Arbitration Board of the Graduate Academy
The Arbitration Board of the Graduate Academy is a cross-faculty mediation body to support the solving of problems and conflicts in the doctoral supervision relationship. This arbitration board expands the range of services available at the individual faculties for conflict resolution in the doctoral supervision relationship. The task of the arbitration board is to advise those seeking help in the event of conflicts or other problems arising from the supervisory relationship between doctoral candidates and university teaching staff and, if necessary, to work together with the parties involved towards an amicable and feasibility-oriented solution.
Both, doctoral candidates and university teachers supervising a doctorate can contact the arbitration board.
Psychological Counselling for Students (ptb)
Studying and research can hold great challenges for students and researchers. The psychological counselling service offers free advice (in English and German) concerning problems caused by researching/studying as well as in personal conflict situations. Those seeking advice can turn to the experienced counsellors to talk about problems such as crises and/or disturbances in the course of studies. Counselling topics can be among others test anxiety, learning and achievement disorders, difficulties with personal relations like family or friends, problems ranging from loneliness and isolation, such as contact difficulties or social anxiety. The ptb also provides counseling for depressive moods and suicidal thoughts.
Doctoral Coaching (Group coaching for Ph.D. candidates)
The doctoral phase is a very challenging phase of life, which goes hand in hand with a multitude of new tasks, a great deal of personal responsibility and a change of roles. During this transition, a variety of problems and stresses can arise, such as feeling overwhelmed, insecure or disoriented and lonely. Financial worries, fears about the future, procrastination, conflicting demands or conflicts with colleagues or supervisors can be equally challenging. All of these can cause a strong experience of stress.
The Group coaching for Ph.D. candidates offers a framework in which you can discuss such challenges and generate solutions for current problems together with other doctoral researchers and an experienced moderator. You can also develop new resources for dealing with future problems.
Equal Opportunities Office
The Equal Opportunities Office is the central institution at Leibniz University Hannover for shaping equal opportunities, supporting the compatibility of studies, work and family and for implementing diversity management. It offers counselling, childcare, junior staff programmes and information for employees, students and university institutions.
The counselling service and discrimination protection in the Equal Opportunities Office advises all students and employees on a wide range of topics: Family issues, discrimination, (sexual) harassment, in case of conflicts, on equal opportunities measures and gender equality.
Individual Coaching
Individual Coaching offers the opportunity to analyse a difficult situation and to work out options for action. In the working context of universities, we always consider subject- and science-specific aspects in addition to the individual dimension, so that you can develop appropriate strategies and solutions.
Self-organisation in special demanding situations or during the doctorate, reconciling work and family life, communication and conflict resolution within the team or with supervisors, coping strategies for individual or external crises.
Staff Council of Leibniz University Hannover (GER)
In the event of difficulties at the workplace or conflicts with superiors, the staff council can advise and, if desired, intervene to mediate, e.g. in cases of overload, questions of tariff classification or workplace design. The staff council's many years of experience can help find acceptable solutions and viable paths. The staff council can also advise on further assistance and counselling services and, if necessary, establish contact.
Ombudsman for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice
In order to maintain high scientific quality standards in research, Leibniz University Hannover ascribes specific importance to the compliance with the rules of Good Research Practice. To prevent dishonesty and fraud, Leibniz University has therefore established a two-stage procedure for scientific self-regulation. In the event of suspected research misconduct, members and affiliates of the university can contact the person of trust (ombudsperson), who carries out a preliminary examination of the allegations.
To safeguard Good Research Practice at universities throughout Germany, interested parties can alternatively also contact The German Research Ombudsman (Ombudsman für die Wissenschaft).
