Assistant lecturer in international relations, one or several

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The School of Global Studies (IGS) is a creative and innovative university environment for research and education that provides the ability to understand and analyze social phenomena in our global world. We are looking for people who are stimulated by working in a dynamic, international and interdisciplinary environment. The School´s educational and research activities cover global studies, global development studies, global gender studies, human ecology, social science environmental studies, peace and development research, international relations, human rights and social anthropology.

For further information about the School of Global Studies, please visit https://www.gu.se/globalstudies

Subject area

International Relations

Subject description

International Relations studies how the international system functions politically, economically and culturally, and how it has evolved over time, with a focus on power relations and the relationships between state and non-state actors. International Relations at IGS builds on key traditions in the subject, including the study of violence, war and security, global political economy and global governance. The School of Global studies also has expertise in regional cooperation, international relations theory, non-Western international relations and postcolonialism, technology, gender studies, critical security and war studies, peacekeeping and intervention, international law and human rights, and sustainability and development. We conduct research in a wide range of empirical fields and apply a variety of methods in our work. We offer an English-language bachelor program in international relations that provides both a theoretical and practical introduction to the field. Our department also supervises PhD students with an interest in international relations in our postgraduate programs in Peace and Development Studies and Social Science Environmental Studies. International relations is also an important part of the department's other educational offerings at undergraduate and graduate level, such as global studies, human rights and global gender studies. 

Work tasks

The position includes mainly teaching and research. As an associate senior lecturer, you are expected to:    

- Teach, take course responsibility, supervise and examine at first and second cycle level corresponding to 50 percent of full time. Teaching is mainly in the form of lectures, seminars and group work, but other forms of teaching may also occur. The main teaching will be allocated to the Bachelor's Program in International Relations and other parts of the IGS programs based on the needs of the department.

- Conduct research equivalent to 50 percent of full time in international relations.

- Carry out administrative tasks/assignments as required.

- Actively participate in seeking external funding for own research and for doctoral students when deemed appropriate.

- Collaborate within and across subject boundaries.

The tasks also include course and program development and participation in the department's educational development work. You are expected to actively participate in the department's research environments and seminar activities as well as the international research community by, for example, participating in conferences and publishing in international peer-reviewed journals. The applicant is expected to initiate collaborations and actively interact with actors outside the academic world, for example in research collaborations or other activities where research results can be used and contribute to debate, reflection and problem solving.

It is a requirement that all permanently employed teachers learn the Swedish language within a maximum of two years after starting employment. IGS has a language policy and, if necessary, offers language support in order to achieve a certain level of proficiency in the Swedish language. In addition, the position requires very good language skills in oral and written English.

Employment as an assistant senior lecturer is a merit-based position where the holder, after an approved examination, can be promoted to senior lecturer.

Eligibility

Eligibility for employment as a teacher is regulated in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the University of Gothenburg's employment regulations, see Employment regulations for teachers at the University of Gothenburg with the local application of the Faculty of Social Sciences (GU 2022/2359). 

Eligible to be employed as an associate senior lecturer is a person who has completed a doctoral degree in international relations or has equivalent scientific competence no more than five years before the deadline for applying for the position of associate senior lecturer has expired. However, those who have completed a doctoral degree or have achieved equivalent competence earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

Other assessment criteria to be applied are specified in the assessment criteria below.

Assessment basis

In the appointment, equal weight will be given to pedagogical and scientific skills. 

The pedagogical skills are demonstrated by:

- Documented experience of having successfully planned and implemented teaching, supervision and examinations in international relations (or related subject areas) at bachelor, master and/or doctoral level.

- Ability to reflect on completed and documented work of importance for the quality and development of the education and/or teaching.

- Writing of teaching materials and certificates from higher education pedagogical courses.

It is also an advantage to have documented experience and knowledge of teaching quantitative methods in the social sciences.

The scientific competence is demonstrated by:

- Own research with a high degree of problem formulation, theoretical and methodological awareness and analytical skills.

- Publication in international journals or with international publishers in the field of international relations. In cases where the applicant is not the sole author, the division of responsibility for the work must be indicated.

- Ongoing participation in research collaborations and documented ability to obtain external research funding.

The applicant who, after an overall assessment of skills and potential for future development (based on the applicant's documented experience, current work and future plans for research and teaching), is deemed to have the best conditions to perform the tasks included in the position, will be selected for the position of associate senior lecturer. In addition, the assessment will take into account the applicant's ability to collaborate both internally and externally to perform the tasks described above. The overall assessment shall also include the applicant's ability to contribute to a positive development of the activities. 

Information about the recruitment process

When recruiting an associate senior lecturer, an expert procedure, interviews, reference taking and possibly a trial lecture are applied. 

Other information

An associate senior lecturer shall, upon application, be promoted to senior lecturer if he or she is qualified for a position as senior lecturer and, upon examination, is deemed suitable for such a position according to the assessment criteria specified by the university in the vacancy announcement. The application for promotion must be submitted no later than six months before the fixed-term employment expires. Such promotion entails a permanent position as a senior lecturer. Applications for promotion shall be made in the same subject as the applicant is employed in. 

In accordance with Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance, a person who has demonstrated pedagogical skills and has obtained a doctoral degree or has equivalent scientific competence or any other professional skills that are significant with regard to the subject content of the employment and the tasks to be included in the employment. In such a review, the following requirements for promotion also apply:

- Qualifying education in higher education comprising 15 credits is a requirement for promotion. The higher education pedagogical training at the University of Gothenburg consists of the courses PIL101, PIL102 and PIL103. Teachers who have not completed the University of Gothenburg's higher education pedagogical training can have their faculty examine whether their own merits correspond to the university's training.

- Documented ability to teach in the Swedish language (can be demonstrated by actual teaching and/or approved courses in Swedish at advanced level).

- Scientific proficiency for promotion for the current position shall be demonstrated in particular by participation in applications for funding of research projects that have been submitted during the period of the associate senior lecturer position and that peer-reviewed scientific publications in international journals and/or publishers have been accepted for publication during the period of the associate senior lecturer position. The scientific merit must have reached the level of docent competence.

Form of employment:

Type of employment: Temporary employment of 4 years with the possibility of promotion to senior lecturer and permanent employment.

Scope: 100% 

Location: School of Global Studies, Gothenburg 

Starting date: January 1, 2025, or according to agreement.

For further information:

Information about the employment is provided by Michael Schulz, Head of the School of Global Studies: 

michael.schulz@globalstudies.gu.se   

Information about the recruitment process is provided by Elvedina Sikiric Lidström, HR: elvedina.sikiric.lidstrom@gu.se  

Trade union organizations

Trade union representatives for the University of Gothenburg: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

How to apply

You apply for the position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the University no later than May 25, 2024. 

Please write your application in English as it will be reviewed by international experts. 

The application must include:

1. A curriculum vitae/CV, including a full list of publications, administrative experience, documented collegiality, experience in collaboration, and a statement of external funding received (with amounts).
2. A description of your scientific qualifications, including: a) A list of your five most relevant scientific publications. Indicate your role and the scope of your work for the selected publications that are co-authored. Certification of co-authored publications must be attached along with a statement of the co-authors' contribution to the publication. If an article or book has been accepted for publication but has not yet been published, the certificate of accepted publication must be attached.
3. b) A statement of your academic qualifications, your research profile (previous and ongoing research in international relations) and why this position is of interest to you and what you believe you can contribute to the field of international relations. The statement should include a research plan with a description of ongoing and planned research (max 5 pages).
4. Full electronic copies of a maximum of five scientific publications.
5. A statement of your teaching qualifications, including: a) a list of the courses and training programs you have developed and taught, and experience of supervision and examination.
6. b) A description of your pedagogical merits and qualifications with information on scope and quality.
7. c) A pedagogical self-reflection on your teaching philosophy and teaching practice (max 3 pages)
8. d) A certificate of your teaching experience from a head of department/director of studies or equivalent from at least one university/institution.
9. A short description of how you can contribute to the development of the field of international relations at IGS in the future (max 700 words).
10. Other certificates and documents that you wish to refer to.

Claimed qualifications must be documented and certificates/similar must be certified. All attachments must be named in a way that clearly indicates their content.

The scientific publications, writings, CV and similar that are not in electronic form should be sent in two copies to:

University of Gothenburg

Elvedina Sikiric Lidström

School of Global Studies

Box 700 405 30 Gothenburg

Deadline for applications: May 25, 2024.

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.