Course description

Recognition & Reward Webinar Series

The Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) is a dynamic European University Alliance with the mission of becoming a successful, socially responsible European university. It brings together 10 academic institutions from across Europe.

Leadership is increasingly recognised as a key factor in institutional performance, with recognition and rewards serving as an important mechanism to support and strengthen successful university operations. Within the YUFE cooperation, we are working together to discuss and further develop recognition and reward systems for both academic and professional service staff. To share insights and foster discussion, we are launching a series of four webinars dedicated to this important topic. 

1. Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment – from Policy to Practice (24 October 2025, 9:00–10:30 CET)
2. Recognizing and Rewarding Societal Engagement and Impact (21 November 2025, 10:00–11:30 CET)
3. Universities’ Career Models for Recognition and Rewards (12 December 2025, 9:00–11:00 CET)
4. Work Well-Being in Academia (23 January 2026, 10:00–12:00 CET)

The experienced speakers, drawn primarily from YUFE institutions, will share their expertise by highlighting best practices and effective approaches from their own universities.

Webinar no 3: Universities’ Career Models for Recognition and Rewards (12 December 2025, 9:00–11:00 CET)

Join us for a YUFE Recognitions and Rewards webinar on Universities’ Career Models for Recognition and Rewards. The webinar will explore how universities structure career paths and recognition systems for academic and professional service staff. Presentations will explore initiatives such as tenure track systems, faculty-specific career policies, and support mechanisms for professional service staff. These discussions are informed by frameworks like CoARA, which advocates for comprehensive assessment criteria that reflect the diverse roles and contributions within academic institutions.

Speakers:

1. Jouni Kekäle: Introduction
2. Rianne Letschert, Maastricht University: Universities’ Career Models for Recognition and Rewards
3. Mirjam oude Egbrink, Maastricht University: Educational Career Policy at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
4. Julia Sievers, University of Bremen: Tenure Track System at the University of Bremen
5. Lars Geschwind, KTH Royal Institute of Technology: Supporting Careers of Professional Service Staff in Universities

Registered participants will receive the link to the webinar one day before the webinar via e-mail.

Admission criteria

There are no admission critertia. This webinar might be especially interesting for university staff in HR positions, leadership roles, and those involved in evaluation processes.

Intended learning outcomes

• Reflect on opportunities and challenges for implementing diverse career models that acknowledge the varied contributions of university staff.
• Gain insights into institutional initiatives such as tenure track systems, faculty-specific policies, and tailored support mechanisms.

Apply here!