Professor selection process

The appointment procedure is the means by which apply and are recruited. It begins with the call for applications to the professorship and ends with appointment by the university’s executive committee.

What does the appointment procedure entail?


1. Call for applications to the professorship: the procedure starts with the public call for applications to the that is to be filled. The faculty defines the requirements profile that the applicants must satisfy.


2. Application and preliminary selection: interested academics, and submit their applications. A preliminary selection committee, often comprising members of the faculty, reviews the applications and creates a shortlist of the most promising candidates.

3. Appointments committee: internal professors, student representatives and often external specialists form an appointments committee. It conducts the selection procedure and invites the shortlisted applicants to give presentations and attend interviews.

4. Lectures and interviews: the invited candidates give academic presentations and probationary lectures. The appointments committee assesses these presentations, their professional expertise and pedagogical skills.


5. Appointments list: the appointments committee produces a ranked list of the best candidates. This list is presented to the university's faculty and senate.


6. Invitation and appointment negotiations: The person at the top of the appointments list is ‘invited’. The university or higher education institution then conducts negotiations with this individual: they discuss salary, facilities for the academic chair, research equipment, and other aspects.

7. Conclusion of the procedure: once the negotiations have been successfully concluded the appointment becomes official. The university’s executive committee appoints the new professor.

How long do appointment procedures last?

An appointment procedure can take several months, sometimes even years. It is a very complex issue, and each phase requires time to reach an informed decision.