The partnership began in 2016 between Bremen Early Career Researcher Development (BYRD) and the Graduate Academy at the University of Oldenburg. Since then, researchers in the qualification phase have been able to attend approximately 90 events and workshops offered by both institutions each year, benefiting from a broad range of interdisciplinary continuing education opportunities. Access has been intentionally designed to be straightforward, partly through the growing number of online events. At the same time, it is evident that many participants also travel between locations to take advantage of in-person events in Bremen and Oldenburg. The two institutions are also increasingly co-hosting joint events, such as the panel discussion New Horizons: Career Paths for Researchers with Doctorates, which took place in Bremen in February 2026 and will be held in Oldenburg in 2027.
Dr Mandy Böhnke, Vice President for International Affairs, Academic Qualification, and Diversity at the University of Bremen, said: “For ten years, our collaboration with the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg has demonstrated the tangible benefits of partnerships for early-career researchers. Through mutual exchange and the reciprocal opening of our qualification programs, we create additional opportunities for advanced training, networking, and personal growth.”
The partnership also expands networking opportunities beyond individual universities. Researchers can exchange ideas, build connections, and explore potential research collaborations. The ongoing dialogue between coordinators, many of whom have worked together throughout the entire partnership, is also highly valuable.
Professor Katharina Al-Shamery, Vice President for Academic Career Paths, Equal Opportunities, and International Affairs at the University of Oldenburg, said: “The close collaboration with the University of Bremen is not only a cornerstone of our current support for doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers, but also opens up new perspectives for the future. The partnership will enable us to design flexible, individualized programs, provide new momentum in academic training, and strengthen our collaboration with the University of Bremen in a sustainable way.”
In addition, BYRD and the Graduate Academy are committed to providing excellent doctoral supervision. During the winter semester, they co-organized an online event for university faculty, offering insights into effective doctoral supervision and opportunities for collegial exchange. Both universities also present the Outstanding Doctoral Supervision Award to recognize particularly dedicated supervisors.
Bremen Early Career Researcher Development
The Bremen Early Career Researcher Development (BYRD) program is the successor to the ProUB Graduate Center, one of the University of Bremen’s strategic initiatives to support researchers in their qualification phases. These measures were developed as part of the university’s institutional strategy, “Ambitious and Agile,” which led to success in the Excellence Initiative from 2012 to 2017. Since 2017, BYRD has continued ProUB’s work with an expanded scope that now includes postdoctoral researchers. BYRD offers mentoring, coaching, training, and networking opportunities. Topics covered include academic writing and publishing, presentation and communication skills, qualitative research methods, and career development within and beyond academia.
Graduate Academy of the University of Oldenburg
The Graduate Academy is the University of Oldenburg’s central interdisciplinary institution for the career development of doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and assistant professors. An interdisciplinary training program with approximately 40 events and workshops per year is open to all researchers in training phases across all faculties. These events build transferable skills relevant to the job market, supporting professional development for both academic and non-academic career paths. The “Progressio” and “Perspektiven” mentoring programs offer one-year support specifically for women pursuing professorships and for first-generation students of all genders.
Further Information:
https://uol.de/en/graduate-academy
https://www.uni-bremen.de/en/byrd
Contact:
Dr Marie Saade (BYRD – Bremen Early Career Researcher Development): byrd@vw.uni-bremen.de
Dr Julia Anna Matz, Graduate Academy: graduiertenakademie@uol.de