Advisory Offices – Counselling in Conflict Situations

Junior researchers often face different challenges in their research period. These could lead to conflicts, for example concerning the supervision relationship, within a working group, regarding financing issues or concerning self-structured working. The challenging phase that young scientists face can also lead to personal problems. Should you find yourself in such or similar conflict situations, you can find support at various advisory offices available at KIT:

The ▶ members of the KHYS team will be happy to answer any questions you may have. In addition, KHYS offers open consultation hours in principle every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. in Bldg. 30.96, room 116. There you can safely discuss your situation. During this initial consultation, we will offer information and advice on how to deal with challenging situations and conflicts. If applicable, we will refer you to other advisory offices. You are also welcome to make an appointment. ▶ Jutta Klein-Hitpaß will be happy to answer any questions you may have or to offer you an appointment.

You can find the dates for the open consultation hours in the  ▶ schedule of events. Should the consultation hour be cancelled at short notice, this will also be displayed. Therefore, please check the respective entry in the schedule of events in advance.

KIT appointed special Ombudspersons for doctoral researchers and supervisors to support the solution finding for problems or conflicts which arise as part of the supervisory relationship. You can find further information and personal profiles of the Ombudspersons ▶ here.

Compliance with the rules of good research practice is indispensable for all scientists. The ▶ Ombudspersons to ensure good research practice, as persons of trust, advise those who inform them about suspected scientific misconduct by others. On the other hand, those suspected of misconduct can also contact the responsible Ombudsperson.

In addition to their advisory activities, the Ombudsmen regularly give lectures at KIT, for example during the KIT Doctoral Days. Further information can be found in the presentation ▶ How to avoid scientific malpractice (PDF file).

In addition, the ▶ German Research Ombudsman appointed by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; DFG) is available to all scientists for advice and support on questions of good research practice and its violation via scientific dishonesty.

The KIT Senate actively supports the discourse on ethics in science. To this end, it has appointed ▶ two Ombudspersons for ethical principles and an ethics committee. They are responsible for the further development of the ▶ Guidelines for Ethical Principles of KIT and for advising KIT members and associates and support them regarding sensitive issues. As a KIT member, you can contact one of the Ombudspersons with your questions at any time.

The conflict management and psychosocial counselling unit (KMB) serves as an additional contact point for all members of KIT and offers competent help in the shape of individual counselling, coaching, conflict counselling, mediation, team support and arranging further support services. The counselling services provide assistance with all problems that limit your ability  to work. These can be based on both the work context as well as your personal situation.

For all legal questions regarding the processes for the doctorate and the doctoral ordinances please contact the service unit ▶ Higher Education Law and Academic Affairs (DE HAA).

KIT offers its members further contact points. On the ▶ website of the conflict management and psychosocial counselling unit (KMB) you can find an overview. In addition, we have compiled a selection for you:

▶ Conventions of doctoral researchers
▶ International Scholars & Welcome Office (IScO)
▶ Equal Opportunities
▶ Contact persons for sexual harassment
▶ Personalservice (personnel support; PSE)
▶ Personalrat (staff council)
▶ Medizinische Dienste (medical services)
▶ Arbeitskreis Sucht des KIT (universitärer Bereich) (addiction working group of KIT – university sector)
▶ Schwerbehindertenvertretung (representatives for the severely handicapped)
▶ Beauftragte für Studierende mit Behinderung und chronischer Krankheit (representatives for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses)
▶ Netzwerk Gesundheit
▶ Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe
▶ Compliance Staff Unit
▶ KIT "Kummerkasten" (suggestion box)

You can find an overview of the contact points at KIT for conflict counselling in this ▶ flyer and on the ▶ website of the conflict management and psychosocial counselling unit (KMB).