Onboarding@HHU for newly appointed faculty
With the programme – Onboarding@HHU for newly appointed faculty members – HHU aims to facilitate your transition into your diverse activities at the university and offer you support for effective collaboration within your team and with all HHU staff.
The interdisciplinary programme complements the support offered by the individual faculties and presents HHU's core services in the areas of research, teaching, human resources, administration, public relations and knowledge transfer in a series of five thematic modules held each winter semester.
The focus is on your role as a leader in research and teaching, imparting organisational knowledge and getting to know your contacts at HHU. In addition, we answer your questions and provide individual support.
Programme of Events
4 November 2025, 14:00 - 16:00 hours, Bldg. 16.11
The programme will begin with an opportunity to get to know each other and learn important information about the design and ongoing development of the teaching and learning culture at HHU. You will receive important information about the organisation of teaching and support services.
Participants from the Medical Faculty will be looked after by the Dean's Office of the Medical Faculty on this date.
Speakers and supporting institutions: Vice President for University Culture and International Relations, Vice President for Quality in Studies and Teaching, Deans of Studies, SeLL, Multimediazentrum of ZIM
15 December 2025, 09:00- 12:00 hours, Bldg. 16.11
In addition to the central administration bodies and committees, six divisions and eight staff units form the backbone of the Central University Administration (ZUV) at HHU. In this module, you will learn about the tasks and processes of the ZUV and get to know their representatives.
Speakers: Chancellor, Heads of ZUV Divisions, Central Equal Opportunities Officer
*For newly appointed faculty of the Medical Faculty a similar exchange takes place with the Dean's Office of the Medical Faculty. Invitations to the respective appointments are sent directly by the Dean's Office.
The event will be followed by a light lunch.
21 January 2026, 09:00- 12:00 hours, ULB
The central operating units at HHU provide support in various areas. Get to know the colleagues and support services offered by the central service units.
Participating units: CEDUS & Startup4MED, FBB, FDMK, HCSD, HeiCAD, HZW, International Office & JUNO Welcome Center, SelmaMeyerMentoring,
Public Engagement Unit, PuK, ULB, ZIM
The event will be followed by a light lunch.
24 February 2026, 09:00- 12:00 hours, HdU
As professors, you are not only teachers or researchers, but above all you are leaders and role models when working with early-career scientists. The aim of this module is to encourage you to reflect on and further develop your own role as a leader.
Trainer: Petra Weigand, entwickeln & beraten
The event will be followed by a light lunch.
18 March 2026, 09:00- 12:00 hours, Bldg. 16.11
Whether you are already supervising doctoral researchers or are about to take on the supervision of a doctoral project, whether you already have postdocs in your team or are just setting up your working group, the faculty graduate academies of HeRA will support you in these tasks and provide numerous services for your employees.
Participating units: Heine Research Academies (HeRA): Graduate Center Medicine, iGRAD, JUNO, philGRAD; Contact Office for cases of discrimination and abuse of power
The event will be followed by a light lunch.
16th June 2026, 09:30 - 11:00 hours, Faculty Club
A joint breakfast provides an opportunity to talk to members of the Rectorate, the deans and the Chair of the senate and thus conclude the onboarding process.
Further events in the course of the programme
05.11.2025, 7 pm, Industrie-Club
The exchange between the newly appointed professors with the Rectorate of HHU and representatives of the Düsseldorf Industrie-Club is an important part of welcoming new faculty and engaging with the local community.
21 January 2026, 6 pm, Lecture Hall 3A
The President of HHU, Prof. Anja Steinbeck, traditionally invites university members as well as guests from academia, politics and the city community to the HHU New Year Reception.
Registration
We will remind you in good time before the respective dates.
Optional central onboarding services
Workshops of
the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV)
If you wish, you can participate in the following DHV seminars (in German). The costs will be covered by HHU. (Please register using the programme registration form below or by email, see Contact):
Information and Support from the Research Management Department
To support your research activities, team members from the Research Management Department at HHU or the Medical Faculty respectively will reach out to you. Together you can discuss the types of individual support available to assist with your research funding activities.
Network of Newly Appointed Faculty
In addition to the programme, there is a voluntary peer counselling service offered as part of the Network of Newly Appointed Faculty. Here, you can reflect together on aspects of your daily routine, current practices and the challenges of working in a research team. This interactive process is facilitated by a moderator who guides you through this transparent and confidential process. You learn from the experiences and knowledge of others.
Peer case consultation allows you to confidentially discuss the challenges you face in supervising employees. You will receive ideas and strategies to initiate solutions for your individual case. In this way, you will improve your management skills and develop your personality as a responsible, reflective and open-minded leader.
