Privatdozent (PD or Priv.-Doz. for short) is both a title and a position in the European university system, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who wants to become a university professor. Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... A professor giving a lecture The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ...

Becoming a PD

PD-ship is conferred to academics who have earned the degrees of "Dr." (Promotion) and then have written another thesis for the Habilitation and given a lecture before the respective department or faculty of a university. If they pass the vote after that lecture, they receive the venia legendi (or, rarely, venia docendi) and thus the status of PD. This means they can — and actually have to — teach at the respective institution; they also may advise on theses for Promotion. However, they do not have a formal position and did not use to receive any salary (except the lecture-fees, or salaries, according to the specific classes they taught). Today, however, PD's are usually modestly paid. Habilitation is a term used within the university system in France, Germany, Austria, and some other European countries such as the German-speaking part of Switzerland, in Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and countries of former Soviet Union, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan... Venia Legendi (Lat. ...

Professors at a Fachhochschule, as well as Honorary Professors (see Professor), do not need a Habilitation and thus were never PD's. The same is true to professors in the fine arts at academies or similar institutions, as well as in certain other disciplines even at universities, such as engineering. A Fachhochschule (plural: Fachhochschulen) or University of Applied Sciences in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland is a university specialized in certain topical areas (e. ... A professor giving a lecture The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ... Habilitation is a term used within the university system in France, Germany, Austria, and some other European countries such as the German-speaking part of Switzerland, in Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and countries of former Soviet Union, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan... Fine art is a term used to refer to fields traditionally considered to be artistic. ... Engineering is the application of scientific or mathematical principles with due reference to economics, society and environment to develop solutions to technical problems, creating products, facilities, and structures that are useful to people. ...

Ceasing to be a PD

Contrary to academic titles proper, one loses the PD title aspect (but not the venia and the Habilitation), either by being called to a professorship, which is the goal of the PD, or by ceasing to teach, in which latter case the title reverts to the rather unusual "Dr.habil." The withdrawal of the PD, the so-called "Remotion" is very rare and usually happens in case of extremely serious offenses; a famous case was Eugen Dühring. However, during Nazi times, most if not all Jewish PDs were remoted according to the Nuremberg Laws. A professor giving a lecture The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ... Eugen Karl Dühring (January 12, 1833 - September 21, 1921), was a philosopher and economist, and supporter of capitalism. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... This article describes some ethnic, historic, and cultural aspects of the Jewish identity; for a consideration of the Jewish religion, refer to the article Judaism. ... It has been suggested that Reich Citizenship Law be merged into this article or section. ...

Academics who stay in academe although they do not find a professorship are, slightly dismissively, often called "ewige Privatdozenten" (eternal PD's); if they are popular, they may receive either a salaried permanent staff appointment (where those still exist) as Lecturer or equivalent, and/or the purely honorific title of "außerplanmäßiger Professor" (abbreviated "apl. Prof." see Professor). Lecturer is the name given to university teachers in most of the English-speaking world (but not at most universities in the U.S. or Canada) who do not hold a professorship. ... A professor giving a lecture The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ...

History and Future

The institution of PD started around 1810 in Prussia and became established only around 1860. After that, for many years, the Habilitation remained cumulative, i.e. it was based on already-published work, not a new monograph. The heyday of the PD lasted approximately from 1900 and 1968, when hardly a university professor in a normal field was appointed who had not been a PD. 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Polish: ; Old Prussian: Prūsa) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Habilitation is a term used within the university system in France, Germany, Austria, and some other European countries such as the German-speaking part of Switzerland, in Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and countries of former Soviet Union, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

During the university reforms beginning in 1968, in order to quickly broaden the professorial base for the many newly opened and expanding universities, often professors were appointed who were not PD's as well. This was also seen as a political act to counter the alleged inherent conservatism and reactionary views of the German professoriat. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Conservatism is a political philosophy that usually favors traditional values and strong foreign defense. ... Reactionary (or reactionist) is a political epithet, generally used as a pejorative, originally applied in the context of the French Revolution to counter-revolutionaries who wished to restore the real or imagined conditions of the monarchical Ancien Régime. ...

The life of the PD is very unsatisfactory (Georg Simmel called the time "the purgatory of PD-ship"), because a PD in Germany is generally highly qualified, tends to be around 40 and often has a family, yet no salary or status to speak of. (This is only true in the rare case that the PD is not holder of a paid position as Hochschulassistent, Hochschuldozent or Akademischer Rat; the salary of these positions is comparable with the salary of US Assistant Professors.) In addition, the institution indubitably contributes strongly to the "overagedness" of the German senior academic staff. Thus, there have always been reform attempts to abolish the position, and in 2002 a limited number of "Junior Professorships" (see Professor) were introduced which are fast-track, time-limited positions to qualify for regular professorships. This is often seen as the "beginning of the end" of PD-ship. One can say in general that supporters of the institution of PD in Germany today belong to the more conservative camp in academic policy, while its detractors tend to be more left or liberal in outlook. Georg Simmel Georg Simmel (March 1, 1858 – September 28, 1918, Berlin, Germany) was one of the first generation of German sociologists. ... Purgatory commonly refers to a doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church, which posits that those who die in a state of grace undergo a purification in order to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... A professor giving a lecture The meaning of the word professor (Latin: one who claims publicly to be an expert) varies. ... Conservatism is a political philosophy that usually favors traditional values and strong foreign defense. ... Look up left in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of...

See also

• Lecturer
• Docent
• Academic rank
• Academic degree
• Professor
• Tenure