An assistant professorship is considered to be a position for training purposes and for establishing an academic profile. Assistant professors also take part in research and teaching but are elected, as a rule, for a maximum of six years (three plus a further three years). Before the completion of the first three years, an intermediate evaluation of the professor’s academic achievements takes place at the school, based on the criteria of the job profile specific to that school. An extension of the length of employment, of two years at the most, may be approved by the President on the basis of demonstrated family or social commitments. After a successful Habilitation (acquiring a recognised postdoctoral qualification), it is possible for assistant professors to supervise Ph.D. students.
Their teaching load* comprises four contact hours per week per semester with a 100 per cent contract (four sessions of 45 minutes each per week during 24 weeks of the academic year; 1 semester = 14 weeks, including two weeks’ semester break) or roughly 72 hours per academic year, including complete responsibility for the examinations.
Holders of an assistant professorship have at their disposal a guaranteed individual research time of two days per week, for research that is relevant to their career; and this research time is recognized as valid regardless of the percentage of their employment contract.
* A reduction of the teaching load is possible in the case of outstanding achievements in research, as well as in the case of special tasks carried out in the service of academic self-governance, and applications for such a reduction can be made to the relevant school and the President.
Requirements
Selection criteria for a full professorship include an excellent PhD thesis.
Resources
In principle, the University places at your disposal an annual travel costs subsidy, for participation in conferences, of up to CHF 2,500. In the case of a promotion or appointment to an associate or full professorship at the University of St. Gallen, the previous and the new appointment are calculated together with regard to the entitlement to a research semester.
Promotion (Tenure Track and Tenure Option)
Assistant professors each become qualified for their position, as a rule, by means of a competitive appointments process. This position constitutes a stage in an academic career that may enable a promotion to the rank of an associate or, in certain cases, a full professorship, if their performance in teaching and research meets the requirements. Such a promotion can only happen if the funds for an associate or full professorship are available.
If these funds were already reserved by the school at the time when the position in question was advertised, then the holder of this assistant professorship has a tenure-track position.
If the necessary funds are not yet secured, then the assistant professor has a position with an option of promotion; and if the funds or a professorship become available, a promotion to an associate or full professorship is possible – as is the case with colleagues having a tenure-track position.
In both cases (that is, a tenure-track position and one with an option of promotion), an evaluation is held after six years at the latest that also makes comparisons with international colleagues on the same career level and in the same subject area. If this evaluation has a positive result, the promotion can be successfully completed; it is initiated by the relevant school in question.
As a rule, assistant professors are employed full-time. Exceptions are possible, up to a minimum contractual basis of 50 to 75 per cent.