The Nihal European University in Sudan

The success and the future of the Nihal European University in Sudan depend primarily upon the quality and the reputation of its faculty.

In choosing academic personnel, especially in hiring professors, the search committees of the Nihal European University in Sudan should pay attention to the following criteria:

• Intensive and continuing activity as researchers,
• lively and also well-structured teaching that motivates students (and is substantiated if possible by teaching evaluations),
• multilingualism (a requirement being very good English skills and good skills in an additional European language),
• interest in scholarly innovation and curricular change,
• leadership qualities and the skills to work cooperatively,
• good connections to international scholars,
• familiarity with European and other university systems and scholarly institutions; and
• exacting attention to the principle of being present, i.e. being on campus at the Nihal European University in Sudan and / or the ability to be reached at all times during the workday.

In the hiring process for professors it is expected that the candidates deliver a scholarly lecture. Candidates for professorships or lectureships must also demonstrate that they have published in international scholarly journals and / or with highly-regarded foreign publishers. Because of the probationary period in hiring it is also of particular importance in filling such positions that applicants submit a concrete research agenda with a workplan. In this case hiring would be combined with an implicit authorisation of the candidate’s proposed research. (It should be possible for the candidate to negotiate changes to this in the course of the application process.) The overall profile of the department has to be taken into account, which should be described in the formal job announcement.

Instructors should be employed on the basis of limited contracts of approximately 3-5 years. Contract renewals are possible. Permanent contracts should be the exception; they would mainly be possible after repeated extensions of contract or in order to attract especially renowned candidates.

The promotion of junior scholars will be regarded as an important task for the Nihal European University in Sudan. To this end the university will promote talented graduates through scholarships and support its students in applying for scholarships from other institutions both domestically and abroad.

In order to retain junior scholars at the Nihal European University in Sudan after they have completed their doctoral degrees, the university will establish teaching assistantships (Assistentenstellen). By doing so we will also be able to attract junior scholars from Europe and other countries. A certain share of the teaching assistantships however should be reserved for graduates of the Nihal European University in Sudan, thereby targeting them for support and assisting them in building up their vitas.

The prerequisites for a professorship are publications as well as a good grade in the doctoral degree programme.

The academic personnel of the Nihal European University in Sudan encompasses professors and lecturers. There will also be teaching assistants.

To be hired at the Nihal European University in Sudan lecturers at all levels and teaching assistants should be held to particularly high standards.

The hiring of non-Sudanese faculty is not a problem in Sudan. As a result residency permits can be issued in most cases for five years.

Academic personnel should be not be employed at the Nihal European University in Sudan on a permanent basis (i.e. contracts are to be limited).

For faculty who hold a professorship or lectureship we will plan only to offer contracts of a maximum of five years. After that period has expired, an extension of three years can be granted or it will be possible to conclude a new contract.

During the start-up period contracts such as those for the prorectors, founding deans and department heads can take effect before teaching has commenced at the university.

The naming to a professorship on a permanent basis is only intended for professors and lecturers who have been successful for a long period at the Nihal European University in Sudan as indicated by multiple extensions of their contracts. Contracts for life should thus be an exception mainly limited to those whose contracts have been extended multiple times or for recruiting particularly renowned faculty.

Teaching assistants can work at the Nihal European University in Sudan for five years at most.

The Nihal European University in Sudan will divide the academic year into two semesters of at least 70 working days each. This number however is not to be substantially exceeded so that academic personnel can fulfil their research obligations.

On the basis of climatic conditions a longer summer break should be considered that would pragmatically correspond to the conventional timing of the summer holidays. The period between semesters should be shortened in the winter season so that the cooler conditions can be used effectively. As a consequence the academic year will be oriented around the summer break by starting it (following the Gregorian calendar) on the first day of the last month of this season.

With respect to weekly planning no classes should take place on Fridays, the most important day for Muslims. Out of concern for Christians there should be no classes on Sundays, at least in morning hours. Members of the university community will be able to fulfil their religious obligations on all important holidays of both religions. During special festivals the university should attempt to organise events so that students can experience the festivities of the other religion at least in the profane realm, such as the breaking of the fast during Ramadan.

The university will maintain a strict requirement that employees be in attendance from the first to the last day of the projected minimum of 140 working days. This means that instructors will also have to be available on days when they are not scheduled to teach. Faculty will have to make up any classes that they miss.

Professors and lecturers will have the obligation to teach classes on average between eight and ten hours per week during the semester. All who have the right to do so will have to offer at least one lecture course. Otherwise their teaching obligation will consist of classes in the form of seminars at every level, courses and labs (depending upon the department). The time necessary for advising students (office hours, grading tests and correcting papers) and doctoral candidates are not included in that figure.

For adjuncts the teaching obligation will be between 12 and 20 hours per week on average, depending upon the discipline. For instructors from industry, the media etc. we foresee a teaching obligation of approximately 4 hours per week; for adjuncts at the Language Learning Institute of approximately 18 hours per week.