NRW) and has been offered at several NRW universities since 2021 (an overview of the participating universities can be found here).

For whom?

The programme is aimed at researchers with a doctorate who are not yet independent – the so-called Recognized Researchers (R2, cf. EU Research Profiles). Doctoral candidates at the University of Cologne in the final phase of their doctorate can also apply. They can make present their personal expertise in a portfolio and add skills that are particularly important for the jobs outside academia.

Programme design

The certificate programme covers the following competency areas:

A | Leadership competencies
B | Management competencies
C | Communication competencies
D | Methodological competences
E | Coaching, career planning and application

In order to obtain the certificate, you must attend events from the five competency areas mentioned above totalling 80 working units  (1 unit = 45 minutes, depending on the format, approx. 10 one-day workshops). As a participant in the programme, you can choose between certain events from the further education programme of the University of Cologne and those offered by cooperating universities.

The time frame is flexible, i.e. you do not have to complete the courses within a specified period of time, but arrange this individually with the programme coordinator during the initial talk and in the further progress. Courses already attended before participation in the programme can also be recognized.