Senior Lecturer in Global Development Studies, one or more

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 department, please visit https://www.gu.se/globalstudies

Subject area

Global Development Studies

Subject description

Global Development Studies is a social science subject that emphasizes issues of sustainable and equitable global development in different parts of the world, with a particular focus on the Global South. Research in global development studies at IGS includes issues of development cooperation, environment/climate, migration, health, poverty and resource issues as well as democracy, governance and state building. The research is conducted globally with different types of methods.

At the school, teachers in global development studies and human ecology provide a Swedish-language bachelor's program in Sustainable Development, Social Change and Climate Change (HUSK) with a focus on both theoretical and practical knowledge. There are also courses that can lead to a bachelor's degree in global development studies, including an introductory course in global development studies. Global development studies thus constitute an important part of the department's other educational offerings, which include global studies, human rights and global gender studies. The school also offers doctoral programs in peace and development research, social anthropology and social science environmental studies.

Work tasks

The position mainly includes teaching in the Swedish-language program in Sustainable Development, Societal Change and Climate Change (HUSK) and research.

A senior lecturer is expected to teach, take course responsibility, supervise and examine students at bachelor, master and doctoral level. In addition to teaching in the Swedish-language bachelor's program in HUSK, the applicant is also expected to teach in other parts of the IGS programs based on the needs of the department and as deemed appropriate. To the job tasks include course and program development assignments and administrative tasks related to teaching. The applicant is also expected to participate in the department's educational development work.

The position includes conducting research and actively seeking external funding for own research and for doctoral students when deemed appropriate. It includes active participation in the department's research environments and seminar activities, as well as in the international research community through participation in conferences and publication in international peer-reviewed journals.

The school of Global Studies interacts with the surrounding society and the applicant is expected to initiate collaboration 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 problem solving.

Management assignments, pedagogical assignments, and other assignments within the department's and faculty’s and/or the university's collegial forum may eventually be included in the work tasks.

The position requires very good language skills in oral and written English and Swedish.

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.

Eligible to be employed as a senior lecturer are those who have demonstrated pedagogical skills and have completed a doctoral degree in global development studies or have equivalent scientific competence or some other skill that is significant with regard to the subject content of the employment and the tasks to be included in the employment.

The degree of such expertise that provides eligibility for employment is specified in the assessment criteria below.

Assessment basis

In the appointment, equal weight will be attached to pedagogical and scientific expertise.

The scientific competence is demonstrated through scientific publications in global development studies or equivalent, ongoing participation in research collaborations and documented ability to obtain external research funding. Emphasis will be placed on the ability to develop, lead and conduct research, individually and in collaboration with others. When assessing scientific excellence, particular emphasis will be placed on international publications during the last seven years. While an extensive publication list is expected from the applicant, the quality of publications (e.g. originality, amount of empirical research, analytical insights and theoretical contributions) will be valued more than the total number of publications. In the assessment of scientific competence, particular emphasis is placed on publication in international journals and publishers.

Teaching skills are demonstrated through documented experience of having successfully planned and implemented teaching at bachelor, master and/or doctoral level in global development studies or equivalent. When assessing teaching skills, particular emphasis is placed on the ability to reflect on the quality and development of the work carried out. Experience of course and/or program development, authorship of teaching materials and documented pedagogical development projects in scientific articles and/or textbooks, and training in higher education pedagogy are meritorious.

The following qualifications, listed in order, are meritorious:

1) Experience in teaching sustainable development and in particular the relationship between climate and development in a global context.

2) Experience in teaching field courses relevant to global development studies.

The applicant who, after an overall assessment of skills and development potential (based on the applicant's documented experience, current work and future plans for research and teaching), is judged to have the best conditions for carrying out the tasks included in the employment, interacting and collaborating with other staff and contributing to a positive development of the activities will be selected for the employment as senior lecturer.

Information about the recruitment process.

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

Other information

If the applicant has not completed higher education pedagogical training, they are required to complete the courses PIL 101, PIL102 and PIL 103 at the University of Gothenburg after the start of employment. Teachers and research supervisors who have not completed the University of Gothenburg's higher education pedagogical training can have the Faculty of Social Sciences examine whether their own qualifications correspond to the university's training. 

Form of employment

Type of employment: Permanent

Scope: 100%

Location: Department of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg

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

For further information:

For information about the position, please contact 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, personnel officer: elvedina.sikiric.lidstrom@gu.se

Trade union organizations

Trade union representatives for the University of Gothenburg: https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply

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 2024-08-19.

Please write your application in English, as it will be reviewed by international experts. The selection process is likely to include mock lectures, interviews and reference checks.

The application should include:

1. A curriculum vitae/CV, including a full list of publications, administrative experience, documented collegiality, experience of collaboration, and an account of external funding received (with amounts).
2. A description of your scientific qualifications, including: 2. a) A list of your ten most relevant scientific publications. Please note that the experts will give particular weight to publications written in the last seven years.

Indicate your role and the extent of your contribution to the selected co-authored publications. Certificates of co-authored publications must be attached together with a statement of the co-authors' contribution to the publication. If an article or book is accepted for publication but not yet published, the certificate of accepted publication must be attached together with a statement of the co-authors' contribution to the publication.

3. b) An account of your scientific merits, your research profile (previous and ongoing research in global development studies or equivalent) and why this position is of interest to you and what you can contribute to the Bachelor's program in Sustainable Development, Societal Change and Climate Change (HUSK) (max 3 pages).

4. c) A research plan with a description of ongoing and planned research (max 3 pages).

5. Complete electronic copies of a maximum of ten scientific publications.

6. An account of your pedagogical qualifications containing: 5. a) A list of the courses and educational programs you have developed and taught at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels.

7. b) A description of your pedagogical merits and qualifications with information on scope and quality.

8. c) A description of your teaching material production (textbooks and other teaching material).

9. d) A pedagogical self-reflection on your teaching philosophy and practice (maximum 3 pages).

10. e) Certificate of your higher education pedagogical training.

11. f) Certification of your teaching experience from a head of department/director of studies or equivalent at least one university/department.

12. A brief description of how you can contribute to the development of global development studies at IGS in the future (max 700 words).

13. A brief description of your experience of working with the public (max 500 words).

14. A brief account of your administrative experience and qualifications (such as university-wide/faculty, departmental, and/or a research project, administration and administrative leadership)

15. Other certificates and documents that you wish to refer to.

The qualifications referred to 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: 2024-08-19

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.