Ph.D. Fellowship Position in Vocational Didactics

The Faculty of Education and International Studies has a vacancy for a three (3) year fixed-term position as a doctoral research fellow in the field of vocational didactics at the Department of Vocational Teacher Education. Read more about the Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI) - OsloMet.

Applications for Ph.D. projects that can contribute to the development of knowledge relevant to the HELDAL research project: "New tools and systems for comprehensive documentation, analysis and learning in vocational education and training" are welcome.

Digital documentation and learning systems have become widespread in vocational education and training in recent years while learning processes and the facilitation of learning across learning arenas have faded into the background. Vocational education involves many participants in addition to the pupils and apprentices: fellow students, teachers, instructors, academic leaders, training offices, schools, companies, industry organizations, and county municipalities as school owners.

Area of research

The HELDAL project focuses on the variation in forms of learning between subjects and in different arenas in order to establish a new methodological platform for the use of digital documentation and learning systems. The project's sub-goals are a) to develop new learning arenas that support apprentices' professional competence building, basic skills and learning to learn, b) that teachers and instructors use new documentation systems as a basis for changing training strategies, and c) that these new systems contribute to increased collaboration and coordination between all the actors in vocational education and training (VET).

The innovations in the project concern key challenges for the use of digital documentation systems in vocational education and training:
1) When business education is included as part of school education (vocational specialization)
2) During the transition from being a school pupil to an apprentice in a company (a holistic perspective spanning the four-year course)
3) When working with documentation that embraces more than pure subject knowledge (implementation of the education reform with its expanded concept of competence, self-regulated and deep learning, core elements in the subjects, interdisciplinary topics, etc.)
4) In the light of recent developments and the testing out of increasingly digital teaching arenas

The project will be carried out as an innovation intervention with researcher participation in Rogaland, as well as Vestfold and Telemark county municipalities. Oslo Metropolitan University is the project managing institution and will deliver design criteria for the innovations as well as contribute with connections to international prototypes and discourse. In addition, the researchers will study the effects of their innovations and support the upscaling and institutionalization of a new methodological platform.

A more effective follow-up of students and apprentices in closer collaboration across arenas will become part of a transitioning to sustainable development now that the need to travel is reduced, and now that learning processes correspondingly must become more efficient.

The fellowship is a 100% position for three years, available from 01.01.2022. The successful applicant should have the goal to complete the Ph.D. program within this time frame and receive a Ph.D.

Applicants must submit a Ph.D. project description with the application based on the template available here. The Ph.D. project description must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Potential applicants are asked to get in touch with the contact person for the overall project for additional information about the project and input on the planned individual project description.

For information and advice on how to create a good Ph.D. project description, potential applicants are encouraged to attend the Ph.D. project description seminar digitally via Zoom on 23.06.2021 at 13.00-15.00. To attend, please register via link before the registration deadline: 16.06.2021.

Required qualifications and terms:

• Successful applicants must have completed a master’s degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a grade B or better, and in addition have a background in teacher education or other relevant education at a comparable level. For more information, see Admission requirements. Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution. Education taken abroad should be recognised in advance by NOKUT, and an authorized copy of the letter of recognition should be enclosed.
• Admission to the Ph.D. programme in Educational Sciences for Teacher Education is a prerequisite.
• Knowledge of the Norwegian vocational education system is necessary.
• Successful applicants must be fluent in a Scandinavian language and have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

When assessing and ranking the qualified applicants, emphasis will be placed on:

• the scientific quality of the Ph.D. project description, including originality and potential
• the Ph.D. project's feasibility within the standard period (three years)
• the relevance of the Ph.D. project description to the overall project to which the Ph.D. proposal is linked (cf. the overview above)
• attached scientific work
• other relevant publications
• experience from previous research activities and project participation
• knowledge of digital learning arenas
• teaching experience at college and/or university level
• personal qualities that can contribute positively to the working environment

Desired qualifications:

• motivation and potential in the field of research
• personal qualities that show perseverance and the ability to complete tasks
• the ability to work independently and in collaboration with others, as well as the ability to be innovative and creative
• the ability to work systematically and under pressure
• the capacity to handle a complex / heavy workload

Oslo Metropolitan University strives to ensure that our employees reflect the diversity of the population of the region. We work continuously to further develop Oslo Metropolitan University as an inclusive workplace, and to adapt the workplace if required. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, also those who have experienced periods without work, education or training.

We offer:

• an exciting job opportunity at Norway’s third largest university
• participation in a dynamic and diverse academic community
• participation in an established doctoral program and a research group relevant to the Ph.D. project
• a dynamic workplace
• loan and pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• good employee welfare arrangements

Expert evaluation:

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. All applications will be reviewed by the faculty before the application papers are forwarded to the expert committee. Applications from applicants who are not qualified, will not be forwarded for assessment.
The following documents must be uploaded with the application by the deadline:
• CV, references and all pages of all certificates/diplomas. The certificates/diplomas must include ECTS grades (A–F). Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution. Education taken abroad should be recognised in advance by NOKUT, and an authorized copy of the letter of recognition should be enclosed.
• Ph.D. project description: maximum of 10 pages. The Ph.D. project description must be written in English or a Scandinavian language.
• Master's degree/second degree thesis (and any other scholarly work that the expert committee should take into consideration)
• List of publications, if relevant
Original documents must be presented in connection with an interview. Oslo Metropolitan University inspects documents in order to give all candidates a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

If you have documents that cannot be uploaded electronically, please contact hbakkeli@oslomet.no

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. The application must state your reasons for applying and provide reasons for why you are particularly qualified for this Ph.D. fellowship position.

Further information:

For further information about the position, please contact:

• Head of Studies Ina Aurelia Pfeifer Issa, +47 67238330
• Associate Professor Birger Brevik, +47 92658833 (Head of Project)

The salary for the Ph.D. fellowship position is in accordance with the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, job title and position code. PhD and position code 1017. State salary wage scale 54, 479 600 NOK per year.

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway

Please apply electronically by clicking on the "apply" button.