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About us

The German University Association of Advanced Graduate Training (UniWiND/GUAT) was established in 2009. It is the only national organisation in Germany that is dedicated solely to the advancement of (post-) doctoral education and training. The network fosters cross-university exchange of good practices on issues of common concern related to opportunities, challenges and reforms of graduate education.

UniWiND’s member institutions seek to actively design and shape the ongoing processes of change. Common concern is to enhance and effectively secure the quality of doctoral education in universities across Germany in order to provide young researchers with the best possible qualifications for future assignments upon which to build a knowledge-based society.

Objectives:

  • UniWiND/GUAT promotes cooperation within the association by fostering the exchange and dissemination of good practice. Members are encouraged to participate in task forces and networks that work on vital challenges in graduate education.
  • UniWiND/GUAT facilitates the dialogue both between universities as well as with other stakeholders in doctoral education by organising public conferences and workshops on trends and developments in the advancement of young researchers’ qualification.
  • UniWiND/GUAT contributes to the international dialogue on development and design of the doctoral and early postdoctoral training phase by contacts to the European Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE).
  • UniWiND/GUAT acts as a representative voice of German universities in the dialogue with policy makers and the general public, and seeks coordination and consultation with the German Rectors’ Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) as well as with multiple other scientific and research organisations.

 

Organisation

The General Assembly (Mitgliederversammlung) and the Executive Board (Vorstand) decide on objectives and activities of UniWiND/GUAT. The Executive Board represents the association in the public. It can rely on advice by the Advisory Board (Beirat) which consists of 12 members (representatives of university staff, doctoral and postdoctoral candidates as well as representatives of scientific and research organisations, economy, culture and politics). The UniWiND office manages the day to day affairs of the association