WissZeitVG reform – progress report
Anna S. Ko?odziejczak
Senior scientist | DKFZ Postdoc Network Speaker | Project management | Fulbright alumni | Capoeirista
A German idiom “verschlimmbessern” means trying to improve something and making it worse as a result. This word is frequently used to describe the newest reform of WissZeitVG (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, eng. “Act on Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in Academia”). Many researchers say it exacerbates already long-existing problems with employment in German academia. Ironically, one of the first sentences in the recent draft states that ?good science needs reliable working conditions.”
What is the WissZeitVG about?
When first introduced in 2007, the WissZeitVG provided legal framework for fixed-term contracts of academic staff; the six-year limit was set for a PhD phase and, separately, for a postdoc phase until securing a permanent position as an independent scientist. This arbitrary deadline could be extended due to family issues, disability or chronic illness. The main purpose was to create more secure future and facilitate entry into academia for young researchers.
However, not everything went as planned: when the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) evaluated the results of introducing the legislation, it became obvious that the situation of scientists employed by state universities and institutes has only improved slightly. The consultations on changing the existing law started in June 2022 and, according to the BMBF, involved “the most important players in the scientific landscape”. The public announcement released on 17th of March 2023 notes that the views on restrictions in a postdoc phase clearly varied.
What changed?
The maximum duration of a postdoc phase was reduced to 3 years; this means that after 3 years of work a postdoc needs to have a permanent contract or seek employment outside of academia. The draft provides a possibility of extension based on third-party funding, but in this case the number of contracts can also be limited. The regulations concern MD scientists as well: their special 9-year qualification period was retracted. Noteworthy, these changes are unlikely to affect the academic staff that started their PhD or postdoc phase before the law comes into force.
What could go wrong?
On March 24th, a week after the WissZeitVG reform was announced, hundreds of researchers protested in front of the research ministry in Berlin. Displeased postdocs and professors shared their negative opinions on social platforms, demanding halt of work on the new legislation and public consultations. Critics pointed out that despite of good intentions reduction of a postdoc phase does not solve any problem: state universities and institutes in Germany are not able to offer a sufficient number of permanent positions. Without sense of security more people will leave German academia – either to transition into industry or develop their careers abroad. The new rules will especially impact international postdocs who are currently struggling with visa applications and intricacies of the German legal system.
Influenced by widespread criticism the Ministry planned a debate with 12 representatives of the academic community. The discussion took place on 30th of March, but did not produce a concreate outcome; opinions on the postdoc phase (its structure, length and employee status) were again divided, therefore the Ministry decided to continue revisions of these controversial provisions until an agreement is reached.
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Notably, representatives of postdoctoral researchers were absent during this discussion. The day before the debate the German postdoc networks published a joint statement on the WissZeitVG reform. Apart from expressing deep concerns they proposed that postdoctoral researchers should actively participate in discussions about their future and the postdoc phase should be considered a professional development phase rather than a qualification phase. They also suggested increasing the number of permanent positions in academia to ensure better career perspectives for researchers and maintain the strong reputation of German science in the world.
As of today the situation remains dynamic, the Ministry accepted reviewers’ comments and promised major redrafting. Hopefully, the final solutions improve postdoc position in the German academic environment, so that the term “verschlimmbessern” will no longer apply.
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