BC1 and BC2
An assessment for promotion to Associate Professor or Full Professor is carried out respectively by the permanent assessment committees 1 (BC1) or 2 (BC2). The committees each consist of six permanent members. For each assessment, the committee is extended by one or two members with specific expertise on the focus domain and/or the field of the candidate. The committees are supported by an HR advisor. This website describes the most important formal aspects regarding the BC1 and BC2. A more extensive description of the assessment procedures, that also includes practical information, can be found here.
In no event will the staff member’s direct supervisor, i.e. the chair of the basic unit or the director of the research institute, be on the permanent assessment committee. If one of the permanent committee members is also the supervisor of a candidate under appraisal, he or she will withdraw as a member for the appraisal of this candidate and is replaced by a former committee member if possible.
Permanent members
The permanent assessment committees 1 and 2 (BC1 and BC2) each consist of 6 permanent members, including the chair of the committee, and a student member. These members are in principle involved in all assessments for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor (the BC1 members) or the rank of Full Professor (the BC2 members), independent of the focus domain of the candidate. The permanent committee members of the BC1 are Associate or Full Professors; the permanent committee members of the BC2 are Full Professors. They are appointed by the Faculty Board for a 3-year term that can be extended, on the understanding that 1 member is replaced every year. The student members are appointed annually. The permanent committee members are also involved in ad hoc assessment committees that are called together to advise the Faculty Board on decisions about tenure and promotion to Assistant Professor 1, promotion to Associate Professor 1, or focus change.
Selection of expert members
For each assessment, the BC1 or BC2 is extended by one or two members with specific expertise on the focus domain and/or the field of the candidate. At least one of these expert members is not appointed at the UG. The expert members are selected and approached by the chair of the committee, in consultation with the director of the research institute.
At least two months before the assessment takes place, the scientific director of the research institute, in consultation with the institute’s education director and the candidate’s supervisor, provides at least 4 names of potential expert members who might participate in the BC. These must be Associate or Full Professors with expertise in the candidate’s domain and/or field of research. At least half of the suggested experts must not have a prior working relationship with the candidate; for all other experts, the nature of this relationship must be reported. The list of suggested expert members must include multiple women.
Selection of references
The candidate and the scientific director of the research institute where the candidate works must independently provide the chair of the permanent assessment committee with the names and addresses of potential references at least 2 months before the meeting of the committee. The number of and required expertise of references depend on the candidate’s focus domain. When providing references, any working or personal relationships with references should be disclosed. In the case of references on the candidate's research, 50% of the references should not have a work or personal relationship with the candidate.
Focus on education
The scientific director must provide at least 3 names of experts who are able to give an opinion on the candidate’s accomplishments in education and 3 experts who are able to give an opinion on the candidate’s research, in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor and the institute’s education director. The candidate must provide the names of 5 experts who are able to give an opinion on their education and 5 who are able to give an opinion on their research.
Focus on impact
The scientific director must provide at least 3 names of experts who are able to give an opinion on the candidate’s societal impact and 3 experts who are able to give an opinion on the candidate’s research, in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor and the institute’s education director. The candidate must provide the names of 5 experts who are able to give an opinion on their societal impact and 5 who are able to give an opinion on their research.
Focus on research
The scientific director must provide at least 6 names of experts who are able to give an opinion on the candidate’s research, in consultation with the candidate’s supervisor. The candidate must provide the names of at least 10 such experts.
| Last modified: | 06 January 2025 08.54 a.m. |