How do you become a professor at a university of applied sciences (UAS)? The Future Professors Week at HTW Berlin, held as part of the TIEs project in October 2025, aimed to answer exactly that question for young scientists, predominantly from Eastern Europe. The main goal was to show what a UAS professorship as a career option is like and to promote exchange between international talent and HTW Berlin.

Seventeen participants were given a comprehensive overview of the prerequisites, tasks, and possible career paths of UAS professors. Multiple workshops provided insights into the diverse work of university teaching professionals, for example, the German job market, appointment procedures and knowledge transfer.
The workshops were conducted by professional trainers from across Germany, who gave participants profound insights into the often complex German university system. Some participants were surprised by the close interconnection between teaching, practical application and research that characterises professional life at a UAS such as HTW Berlin. Guided visits to laboratories for processing technology and future realities in Faculty 5 underlined the practical aspects of the profession.

One of the workshops focused on knowledge transfer into society. Held at the Natural History Museum, the workshop “Public & Societal Engagement” led to a lively discussion on how scientists can appropriately engage the general public with their findings and what responsibilities they bear within the city’s society and beyond. The presented public engagement codex helped participants deepen their understanding of the interaction between science and society and reflect on their roles and responsibilities as young scientists. They were able to apply this knowledge directly at the subsequent research forum at HTW Berlin.

The international composition of the group allowed for a spirited and diverse exchange. Different career paths and academic systems were discussed by scientists from various Eastern European countries. Access to professorships and science in general differs greatly between countries. Some participants admitted that they had barely or never considered a UAS professorship in Germany before. The Future Professors Week gave them the opportunity to understand how closely connected German UAS professors are to professional practice.

Participants and professors of HTW Berlin had multiple opportunities for exchange, not only during dinner events. In a relaxed and informal atmosphere, questions were asked and answered, experiences shared and networks built and deepened. Discussions went beyond technical issues and also touched on more personal topics such as switching from the private to the public sector, research opportunities and possibilities for international cooperation.

In a feedback round with the organisers, participants emphasised that they had gained a clearer understanding of how the German education system works and what competencies and career steps are essential for pursuing a UAS professorship. They described the week as intense and full of information, yet very rewarding nonetheless.