Abstract:

The NextGen qualification programme at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences (HSMW), a German University of Applied Sciences (UoAS), was established in 2021 to address the structural challenge of developing professorial staff in interdisciplinary and emerging fields. The programme is funded until 2027 by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) within the funding line “FH-Personal”. NextGen supports researchers at different career stages through an integrated qualification framework covering research and transfer, teaching and didactics, and professional experience and practice projects.

Participants enter the NextGen programme at three career stages and follow individual qualification plans based on competence mapping, target agreements, mentoring and development meetings. These elements are complemented by peer learning, didactic training, external workshops, networking activities and, where required, a practice track enabling part-time employment in industry while maintaining academic affiliation.

As part of an internal evaluation of the programme, guideline-based semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with seven current team members and four former participants. The results provide deeper insight into experiences of the qualification process. The interviewees report that, over time, the interdisciplinary group of researchers has developed into a self-organising support network that includes participants, project management, programme leadership and formal as well as informal mentors. This network functions as an additional cross-disciplinary reference group alongside participants’ disciplinary communities and creates indirect connections to multiple departments across the university.

Informal exchange within the NextGen programme emerged as one of its most valued aspects. Participants report frequent discussions on navigating academic structures, doctoral requirements, teaching practice, research processes, time management and work-life balance. In this context, NextGen not only provides formal qualification formats but also creates organisational conditions for sustained interaction and collaboration. Structured programme elements such as peer group sessions, workshops and mentoring therefore fulfil a dual function: they convey specific competences while strengthening team cohesion and professional networks.

Concrete outcomes such as joint research projects, conference contributions and teaching activities across different institutional contexts illustrate these collaborative dynamics. At the same time, participants highlight several challenges. The combination of programme participation and faculty responsibilities can lead to increased workload, and fostering meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration requires time, resources and careful coordination. Differences between career stages further indicate the need for more differentiated programme formats.

The findings suggest that structured qualification programmes contribute not only to developing individual competencies but also to building durable academic support networks. Such networks appear to be an important mechanism for strengthening interdisciplinary talent development and long-term professorial recruitment in Universities of Applied Sciences.

Keywords:

NextGen, Interdisciplinary Qualification Programme, Professorial Recruitment, Academic Career Paths, Peer Learning, Universities of Applied Sciences.