Comprehensive offer for professional and personal career development at Max Planck
The Planck Academy was founded on 13 February 2020 in the Harnack House in Berlin. As a virtual academy, it bundles all the central offers for personal and career development under one roof. Its target groups are all employees: from the directors, Max Planck research group leaders and executives in science management and administration to early career researchers and employees in administration, IT and technology. The Harnack House is to become a common anchor point. Central events of the Planck Academy will take place there, as well as special formats such as future forums, in order to continue the history of the house as hub of ideas.
"Attracting talented people - no matter at what career level - to familiarize them with the special features of our organization, to support them in the development of their careers - is an important goal of the Max Planck Society," said Professor Martin Stratmann, President of the Max Planck Society. "In addition, talent development is also one of the competitive factors critical to the success of research institutions, as top managers at all levels can now choose where they want to work.
The individual needs of each and every employee are at the forefront of the Planck Academy's training and development programs. What is important for people who, in times of high mobility and flexibility, decide on their next career steps? What is important for young people undergoing training, for leading heads of science management or for directors? The Planck Academy's wide range of courses provides answers to these questions and complements the opportunities at the institutes.
The Planck Academy's program is easily accessible without much effort. Learning, development and networking formats of various kinds are used, as are classroom and online formats, coaching, mentoring and tools for self-reflection. A key feature is that the Planck Academy combines classroom formats with virtual offerings, such as e-learning modules, how-to videos or webinars.
At the opening, directors as well as postdocs or doctoral students, administrative staff and alumni were present. Expectations vary, but all of them are essentially aimed at the desire for networks and contacts, role models for career development, and a better understanding and knowledge of leadership.
