PhD Fellowship position on professional sign language competence (teacher education in Norwegian sign language) - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

PhD Fellowship position on professional sign language competence (teacher education in Norwegian sign language)

The Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI) announces a research fellowship affiliated with the professional environment for sign language and interpreting in the Department of International Studies and Interpreting (IST). Read more about LUI here.

About professional sign language competence as research area

The PhD project’s main goal is to contribute to and strengthen research-based knowledge about studies of professional sign language practice. The PhD programme will qualify for research activities at a high academic level, and for other work requiring a high degree of insight and knowledge about scientific methods. We are seeking applicants who will develop and implement a research project within the following professional field:

Professional sign language competence in Norwegian schools and kindergartens

In Norway, Norwegian sign language is a school subject in the national curricula. Since 1997, signing pupils have been entitled to a sign bilingual education, with the right to learn about, and receive tuition in, Norwegian sign language. There is, however, not much research into sign language education and sign language didactics/pedagogy. Most pedagogical practice and teaching materials in sign language has mainly been based on personal experience, informal guiding, and available teaching materials – rather on research-based knowledge and formal training of sign language teachers. Through the The Sign Language Boost programme, OsloMet has incorporated sign language teacher specialisation within the third, fourth and fifth year of the five-year teacher education programme for primary school teachers. Thus, research-based knowledge about sign language didactics and signing pedagogical practice is much needed. Further, OsloMet has recently signed an agreement for making Vetland School and Resource Centre for Hearing Impairment one of OsloMet’s university schools – with the aim of collaboratively working together to secure good quality practicum, campus teaching, as well as cooperation in research projects on sign language education. We seek PhD applicants to develop high quality projects within this collaboration. However, the announcement is also open for applicants who will develop high quality projects on signing students’ education from kindergarten to secondary education, and/or on their teachers’ professional sign language competence.

 
The fellowship position is a 100% temporary position for three years, available from 01.09.2022. The successful applicant should have the goal to complete the PhD programme within this time frame and defend a PhD.

Applicants must submit a PhD project description with the application based on the template available here. The PhD project description must be written in a Scandinavian language or in English. Potential applicants are asked to get in touch with the contact person below for additional information about the fellowship position and for 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 on 14.12.2021, at 14.00-15.30 via Zoom. To attend, please register via link before the registration deadline: 11.12.2021.

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 PhD programme in Educational Sciences for Teacher Education is a prerequisite.
• Successful applicants must be fluent in Norwegian sign language, or in another sign language at a B2/C1-level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

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

• The scientific quality of the PhD project description, including originality and potential
• The PhD project's feasibility within the standard period (three years)
• The relevance of the PhD project description to the overall research area to which the PhD proposal is linked (cf. the overview above)
• Attached scientific work
• Other relevant publications
• Experience from previous research activities and project participation
• Teaching experience at the college and university level can be an asset
• Personal qualities that can contribute positively to the working environment

Desired qualifications:

• Motivation and potential in the field of research
• Personal qualities that, among other things, 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

It is important to OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have experienced periods where you have not been in 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 programme and a research group relevant to the PhD project
• a dynamic workplace
• loan and pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• good employee welfare arrangements

Further information:

For further information about the position, please contact:

• Head of Department, Hilde Arntsen, hiarnt@oslomet.no
• Associate Professor, Johan Hjulstad, johjul@oslomet.no, +47 924 78 899

The salary for the PhD 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, 491 200,- NOK per year.   

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.
• PhD project description: maximum of 10 pages. The PhD 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 letter must state your reasons for applying and provide reasons for why you are particularly qualified for this PhD fellowship position.

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway

To apply for this position, please apply electronically by clicking the “apply” button in the job advertisement.