Leading in times of permanent change

Competencies for the agile manager

Traget group: PhD candidates, postdocs and qualifying professors and to (future) leaders in the technical and administrative field
Language: German
Duration of the program: 7 month

Program overview

As a leading person at university, you are aware of working in a complex, dynamic and often ambiguous environment. In recent years, however, global mega-trends have increaded the pace and extent of uncertainty, above all digitalization with the rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence as the most recent phenomenon. In this context, it is said that we live in a “VUCA world”: Volatile, uncertain, complex, ambivalent. (orig.: VUKA-Welt)
Against this backdrop, you are faces with demanding challenges when managing in the scientific community. The variety of tasks that you have to perform as a researcher and manager requires specific skills and a clear awareness of your role. Approaches from traditional management are no longer sufficient in this context. They are being replaced by basic attitudes, principles and methods that are summarized under terms such as “agility”, “new work” or “leadership 4.0”.

The program consists of a total of nine one-day in-person modules. One of these modules is a follow-up to the “peer counseling” method and takes place some time after the other modules. Between the in-person sessions, you use an online tool to identify questions, topics, and challenges from your practice that you would like to explore in more depth in the following modules. In addition, optional supplementary one-on-one training is offered throughout the program to explore individual topics in greater depth or discuss specific questions.

The attendance modules are scheduled for Fridays from 09:00-16:00 on the following dates:
Jan 16 / Feb 13 / Mar 13 / Apr 17 / May 8 / May 29 / June 16 / July 3 / Sep 4, 2026

Program goals

• Getting to know the key societal “mega-trends” that determine the changes of working in research institutions
• Understanding why the VUCA world requires new skills from managers
• Be familiar with your own approach, strengths and weaknesses in dealing with constant change
• Creating awareness of the specific requirements as a manager in the scientific community
• Understanding and applying the agile framework (method set) “Scrum“
• Developing solutions to questions, problems and challenging situations in an iterative process and training the skills needed to do so
• Fulfilling the leadership role with confidence, clarity and composure, even in turbulent times
• Creating a personal concept for development to further sharpen your own leadership profile and to deepen and expand your leadership skills.