Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå university as a workplace

The Department of Applied Educational Sciences at Umeå University's Faculty of Social Sciences has about 100 employees, engaged in teaching, research and specially-commissioned activities. The department's activities are broad, interdisciplinary and close to education practice. At the department, education and research are carried out in the subject areas of educational work and measurement in behavioral sciences.

Specialization of the doctoral studentship
Educational Work as a postgraduate subject has a close connection to the pedagogical professional activities in preschool, school and teacher education and examines how these are shaped by different economic, political and social contexts. This doctoral position is aimed at one of TUV's research profiles or could combine questions that concern two or more research profiles. Examples of specializations for the applicant's research plan can be in the areas of:

- Curriculum and educational practice, goals and basic values in preschool and school age educare

- Digital practitioners in teacher education, school, preschool and school age educare

- Governance, policy and organization of teacher education, school, preschool and school age educare (including issues of privatisation and marketisation)

Qualifications
To be admitted to studies at the third-cycle level, the applicant must meet both general and subject specific entry requirements. 

Applicants meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if they has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Applicants meet the subject specific entry requirements for admission to studies in educational work at the third-cycle level if they have a teaching degree, two years of pedagogical professional experience and written a scientific dissertation / thesis of at least 15 credits.

Students who in another order within or outside the country have acquired corresponding knowledge can be admitted to the doctoral program after examination.

Assessment criteria
Applicants are ranked with reference to their capacity to benefit from and complete the programme. Assessment is based primarily on prior study results, with particular consideration given to degree projects or equivalent, and the quality of the research plan and its relevance for the subject area and connections to the departments’ research profile areas. References, interviews, and other evaluations of the candidates are also taken into consideration.

General and subject specific entry requirements must have been met at the time of applying.

Terms of employment
Doctoral students will primarily devote themselves to their education at third-cycle level. Employment as a doctoral student is for the time necessary for the completion of research studies at a normal rate of study, which corresponds to a full-time position for four years. The initial contract of 12 months may be extended by up to a maximum of two years at a time, providing that the doctoral student’s individual study plan has been followed. Doctoral students may work with teaching and administration up to a maximum of 20 percent of their full-time employment. In such cases, the period of employment is extended with the equivalent time spend on teaching/administration, up to a maximum of one additional year.

Doctoral students are affiliated with the Postgraduate school in the educational sciences, coordinated with the doctoral training programme at the relevant department. Doctoral studies begin at the start of the autumn semester, 2 September 2024.  The place of work is Umeå University. The entry level salary is 30 900 SEK and rises in four steps to 35 600 SEK. Doctoral students are expected to actively contribute to the research environment.

The doctoral student will have their employment at the Department of Applied Educational Science and the department is responsible for the subject-specific research training and for supervision. Please see the general syllabus for more information.

According to The Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12 §2, a decision of appointment to a doctoral studentship cannot be appealed. 

Application
Applications are submitted in the e-recruitment system Varbi, found via the University’s page for open positions. The system is open for applications until 29 March 2024. 

A complete application must include:

  1. Curriculum vitae, including name and contact information of two reference persons
  2. A personal letter about 1-2 A4 pages that describes how your own merits and experiences are relevant as well as an account of one's own research interest in relation to the current one the focus of the employment
  3. A research plan in English, Swedish or another Scandinavian language, 3-4 pages, that contains: purpose and research problem, short background to the choice of specialization area and suggestions for the structure of the study.
  4. A copy with information about completed academic courses with grades (academic transcripts) and copy of diplomas (BA, MA) proving basic and special qualifications.
  5. Copies of relevant BA and MA theses and other relevant publications that show your ability to do scientific work.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note: the Swedish version is the official version of this advertisement. In the case of any differences in information between this translation and the official version, the latter takes precedence and is the legally binding document.

Additional information
For more information about the Department of Applied Educational science , contact the Deputy Head of Department Bert Jonsson, +46907867612, bert.jonsson@umu.se 

For more information about the research discipline educational work, contact associate professor Carina Granberg +4690786 98 92, carina.granberg@umu.se

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
Number of positions 3
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Umeå
County Västerbottens län
Country Sweden
Reference number AN 2.2.1-105-24
Contact
  • Bert Jonsson, 090-7867612
  • Carina Granberg, 090-7869892
Union representative
  • SACO, 090-7865365
  • SEKO, 090-7865296
  • ST, 090-7865431
Published 09.Feb.2024
Last application date 29.Mar.2024 11:59 PM CET

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