Office of the Rector - Questions and answers /FQA about the University recruitment process

How is the initial interaction with the candidate initiated?

Inquiries of researchers interested in academic positions in the departments are in response to advertised position openings, in addition to unsolicited inquiries about positions in departments that are received throughout the year.

How and when is the decision made to recruit the candidate and how does the position rank procedure begin?

After the department decides to consider the applicant's candidacy, the department head must ensure that he/she has the following documents: the candidate’s inquiry letter, CV, statement of future research plans, list of 3-4 names of recommenders from whom recommendation letters can be requested (applicants for senior lecturer rank positions are requested to provide names of 4 recommenders, at least two of whom must be "independent", and at least two from an institution abroad; for the position of associate professor the names of six recommenders must be provided, at least four “independent” and at least three from institutions abroad). This information will be used for deciding whether to proceed with the candidate's recruitment process.

What is the appointment procedure, including timetable?

The next step in assessing the candidate's suitability is inviting him/her to visit the University. The visit will generally include:

Meetings with the department head and additional faculty members in the department, particularly with faculty members who will be involved in the decision whether to continue the candidate's recruitment process.

Departmental lecture (Job Talk), in which information will be provided regarding the candidate's research background and his/her future plans, and his/her research and teaching skills will be evaluated.

Many departments organize an open discussion (Chalk Talk) after the lecture. This discussion enables faculty members who did not have a scheduled personal meeting with the candidate to become acquainted with his/her intellectual background, pedagogic skills and personality, and to formulate an opinion regarding his/her suitability for the department.

After the departmental committee discusses the candidacy and reaches a decision to begin the recruitment process, the request is transferred to the faculty dean. The dean transfers the request for approval of the recruitment committee headed by the rector. From this time onwards, the department head will take steps in relation to three separate entities:

Recruitment committee - approval of the recruitment committee is a prerequisite for recruiting the candidate.

Research recruitment package - Vice President of Research and Development.

Construction and Maintenance Division.

After the candidate's recruitment is approved by the recruitment committee and there is agreement regarding the recruitment package and the building and infrastructure requirements, a letter with a job offer from the President will be sent to the candidate via the faculty.

Who informs the candidate that nomination process begins?

Head of department.

Is there a contact between a candidate and the institution on course of nomination process?

including with regard to the following issues:

a. Choosing members of professional committee

No. Particulars of professional committee are classified.

b. Choosing of recommenders

No. The department may choose between names of recommenders, which have been provided by the candidate and may also choose other recommenders.

Completion of technical details, required for maintaining of nomination process (for example, answering to arising questions during nomination process, completion of lacking data, including delivery of articles/publications etc.).

c. Do completions necessarily indicate about existence of a process and/or its results?

If there is some data, missing in the file, it is possible to turn to the candidate and to request it. Head of department is the contact person and he is the one, who refers to the candidate for completion request.

Is the candidate being notified regarding progression of nomination process? If so, who notifies?

Head of department maintains constant contact with the candidate until end of the process, either positive or negative.

When is the candidate notified about completion of nomination process, who notifies him and how (telephone/email/other), and what formulation the notification letter makes use of?

The job offer letter from the President is sent to the candidate by the dean of the relevant faculty. If the decision is not to approve the candidate's recruitment, the head of the relevant department will notify the candidate.