#MitgliederIni
The conditions for research and teaching at the University of Potsdam are worse than they have been in a long time. The burden of high teaching loads (up to 24 teaching hours per week!) is enormous. This means that many lecturers are forced to teach at an assembly-line pace. This pressure has consequences. Physical and mental health suffer, and personal academic qualification goals are put at risk.
Students are heavily affected by this. Accessibility of supervision, time for feedback, research-based and innovative courses, and the ability to provide individual support and guidance to students must be non-negotiable. However, despite great efforts and personal commitment, lecturers at the University of Potsdam are increasingly unable to meet these responsibilities.
We can change this together! By calling on the Senate of the University of Potsdam through a members’ initiative to finally reduce teaching loads and create better working and study conditions.
We are organizing in the summer semester of 2025. We are talking with colleagues and students and are bringing a petition with us. We need around 3,500 signatures. We can only achieve this together!
Who we are and what do we want to do?
We are students and staff members of the University of Potsdam. We have founded a members’ initiative and warmly invite every member of the university to join us.
On February 13, 2025, an initial organizational meeting took place at the University of Potsdam. More than 30 people – employees, students, and student workers – participated. During the discussion, it became clear that we want to tackle the overload caused by excessive teaching obligations in order to create better working and study conditions together.
Since then, we have drafted a proposal to the Senate of the University of Potsdam. To submit it for discussion and review, we need around 3,500 signatures from university members — that is, from students and staff.
What is this about?
Opportunities for participation through member initiatives
All members of the university – including professors, academic and non-academic staff, and students – have been granted the opportunity, according to the amendments to § 67, section 4 of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act (BbgHG), to bring concerns to the Senate. A member initiative can be used to raise a topic for discussion. If successfully submitted, the Senate is obliged to address the issue.
Requirements for a Member Initiative (according to § 67, section 4 BbgHG)
- The proposal must be supported by at least 15 percent of the university’s members.
- The issue must be clearly defined and substantiated.
- Two authorized representatives must be named to present the concern to the Senate.
- Proposals that affect the freedom of research and teaching are not permitted.
The two representatives have the right to personally present their concern to the relevant body and explain the arguments of the petitioners. A decision must be made and publicly announced within one month of the hearing. If the proposal is rejected, a new request on the same topic can only be made after one year.
The option of a member initiative provides a valuable opportunity to actively participate in shaping the university and bring central issues into the academic political discourse.
What is our demand Senate doing?
The university is not a teaching factory. Quality teaching requires good working conditions. And a good education needs both.
We see the regulation on teaching obligations, which is determined by the Senate of the University of Potsdam, as a key leverage point. The current regulation for determining the teaching load of academic staff was enacted by the university’s Senate in 2015. This enactment introduced a systematic increase in teaching loads, particularly affecting permanently employed staff. These increases have been met with ongoing protests. We say: reduce the teaching load!
Our Demands
We want to see this regulation improved. In our proposal, we suggest the following changes to the teaching load:waren.
| Employees | LVS |
| With opportunity for qualification, fixed-term | 0–4 |
| With opportunity for qualification, fixed-term with promise for continued employment | 4–8 |
| Primarily research-focused, permanent (Researcher) | 6–8 |
| Primarily subject-specific teaching, permanent (Lecturer) | 10–12 |
| Teaching responsibilities in languages and artistic subjects, permanent | 13–16 |
| Focus on teaching practical skills (especially in areas like sports, music) | 16–24 |
A more detailed explanational and additional measures are outlined in our proposal text.
„We can only achieve Decent Labour in Acadamia if we organize.“
– Dr. Claudia Rödel, Post-Doc in Microbiology
„Now is our best chance to fight for better working and studying conditions.“
– Marie Hansen, M.A. , Doctoral Student of Linguistics
„Organizing and connecting with others has helped me feel less powerless.“
– Marie Pelzer, B.Sc., Psychology Student and Student Assistant
Our Campaign Kick-Off
We hold regular meetings where staff and students work together to prepare the campaign of the members’ initiative. Everyone is warmly invited to join and get involved.
Next meeting: April 25 at 4:30 PM – online or in person (hybrid)
What it’s about: Planning actions (office visits, info booths in the cafeteria, campus festival, coordination with student representatives) and finalizing campaign materials.
🔢 Meeting ID: 656 6259 9328🔑 Passcode: 78456143