The Practitioner Programme:
All employees from the areas of research management, public relations, library, digital humanities, editorial offices, IT and administration are eligible to apply. The call for applications is targeted equally at seconded and local employees. A multi-year employment contract is a prerequisite. Scholarship holders and interns are excluded from the program. A stay at another MWS institute is not possible through the Practitioner Programme.
The application deadline is June 16, 2025. The application will be reviewed by the Selection Committee (Spokespersons of the Assembly of Directors, Executive Director, Staff Representatives, Equal Opportunity Officer). The application must include the following documents:
The cooperation partner with whom a stay within the framework of the Practitioner Programme is to take place must be an institution that is relevant to the applicant's own field of work and at which the above-mentioned goals of the program can be meaningfully implemented. Possible host institutions are, for example, the DAAD, the DFG (with their respective offices abroad), the DAIs, the BMBF and the AA (Berlin as well as foreign representations), the Merian Centres, the DLR, Deutsche Welle, the ZMO Berlin, German or foreign universities, etc. In addition, further host institutions are also possible subject to approval. Contact with the specific host institution must be made by the applicant prior to application and documented by written endorsement.
If an employee of the host institution is interested, an application to one of the foundation’s institutes abroad or to the foundation’s central office is possible (tandem exchange).
Selection criteria are:
The fellows continue to receive their salary from their own institution. If a change of location is planned, they will receive reimbursement of proven travel expenses (max. 2 T€) as well as proven additional expenses for accommodation at the destination. Regarding accommodation, the principles of efficiency and economy in accordance with the German Federal Travel Expense Act [Bundesreisekostengesetz, BRKG] must be observed. Accommodation at the intended place of deployment is to be organised by the fellows themselves. The choice of accommodation is to be coordinated with the central office. Local employees also receive daily lump sums to cover increased costs in accordance with the German Federal Travel Expense Act [BRKG].
Administrative tasks related to the programme are processed by the foundation’s sending institutes, which can claim the costs at the central office in the course of their annual financial statement. The grantees undertake to select the means of transportation within the bounds of reasonableness according to sustainability criteria.
In the case of a tandem exchange, the institutes/central office will provide external persons with a workplace upon agreement. Further services (travel expenses, accommodation, continued payment of salary, etc.) cannot be covered.
The funding period is a maximum of four weeks. The fellowships can be taken up from October 2025 and until the end of the following year at the latest. In justified cases, exceptions are possible. The beginning and end of the stay will be agreed upon between the home and the host institution.
Contact person at the central office: Dr Johanna Beamish (beamish@maxweberstiftung.de)
Please send applications with the required documents (letter of motivation, statement from your own institution, confirmation of support from the host institution) via our application portal by June 16, 2025. The selection committee is expected to meet in summer 2025.