Focus on Staff

Technische Universität Berlin as a place to work

Dr. Neukirchen, as an organization, TU Berlin is highly dynamic, as is the environment in which we operate. A great many things are changing. How do you see the situation?

Absolutely. This is something which we are all aware of. Our ways of working are being redefined. We can observe the impact of digitalization in our offices, our studies and research and above all in our private lives. Right now, the pressure of change is very great. It is essential that an employer like TU Berlin keeps pace. The Executive Board is introducing the changes necessary to ensure that TU Berlin remains attractive and modern for its 8,000 staff and 34,000 students, that we continue to offer teaching of the highest quality and progress with our outstanding research work. This is a complex undertaking. It begins with the maintenance work on our buildings and includes our IT infrastructures and working conditions.

What exactly can TU Berlin do as an employer?

We need to continually develop to reflect the very different life trajectories and lifestyles of our staff and students. As a result, we are always developing our instruments for a flexible and modern way of working. These include the chance to work from home and other remote locations, particularly for staff with children and dependents to care for. Something else which I regard as very important is that we ensure that there are periods where staff can take a break from work. As part of this, we are striving to create a period between Christmas and New Year where no one has to work. There comes a time when you have to be able to say: Sorry, but I am not working at the moment.

What services do we offer parenting staff and students?

We are a family-friendly campus. Our offers include holiday care, diaper changing rooms and free meals in the canteen for children aged six and under. Other family-friendly services and facilities available on the campus include: playgrounds, parent-child rooms, diapering facilities, sport and travel programs for families and pregnant women, speedy service for parents accompanied by their children using certain University facilities and borrowing toys and games. Staff can also enroll their children in our Kinder-Uni and the Kindercampus at The Long Night of the Sciences is attended by 3,000 children. These programs allow us to open up the University and all its areas of scientific endeavor to young people.

Life-long learning is a big part of our ever more diverse lives. What offers are available at TU Berlin?

We have a very wide range of continuing education programs. These range from research management and science communication through to coaching for management and team development. Ten scholarships are also available, each worth 10,000 euros, for staff wishing to participate in our new Science Management master’s program. I could list many more examples to demonstrate that TU Berlin is an attractive and modern place to work which places great value on the personal development of its staff.

One of TU Berlin’s sports studios is located directly on Ernst-Reuter-Platz. What role do sports and health play?

We promote sport for all as well as for high-achieving athletes. The University Sports Center offers more than 1,000 courses and programs, including support programs for young top athletes participating in championships at European and World level. Our offers for TU members include weekly courses, workshops, dance, massages, active work breaks, as well as events such as the Berliner Firmenlauf fundraising run for businesses and other organizations, and the After Work Cup. There are also special programs for women and families.

There are more than 170 different sports to choose from. Technische Universität Berlin offers staff an all round health management program including the Medical Service, a wide-ranging offer of continuing education and advisory programs focusing on health, caring, family and career, addiction prevention, as well as occupational, environmental and health protection. This holistic approach also includes annual health days and events providing information about the University’s health programs as well as programs offered by external organizations.

Interviewer: Stefanie Terp