At the Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences (PPW) of KU Leuven, a full-time academic position (ZAP mandate) relating to educational policy in primary schools is vacant within the framework of the new Master of Primary Education. This vacancy will have KU Leuven (Leuven) as its main location.
We are looking for motivated candidates with a strong research record and excellent teaching skills in the relevant field. KU Leuven is a leading academic institution in Europe whose mission is to deliver excellent academic teaching and research.
Location
With the Master of Primary Education, the government and Association KU Leuven aim to contribute to strengthen the pedagogical and didactical expertise of primary school teams. Teachers will expand their knowledge and skills with research-based insights to investigate the current challenges faced by primary schools and to translate these challenges into concrete actions at both the classroom and school levels. With this vacancy, the Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences aims to purposefully expand its teaching staff for this new master's program.
This vacancy focuses on systematic research of and theory building on current (school-)educational issues and school concepts in support of a contemporary educational policy in primary schools. The candidate will be asked to develop a research program on a number of such educational issues and school concepts (e.g. on contemporary school models and projects, challenges around parent involvement, approaches to care, language and inclusion, issues related to authority and sanctioning, ...). In doing so, the candidate is asked to pay attention to how engagement with and meaning for concrete primary school practices will be realized. Provided the focus on educational theory development, different research approaches and methods are possible and perhaps desirable given the complexity of the research domain. In addition, you will be asked to initially teach a number of course in the master program in primary education and the associated preparation program and will be expected to take a leading role in this master's degree.
Duties
Research
The candidate is expected to:
- develop or further develop a strong and innovative research program on educational policy in primary schools (with a focus on educational issues and school concepts), complementary to the research of current ZAPs at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences in Leuven;
- develop cooperation with the members of the research unit, (sub)faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and KU Leuven, with the field of practice and with relevant research centers within the faculty and abroad;
- acquire external research funding;
- publish in international peer-reviewed journals;
- supervise Phd-students in a quality manner.
Teaching
The candidate is expected to:
- teach course in the Master of Primary Education (Leuven campus and Kortrijk campus). Potential courses are:
- Grammar of/in primary schools: key components (link)
- School, society and world (master)
- Specific contribution in: Dealing with diversity (master), and Educational innovation, educational quality and educational effectiveness (master)
- Integrated seminar (link)
- supervise master's theses in primary education
- contribute to the optimization and further development of education within the master program in primary education and the associated preparation program; this implies a regular presence on campus and at events relevant to the campus.
The allocation of teaching tasks is done in mutual consultation and taking into account the candidate's profile. The candidate develops education in line with KU Leuven's vision of research-based, person-oriented and socially engaged education.
Service
The candidate is expected to:
- assume internal service duties within the research unit, faculty and academic community;
- contribute to the dissemination of scientific knowledge to professionals in primary education and to the general public;
- develop a strong international academic network in the domain, in addition to a national network;
- develops, together with colleagues, an (inter)national network with organizations and actors active in the field of primary education
- take on a coordinating role within the Master of Primary Education in due course, as a career opportunity.
Profile
- you have a doctoral degree in behavioral sciences, preferably in educational sciences, educational studies, psychology, or in a related discipline, provided you can present relevant experience and/or expertise in the field of educational policy in primary schools;
- you have a strong research record with international publications in peer-reviewed journals;
- Mastery of the Dutch language at CEFR level C1 is required at the start of employment, in order to be able to teach in Dutch immediately.
- Proficiency in English is required
- a good contact with the primary school network is recommended, as is international research experience;
- you have excellent and demonstrable teaching skills and are willing to develop them further;
- you have (potential) leadership qualities and good communication and organizational skills;
- you are collegial and can work well as part of a team.
Offer
We offer full-time employment in an intellectually challenging research environment. Depending on the candidate’s record and qualifications, she/he will be appointed at one of the academic staff grades. Candidates who have recently obtained their PhD are recruited as assistant professor in a tenure track position with evaluation after 5 years. In case of positive evaluation after 5 years, the candidate will then be appointed to the rank of associate professor. In Belgium, assistant professors are allowed to be main supervisor of a PhD and can autonomously apply as principal investigator for research grants. KU Leuven is offering financial resources to new professors to start up their own research lines. They can also apply for own project funding.
KU Leuven is well equipped to welcome foreign professors and their families and offers practical support in terms of immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching... To facilitate scientific integration and research in the first phase, start-up funding of 110.000 euro is offered to new professors, who do not have substantial other funding and are recruited at least 50%.
KU Leuven aims to create an environment in which all talents can develop to their maximum potential, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. If you have any questions regarding accessibility or support options, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.
Interested?
For more information on the content of the position, please contact Prof. Maarten Simons (maarten.simons@kuleuven.be) or Prof. Walter Schaeken (walter.schaeken@kuleuven.be). If you encounter any problems in applying electronically, please email solliciteren@kuleuven.be.
Besides the motivation letter, in the application file the candidate adds a research statement (max. 3 pages) and his/her vision on academic education (max. 3 pages). The Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences values 'open science' and supports transparent and reproducible research. Applicants are asked to document how they have applied open science practices in the past and/or will do so in the future.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.