German rectors back fixed-term contracts in ongoing debate

Controversial statements speaks of “systemic importance” as pressure grows for more permanent academic jobs

The German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) has defended the use of fixed-term contracts in science, saying that the law that enables them is of “systemic importance” for science.

The doctoral and postdoctoral phases in a scientist’s education are “necessarily highly competitive qualification phases”, for which appropriate contract durations are required, the HRK said in a statement.