Jens Förderer particularly focuses on career development. Especially for doctoral candidates in business administration, the question often arises whether the doctorate is a foundation for a career in science or business. “It is important to me that doctoral candidates (…) develop an idea – or even a vision, which role their doctoral project plays for their future career path.” The development of one’s own vision – this can also be transferred to the research project. Finding a research topic that fills oneself with enthusiasm is essential, as there is “hardly a more effective driver for research success than intrinsic motivation”. Jens Förderer sees the supervisor role as approaching this topic together and creating a balance of freedom and routines for doctoral candidates. He achieves this in the form of weekly sync meetings, individually with all doctoral candidates of the chair. This regular exchange and the reachability of the supervisor are also central criteria for the granting of the award for the Graduate Council.
However, it should be emphasized that doctoral supervision is a two-way process to which both supervisors and doctoral candidates actively contribute. According to the Graduate Council, open and honest communication on both sides forms the basis of good collaboration. Jens Förderer particularly appreciates his doctoral candidates’ proactive commitment to cooperation.
The TUM Graduate School congratulates Prof. Dr. Jens Förderer on the Supervisory Award 2023 and thanks him as well as Tobias Weiß for the conversation. You will find more information on the Supervisory Award and the winners of the past years on the website of the TUM Graduate Council.
PS: Supervisors at TUM can register for the Doctoral Supervisor Training until 8 December. The training provides a holistic overview of how you can optimally support your doctoral candidates, from recruiting to career development.