Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) brings together cutting-edge research and technology transfer at an international level, engendering an interdisciplinary innovation network and a centre of excellence for science and technology. BTU and its respected partners together form the Lusatia Science Network – an alliance of research institutions joining forces in a bid to develop the strengths of Cottbus-Senftenberg as a science and research hub and to increase its visibility. BTU is shaping the future through innovative research and new approaches to teaching and learning, contributing to shaping the major issues of the future and transformation processes with scientific findings and practice-oriented solutions. Its strengths in teaching and research are concentrated across institutes and faculties in broad strokes spanning four profiles – “Energy Transition and Decarbonisation”, “Health and Life Sciences”, “Global Change and Transformation Processes” and “Artificial Intelligence and Sensor Technology”.

BTU guarantees its students in Cottbus and Senftenberg a challenging education, individual support and the opportunity to learn from and with each other in a spirit of curiosity and openness. Offering an inspiring atmosphere of learning and research and fostering dialogue and democratic cooperation between all, BTU is facilitating innovation and progress with pride in the diversity of its teaching staff and students.

The Faculty of Human Sciences is seeking to fill the following post:

PROFESSORSHIP (W2) in the Theory of Physical Education Teaching and Physical Education Lessons in Primary School

as soon as possible.

The vacant professorship is part of the new primary school teaching degree at BTU. The role calls for close collaboration between the 10 professorships at the new school of education, the Institut für Erziehungswissenschaft, and a willingness to cooperate further afield.

The professorship is intended to equip future teachers with the skills to teach physical education in primary schools, duly enabling them to plan, conduct, explain and evaluate the lessons, to encourage a love of sport and exercise in the pupils, and to maintain their enjoyment of the subject in an atmosphere of inclusion and diversity. It is also intended to impart the practical and theoretical knowledge needed to teach physical education at primary level and to broaden expertise in selected physical education subjects at school. The post also involves the supervision of students during teaching work experience.

We are looking to recruit a person with experience in the university teaching of physical education and the theory of physical education, and in the planning of courses with reference to the latest research findings. The aim in terms of research is to place emphasis on projects mainly concerned with health promotion and physical education. The future holder of the post should also be involved in the formation of a research cluster with a view to making a visible and sustainable contribution to the development of an innovative and contemporary theory of primary school education through the combined input of the disciplines of the professorships represented at the school of education.

The professorship remit includes the aforementioned subjects in research and teaching in the primary school teaching degree course and in other courses of study at BTU, as well as teaching duties in the bachelor’s and master’s degree courses in German and English. A successful candidate with insufficient command of the German language must be prepared to learn German quickly in order to be able to share in the management of Institute and of the Faculty, to sit on university and non-university committees, and to teach bachelor’s degree courses in German.

Your profile

The following qualifications are required of the future professor in this post under section 43 (1) 1 to 4a of the Brandenburg law governing higher education (Brandenburgisches Hochschulgesetz - BbgHG):

• relevant scientific university degree (master’s/state examination), preferably in teaching physical education at primary school level or a comparable qualification
• teaching skills
• aptitude for academic and scientific research, normally demonstrated by the quality of a doctorate and
• qualification for a senior lecturing post at a university (habilitation) or additional academic achievements considered equivalent

Candidates must also be able to submit evidence of two years of teaching practice in a school or comparable experience that is of advantage to the exercise of the duties in the role in accordance with section 43 (3) BbgHG.

The ideal candidate will also have experience in raising external funding and in carrying out projects funded by third parties and can preferably demonstrate experience with DFG or EU projects.

The university teaching experience of the successful candidate will provide an excellent foundation for teaching the subject in this vacant position. The candidate will have the ability to teach at all levels of the curriculum from bachelor’s degree to doctorate, to supervise theses, and to develop the next generation of students. The successful candidate will bring knowledge and experience conducive to working with academic autonomy and to raising the profile of the Faculty.

We offer

• fair and transparent appointment negotiations
• attractive working conditions in a city offering a high quality of life and situated relatively close to Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig
• location of dynamic growth in research
• assistance with moving to the area in the vicinity of the place of work
• careers advice for trailing spouses and guidance in family relocation
• attractive salary with negotiable incentive on appointment

Further duties are set out in section 44 of the Brandenburg law governing higher education (Brandenburgisches Hochschulgesetz - BbgHG) in conjunction with section 3 of the same law.

BTU is committed to equal opportunities and diversity, striving for a balance of gender in all employee groups and giving priority to people with severe disabilities or equivalent status where there is no difference in suitability and qualifications

Information about the appointment management process, including the legal basis and the status of ongoing appointment procedures, can be found under the following link:

Please send your application along with proof of your qualifications, a table showing your career progression, a list of publications and evidence of your teaching skills by email, all summarised in one PDF file no bigger than 7 MB, mentioning the Reference-No: 186/25 by no later than 03.02.2026 to:

E-Mail:

Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences

Postal address: BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Lipezker Str. 47, 03048 Cottbus

When sending your application by email without encryption, please be aware of the risks regarding the confidentiality and integrity of the contents of your application and please also note the data privacy information on the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg website.

For further information, please contact Ms. Prof. Simone Schröder (Tel.: +49 (0)355 / 58 18 400, E-Mail: ).

The BTU carries the seal of quality of The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (Deutscher Hochschulverband, in short DHV). She is thus honored for her fair and transparent negotiations on the appointment of new professors.