Ten Years of “House of Young Talents” at the University of Siegen

Das Team des HYT mit Uni-Rektorin Prof. Stefanie Reese

The HYT team: Ira Dexling, Linda Hilkenbach, Dr. Julian Weiß, Dr. Christine Gebhard, University Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese, and HYT Director Dr. Daniel Müller (from left).

Together with numerous guests from academia and the scientific community, the University of Siegen’s House of Young Talents (HYT) recently looked back on ten successful years. At the anniversary celebration, Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese and HYT Director Dr. Daniel Müller recognized the development of the Graduate Center and its significance for the university. Following the ceremony, the HYT team offered short workshops as well as counseling and information sessions. The evening concluded with an academic pub quiz.

Real Added Value Instead of an Unrealistic Curriculum

In her welcoming remarks, Rector Reese emphasized the important role the House of Young Talents plays for the university. She noted that academic careers are marked by numerous uncertainties and challenges, making institutions that guide and support researchers during this phase all the more valuable. “The programs offered by the House of Young Talents are important and valuable. The HYT makes a significant contribution to the professional development of our next generation of researchers and, in doing so, strengthens the future viability of our university,” said Reese.

HYT Director Dr. Daniel Müller then traced the development of the Graduate Center: “Ten years of the House of Young Talents—that means ten years of support programs for everyone in the early stages of their academic careers at our university. Our goal is to win over our target groups. We don’t want to push through an out-of-touch curriculum; rather, our events must provide young researchers with real added value,” said Müller. The HYT therefore focuses on tailored offerings, takes into account the different disciplinary cultures, and continuously refines its programs.

Record Number of Applications for the “Young Academy” Program

Today, the House of Young Talents supports researchers from their doctoral studies through the postdoc phase to leadership roles in early-career research groups and fixed-term professorships. The offerings range from workshops and certificate programs to individual coaching and counseling, all the way to the House of Young Talents scholarship program “Young Academy.” Applications from young researchers for this program are currently at an all-time high: “All excellent people,” Müller explained.

In recent years, the HYT has also provided important impetus for the university’s strategic development—for example, in successfully securing the WISNA tenure-track program from the federal and state governments. Through this program, the University of Siegen received 13 additional professorships, all of which were filled by mid-2023. When applying for large collaborative research projects, highlighting the university’s own graduate support programs has now become “state of the art,” according to Müller.

The European “HR Excellence in Research” seal of approval has enhanced the reputation of the entire university. The University of Siegen was the third university in Germany and the first in North Rhine-Westphalia to be awarded the label. To this day, it continues to be highlighted—even at the European level—as a best-practice example.

“There couldn’t be a better job or a better team”

Looking to the future, Daniel Müller sees the transformation driven by artificial intelligence as a defining challenge. The Graduate Center’s programs are therefore continuously adapted to new developments—always with the goal of preparing researchers as best as possible for their career paths.

At the conclusion of his speech, Müller thanked his team as well as all his colleagues both within and outside the university who have supported the development of the HYT over the past ten years. Initially, Prof. Dr. Peter Haring Bolívar and Prof. Dr. Thomas Mannel served as Prorectors; today, responsibility for the HYT lies with Prof. Dr. Petra Vogel. However, Müller expressed special thanks to his core team at the HYT, the advisors, support staff, and the secretary: “There couldn’t be a better job or a better team.”