Job description
Applications are invited for 3-4 years position as PhD Research Fellow affiliated with the research group “Knowledge, Learning and Governance in Higher Education and Work“ (HEDWORK) at the Department of Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo. The area of research for the PhD is ‘organization and governance in higher education’.
Universities are key knowledge institutions in our societies. In recent decades, universities have undergone significant changes in how they are organized and governed, in line with broader reforms of public sector governance. As universities have received more formal autonomy, their internal governance and organization has also changed. While university organization is described as more formal, with more professional administration and executive leadership, it is also clear that universities are complex hybrid organisations where top-down executive power interacts with academic authority residing within the academic profession. As an overarching theme, this PhD project is expected to explore organizational aspects of modern universities. Among possible topics are changing governance modes and practices within universities; how universities organizationally tackle new tasks and expectations from the authorities and/or society; and changes in university administration, especially in relation to academic work. Other topics may be of relevance if they can clearly demonstrate relevance for the overall theme. The PhD project is expected to identify and narrow down a focused research problem for the thesis. The application should include a 5–7-page project description that outlines the planned PhD project, following faculty guidelines for project proposals.
The announced PhD position will be connected to the HEDWORK research group, which investigates the dynamic interplay between knowledge, learning and governance in higher education and in knowledge-intensive work. The group comprises researchers with different interdisciplinary backgrounds (e.g., higher education governance, teaching and learning in higher education, workplace learning) and offers an internationally oriented and stimulating research environment, well connected to relevant international environments. More information about research topics and projects covered by HEDWORK can be found on the research group’s website: https://www.uv.uio.no/english/research/groups/hedwork/
More about the position
The fellowship period is 3 years. There exists a possibility for extending the contract period to 4 years, depending on the institute’s needs for teaching staff and the selected candidate’s teaching competences and academic profile. In the case of a 4-year contract, 3 years are devoted to research work and training required for obtaining the PhD degree, and 1 year (or the workload corresponding 25% of the position) will consist of teaching and supervision in the institute’s study programmes.
The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’s approved PhD program, and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information, please see our web site: http://www.uv.uio.no/english/research/phd/
Qualification requirements
Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the faculty´s PhD programme. This normally includes:
- Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in (higher) education or another field with relevance to higher education research (e.g., public administration, sociology, management, political science or other relevance social science field)
- A Master’s degree (120 ECTS) with a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS, with a minimum grade B.
- A bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade C (ECTS grading scale)
- For 5-year studies, the average grade must be C or better for the first three years, and B or better for the last two years (ECTS grading scale). The Master thesis must have been graded with a minimum grade B.
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language)
In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be placed on:
- The quality of the project description and its description of the research topic’s relevance to gaining a better understanding of organization and governance in modern universities, the identification of specific problems to be studied, the choice and reasoning concerning theoretical perspective and method, and the proposed implementation plan for the study;
- The applicant’s experience, personal suitability and motivation for the post, including the ability to collaborate and to form part of a cross-disciplinary academic community
- The applicant’s academic attitude and motivation regarding completing the research training program
Personal skills
We hare looking for a candidate who:
- Can work independently and has strong execution skills.
- Has excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Is precise and able to maintain a structured workflow.
- Is flexible and has strong communication and collaboration skills.
Personal suitability will be emphasized.
We offer
- Salary NOK 536 200 – 575 400 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research Fellow, (position code 1017)
- Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
How to apply and what to include in your application
The application must include:
- Cover letter, including statement of motivation and research interests
- A project description, including progress plan (5-7 pages. Please see our guidelines.
- CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
- Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only). Foreign applicants must attach an explanation of their grading system
- Documentation of English proficiency (for information on required documentation, see information on this webpage)
- Master thesis
- A complete list of publications and academic works
- List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number)
Incomplete applications will not be assessed.
Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).
The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link: “Apply for this job”.
When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the project description and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.
