Becoming a Professor: What is actually needed?

You want to become a university professor? So what is actually needed so that you can get appointed? This video elaborates on the basic evaluation criteria that are used by selection committees in order to select promising candidates. In order to fulfill these criteria when you start applying for positions, you may start early in your academic career working towards matching some baselines. This video explains what matters.

See also:
C. Stachniss, A Baseline of Achievements Needed for Becoming a Professor within the German Academic System, 2020.

[ChrisOffner]

08:00 _"In my experience often this teaching part has a somewhat lower weight."_ My university experience very much confirms that, and it's a devastating problem I see in the German higher education system. I'd argue it has not only a "somewhat lower weight" but little to none, judging from both having had the majority of lectures from people who should absolutely not be in a teaching position, and from seeing some of those _test lectures_ for applicant professors where they got hired even if their test lecture was an unmitigated dumpster fire. My perception is that too many German universities, at least at the Bachelor and Master level, are relegating themselves to a pure credentialing institution but don't provide any teaching that's worth much - especially when compared to much higher quality lectures available online now.

Many universities/professors are lucky that nobody has properly solved the problem of online credentialing because once someone does, universities will have to struggle *hard* to maintain legitimacy (and funding) as _educational_ institutions rather than just research institutions. I'm thankful that you're a notable exception who clearly seems to _care_ about teaching and its importance to society, but I'm quite worried that there are too few like you.

[NorthernHumor]

Thank you Cyrill! I'm just finishing a Master's degree myself, but I'm curious as to when you (and your colleagues) decided that you wanted to go down the "professor route" vs. another career. Was this always the plan or was it realized during your PhD or post doc. time? What were the signs/indicators you had at the early phases that made you think you would be successful in becoming a professor?

[yxd]

It’s so lucky to have your materials on YouTube. I’m from china and finished my geomatics master degree from another university in Germany. I think the program I did were not structured well enough, no coding lectures and no specific direction for a master study, it’s more or less a bachelor plus degree. It’s a pity that I didn’t apply for university of Bonn. After two years of working, I’m bored with traditional surveying jobs. I’m interested in localization, do you suggest to take another master program

[amirmostaghimi]

Thank you so much for the great content.

[karimbaidar]

Thank you so much for your useful insight videos

[rabbithole]

I am from history background and am planning to do PhD from Germany in Art history. And I want to take teaching positions in Germany after completion of my PhD. Could you guide me? Thank you.