Process for Hiring to Associate Professor and/or Professor

The qualification requirements for the positions Associate Professor and Professor are established in Hanken's Personnel Instruction (2024) and in Guidelines for the implementation of Hanken's (2023) research-oriented tenure track system.

Application Documents

Applicants to the position(s) will submit:

CV (proposed content at https://tenk.fi/en/advice-and-materials/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae), including list of publications,
If the position is open for appointments across levels (assistant professor and/or associate professor and/or professor), applicants are asked to specify which level they are applying at.
Personal statement, which includes a description of past and on-going research, research collaboration with other scholars, contributions to international scientific networks, involvement in applications for external research funding, contributions to the pedagogical development in the department or university beyond own teaching, contributions through institutional service to the department and own university, and contributions through societal impact. The personal statement needs to be written with the position in question in mind.
For applicants for assistant and associate professorships: Copies of the five research publications that, in the applicant’s opinion, best demonstrate high scientific quality research in their field,
For applicants for professorships: Copies of the ten research publications that, in the applicant’s opinion, best demonstrate high scientific quality research in their field,
A teaching portfolio (proposed content at https://www.hanken.fi/en/faculty-staff/job-opportunities/job-opportunities/applications-and-selection-process)

Qualification Requirements - Associate Professor

An associate professor is required to have a doctoral degree. In addition, an associate professor will have achieved and can demonstrate internationally high levels of research within the scientific field of the position. An associate professor is also expected to have achieved high levels in teaching and contributed through institutional service and societal impact.

The Department Committee assesses all complete applications using both qualitative and quantitative indicative examples of evidence for the extent to which each candidate fulfills the criteria in the Hanken Personnel Instruction (2024) and the criteria in the tables provided below for associate professorship.

Standard for each of the four qualification areas	Indicative Examples of Evidence Evaluation of candidates should be made using a holistic consideration of all submitted materials. The candidate’s personal statement should discuss how the candidate believes she/he meets the standard and provide documentary evidence in support. The qualifications of the candidate should be compared against relevant peer business schools. Exceptional merits in one part of a qualification area may compensate for lack of merits in another part of the qualification area. Research is the most important of the four different qualification areas followed by teaching, and then service and societal impact.
Research
Internationally high levels of scientific research quality within the scientific field of the position.	Portfolio of peer-reviewed research publications in recognised important journals and/or books or anthologies in the candidate’s field, e.g., from various ranking or quality assessments of journals widely used (such as journals in the highest levels in for instance the AJG list, especially levels 4 and 4*) High scientific quality research impact, e.g., recognition of and awards for work by national/international associations and journals in the candidate’s field or by governments and non-academic associations Individual high quality scientific research profile in his or her scientific field and possibly in other fields, e.g., invitations to present at research seminars and give keynote speeches, examine research students, review national/international funding applications Active pursuit and possible achievement of competitive research funding Experience of supervising doctoral researchers Research collaboration across borders and/or disciplines Active participation in national and international scientific networks and conferences, with own contributions and by assessing the work of others
Teaching
Achievement of high levels of teaching quality.	Development as a teacher including having 5 or more ECTS credits in pedagogical studies Experience of teaching and supervising bachelor, master's, executive education and/or doctoral students Teaching portfolio that documents teaching experience and reflections on pedagogical approach and skills Demonstrated use of feedback from colleagues, students and others in the development of own teaching Development of teaching materials High quality student feedback, honours and/or awards Contribution to the pedagogical development in the department or university beyond own teaching
Service
Contributed through institutional service.	Serving on committees, councils, boards, task forces and working groups Leadership experience and/or training Actively contributing to the working environment in the department and university
Societal Impact
Contributed through societal impact.	Interaction with external stakeholders Research communication to relevant stakeholders Collaboration with private and/or public organisations Expert and advisory roles in private and public organisations

Qualification Requirements - Professor

A professor is required to have a doctoral degree. In addition, a professor will have achieved and can demonstrate that she or he is an internationally recognised researcher with continued internationally high levels of research within the scientific field of the position. A professor is also expected to demonstrate continued high levels in teaching, institutional service and societal impact.

Standard for each of the four qualification areas	Indicative Examples of Evidence Evaluation of candidates should be made using a holistic consideration of all submitted materials. The candidate’s personal statement should discuss how the candidate believes she/he meets the standard and provide documentary evidence in support. The qualifications of the candidate should be compared against relevant peer business schools. Exceptional merits in one part of a qualification area may compensate for more modest merits in another part of the same area. Further, exceptional merits in one qualification area may compensate for more modest merits in another qualification area. Research is the most important of the four different qualification areas, followed by teaching, and then service and societal impact..
Research
Internationally recognised researcher with continued internationally high levels of scientific research quality within the scientific field of the position.	Continued success and development of a portfolio from conducting and publishing independent high quality scientific research with original ideas and impact in important journals and/or books or anthologies in the candidate’s field, e.g., from various ranking or quality assessments of journals widely used (such as journals in the highest levels in for instance the AJG list, especially levels 4 and 4*). Continued high quality research impact, e.g., recognition of and awards for work by national/international associations and journals in the candidate’s field or by governments and non-academic associations International recognition as a scholar with leading expertise in her or his scientific field and possibly in other scientific fields, e.g., invitations to present at research seminars and give keynote speeches, examine research students, review national/international funding applications Success in acquiring external, competitive research funding Success in building and leading research team(s) Continued success in supervising doctoral students Experience of acting as examiner and/or opponent of doctoral theses Research collaboration across borders and disciplines Active participation in national and international scientific networks and conferences, including invitations to present own research and to serve in significant positions in the academic community
Teaching
Demonstrated continued high levels of teaching quality.	Demonstrates ongoing development of own pedagogical skills in relation to teaching and supervision, e.g., qualifications in teaching or membership of national/international pedagogical associations Extensive experience of teaching and supervising bachelor, master’s, executive education and/or doctoral students Teaching portfolio that documents teaching experience and reflections on pedagogical approach and skills Demonstrated use of feedback from colleagues, students and others in the development of own teaching Development of teaching material, including material used beyond own teaching Continued high quality student feedback, honours and/or awards Continued contribution to the pedagogical development in the department or university beyond own teaching Educational leadership, e.g., considered a thought leader in pedagogical studies and/or invited to sit on pedagogical committees or boards
Service
Demonstrated continued high levels of institutional service.	Continued and extensive academic leadership experience and contributions, e.g., leading and/or serving on committees, councils, boards, task forces and working groups Continued leadership training and/or experience, e.g., serving in senior academic positions at own institution and/or appointment to international advisory board at other institutions Actively contributing to the working environment in the department and university Contributions to the nurturing of a new generation of successful researchers
Societal Impact
Demonstrated continued high levels of societal impact.	Continued and extensive interactions with external stakeholders Continuous research communication to relevant stakeholders Strategic collaboration with private and public organisations Expert and advisory roles in private and public organisations Other activities related to their scientific field of research that greatly benefit societal developments, e.g., influencing the public debate within the own scientific field

Department Committee

A Department Committee is appointed by the Rector based on a proposal from the Head of Department (HoD) and will consist of a minimum of a Chair who should be a professor of the subject and could be the HoD, three professors from the department, one professor from another department/university, and one person from HR as secretary.

Hanken’s recommendations regarding conflict of interest will apply in terms of academic cooperation with an applicant by any member of Department Committee. In short-listing processes where a member has reported a conflict of interest/been disqualified in relation to individual applicants due to academic collaboration, the member’s participation in the decision-making process shall be limited only to the extent necessary to ensure an impartial and transparent process. If a member has reported a conflict of interest /been disqualified in relation to a short-listed applicant, the member shall resign from the Department Committee.

Selection Process

The position(s) will be advertised with usual particulars.
The Department Committee assesses all complete applications using both qualitative and quantitative indicative examples of evidence for the extent to which each candidate fulfills the criteria in the Hanken Personnel Instruction (2024) and the criteria in the tables provided above for associate professorship and professorship. The Committee shortlists candidates (usually at least 2-3) for external assessment, organises and conducts all interviews, organises the job talks including a research seminar presentation, and obtains a Publication Report from the Library for the short-listed applicants.
Rector appoints three external evaluators (plus at least two additional external evaluators in reserve) based on a proposal from the Department Committee to provide statements on the short-listed applicants for associate professor and/or professor positions (but not possible short-listed applicants for assistant professorships). The short-listed applicants for associate professorships and professorships are given an opportunity to present objections regarding disqualification and/or insufficient impartiality in the selection of external reviewers.
The external evaluators are contacted first by the Chair of the Department Committee to determine willingness to act in this capacity, then by HR.
The Department Committee meets to assess and rank all short-listed applicants, prepares a proposal for the Faculty Recruitment and Promotion (FRP) Committee in which it explicitly states which of the ranked applicants fulfil the requirements and are deemed suitable to be hired.
The Chair of the Department Committee is invited to present the case for the FRP Committee, after which the Chair must leave the meeting. The FRP Committee assesses the Department Committee’s proposal and all supporting documents and provides a recommendation to the Rector.
Rector makes the final decision to award, or not offer appointment to Associate Professor Level 3 or Professor Level 4.
Rector informs the applicant about the decision. The applicant and the HoD are invited to a meeting to discuss the work contract and salary.
In case of a decision to hire the applicant, the Head of Department submits the material for the work contract to HR; HR completes the work contract, which is signed by Rector and the applicant.
The Chair of the Department Committee informs the other short-listed candidates about the outcome.