navigare – Career Coaching 2025

Intensive research and teaching, collaborating with international partners from different disciplines, as well as a vivid, flexible, and cross-cultural working environment are important motivations for a rewarding career in science.

At the same time, you have probably experienced that working in an (foreign) academic system leads to many challenges. These include different (gender) role-expectations, intercultural relations, the understanding of career perspectives, and structural differences in the higher education system. In the context of high mobility requirements, an academic career places special demands on scientists with family responsibilities or with special needs.

Furthermore, outstanding scientific qualifications alone are often not sufficient to pursue a career in academia successfully. Networks and informal support still play a crucial role, yet they are not available for everyone in the same way.

Throughout the navigare program, you will learn strategies for actively developing your academic career together with a group of peers from different faculties and research groups, and you will have the opportunity to build a strong network for mutual exchange and support with your fellow participants.

Participation commitment

To participate in the navigare program, we ask you to engage with:

• the commitment to develop your career in academia
• high motivation to learn within a group of peers
• serious willingness to reflect on gender & diversity biases in science
• sufficient time resources for a binding participation

To receive a navigare certificate, you need to attend at least 75% of the workshops.

Entrance requirements

navigare is open to women, trans, inter and non-binary researchers who are in the PhD or Post Doc-phase and who are a member of one of the supporting institutes, research groups or networks at the University of Bremen.

Application procedure

The next navigare program will take place in 2025 starting with a half-day online workshop for "Information & Orientation" in November 2024. To take part in the "Information & Orientation" workshop and the program follow this procedure:

1. Check with the coordinator of your research network, training group or center: For MAPEX this is Dr. Hanna Lührs, mapex@uni-bremen.de. If you don't belong to one of the institutions, or are not sure about it contact Dr. Lisa Spanka.

2. Complete the application form to attend the »Information & Orientation Workshop« and send it to your   program coordinator until October 18th, 2024.

3. Attend the »Information & Orientation Workshop« to learn more about the goals and content of navigare and to meet the trainer, Dr. Christine Kohistani.

4. For a binding commitment to participate in the program, please register by contacting Dr. Lisa Spanka within one week after attending the »Information & Orientation Workshop«.

Program overview

〉 Information & Orientation Workshop
〉 Module 1: Exploring Career Paths
〉 Module 2: Aligning Self Awareness
〉 Module 3: Leading by Engaging & Empowering
〉 Module 4: Building Conflict Resilience
〉 Module 5: Networking & Tea Time
〉 Module 6: Collaborating in International Teams
〉 Module 7: Reflecting on Professional Growth
〉 Final Evaluation Workshop

Each module consists of a workshop part and peer group sessions.