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Review

PRIF Review 2024New Ways of Working in Academia

WorkNew@Leibniz

New Ways of Working in Academia

Illustration showing various books folded open and closed to form the structure of a building that is open on several sides. In the rooms you can see figures reading and figures sitting at desks, as well as houseplants in pots.

Image: Christina Dueringer

Agile teams, home office, and Workcation have long been established in many sectors and show: The working culture is changing. But how can academic institutions meet the challenges of the new work environment? With the “WorkNew@Leibniz” project, the Leibniz Association has developed approaches on how modern forms of work in academia can look like and how they can be implemented. PRIF coordinated the project together with two other Leibniz institutes.

Changes in workplace culture have been accelerating for several years: The digital age requires new dynamics for work, global networking challenges traditional structures, and employees develop new demands – for greater recognition, participation, and individual development. New work concepts address these developments by combining professional and personal self-realization, focusing on the skills, talents, and wishes of employees, and promoting adaptations in the work environment – such as location independence, results-oriented collaboration across departments, and flexible management with flat hierarchies.

Between 2022 and 2024, the “WorkNew@Leibniz” project developed concrete ideas on how this change can be successfully implemented within academia and particularly within the Leibniz cosmos. A total of 15 Leibniz institutes took part in the exchange, which was coordinated by the Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (ZBW), the Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM) and PRIF. Susanne Boetsch and Petra Schmidt oversaw project management at PRIF.

Illustration showing a large planter with the inscription Climate Neutral 2035. Around it are several figures, some of them connected by cables and using laptops, surrounded by several elements of grass and leaves. One person holds the symbol for recycling: three arrows forming a circle.

Image: Tessa Bode

The project began with workshops to identify key challenges and approaches to modern organizational culture and to develop possible solutions. This formed the basis for the digital platform “WorkNew@Leibniz – New Forms of Work for Academia.”

Focusing on the three identified dimensions: space, tools and people. The platform collects a variety of contributions, including reports on pilot projects, information on working conditions, and interviews that offer ideas on how academic institutions can remain attractive employers.

The project brought together perspectives from the scientific community and practitioners at various events. For example, employees of the Leibniz Institutes had the opportunity to present and discuss best practice examples at a joint digital lunch as part of the “Cookiebites” event series.

Photo of a magnificent hall in which there are various white shelves with paper elements attached to them, some with illustrations, some with text. The words conference technology, sustainability and playbook can be read in the foreground.

A multimedia exhibition showcased the results and content of the project platform during the closing event in Frankfurt. It was subsequently shown at the Leibniz Association in Berlin.

Photo: PRIF

The final event of the project took place on September 26, 2024, at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt. Titled “WorkNew Day 3 – AI and New Work: Future Strategies for Scientific Institutions”. The event brought together scientists, administrators, and other interested parties to discuss the project’s results. The focus was on the challenges and opportunities presented by the use of artificial intelligence, such as the automation of work analysis and innovative approaches to recruitment. (hfr)

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Projektplattform WorkNew@Leibniz

What is gamification? Why do we need “pre-boarding”? And what does role-based working actually mean? The German-language platform “WorkNew@Leibniz” provides tips and background information on its project platform.

The website was developed in collaboration with the Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) Offenbach.