Two PhD student positions in Sociology of Education focusing on the modern history of school systems - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Education (EDU) conducts research, offers several Third-cycle (doctoral) study programs and First and Second levels (Bachelor, Master) programs within the subjects of Curriculum studies, Education, and Sociology of Education. EDU also has extensive educational involvement in programs such as the Teaching program and the Human Resource program. EDU has more than 280 employees, with approximately 185 teachers/researchers, 70 doctoral students and 25 administrators. More information about the department is available at https://www.edu.uu.se  

The graduate school Schooling in perspective: In the spring 2020, the national graduate school Schooling in perspective: A graduate school in applied history of education will admit a total of nine doctoral students at four of Sweden’s leading academic environments for history of education research. The graduate school is a cohesive multidisciplinary graduate school with an international footing, where doctoral students from various disciplines will feel at home and where they will be offered the best conditions for making leading-edge contributions to international research. The launch of the graduate school is planned to the autumn 2020.

The graduate school’s focus on applied history of education signifies a thematic orientation of research that, in different ways, contributes to a greater understanding of pressing contemporary educational policy issues. It focuses three themes of fundamental importance in a time of globalisation and intensified calls for reform: education in debates and historical narratives; the history of the school system and school reforms; and education in an international and transnational perspective. This general orientation of the graduate school thus covers a range of topics of interest for those who are interested in historical issues as well as those who are oriented toward current educational policy debates. Further information on the specialisation and activities of the graduate school can be found on its website: https://appliedhistoryofeducation.school.blog/

Sociology of Education: Sociology of Education explores education - in the broad sense of the word - as a social phenomenon. Education is thus related to the overall social structure as well as to social transformations such as globalization processes or changes in professional domains. A focal point for research is the encounter between, on the one hand, the symbolic or material assets held by students and professors or pupils and school teachers and, on the other hand, the prevailing social and cultural order in the education system. Other significant areas of research are the competition between educational institutions and the relations between education and the cultural, economic or political fields. As a discipline Sociology of Education is based on more general traditions in sociology and historical science.

This call is aimed at those interested in researching the history of school systems from the perspective of Sociology of Education. Historical studies in Sociology of Education deal in particular with historical change taking into account, for example, social and/or economic factors. In this case school systems include any level of schooling from preschool to secondary education (and their historical predecessors). Research within this area can include a variety of aspects from teaching to the prerequisites for school organization or how changes in the school system have been affected by society and vice versa.

An overview of ongoing research in Sociology of Education at Uppsala University is found at https://www.edu.uu.se/forskning/utbildningssociologi/. The research is conducted in close relation to the two research units Sociology of Education and Culture (SEC), http://www.skeptron.uu.se/broady/sec/index.htm, and Uppsala Studies of History and Education (SHED) http://www.edu.uu.se/forskning/utbildningshistoria/.

The full-time employment will be on a temporary basis for a period of four years and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). Departmental duties (typically teaching and administration) at a level of at most 20% may be included in the position, in which case the employment period will be extended beyond the four years. PhD students are expected to study full-time and actively participate in the department’s activities.

Qualifications: A general eligibility of 240 ECTS credits is required, corresponding to four years’ full- time university studies, or a university degree comprising at least 60 credits at advanced level or equivalent. Previous studies should include 90 credits with relevance for sociology of education within the disciplinary domain of the humanities and social sciences. An applicant may also be considered qualified if s/he has acquired the corresponding competence in other ways. Language skills in Swedish are not a requirement for employment, but the candidate is expected to learn Swedish. A good command of written and oral English language is required. For further information on the requirements for general and special eligibility for studies in the field of Sociology of Education see contacts below.

Applications should include: completed application form for PhD studies, see Application Third-cycle Studies, copies of diplomas and transcripts with grades, relevant theses (C or D levels, master's theses or equivalent) and other publications that the applicant wishes to invoke, a short CV with a statement of research interests, and a draft thesis plan. The draft thesis plan, up to 10 pages, should briefly address issues relevant to the main research topic. It should further discuss the discipline-related context, previous research on the same research topic, the empirical data needed for the study and its methodology. It should further comprise reflections on the relevance of the thesis project. The thesis project shall be linked to topics related to the graduate school Schooling in perspective. All documents submitted with the application must be translated into Swedish or English.

For more information about doctoral studies at the department, see: https://edu.uu.se/research/doctoralstudies/

For university guidelines for third-cycle education see: https://regler.uu.se/document/?contentId=626068

See also the curriculum regulating third-cycle education in Sociology of Education, including the required qualifications, at

https://www.utbildningsvetenskap.uu.se/digitalAssets/500/c_500224-l_3-k_allmstudpl.utbsoc13.pdf (in Swedish)

The PhD training is regulated by the Faculty of Educational Sciences in “Procedures for the Admission to Doctoral Studies”, “Continuation of Employment”, Prolongation of Employment” and “Procedures for the PhD Student’s Individual Study Plan”. For more information see https://mp.uu.se/web/info/forska/forskarutbildning/humsam/utbildningsvetenskap

A doctoral student may be employed for maximum eight years, however the length (or duration) of the employment may not exceed the equivalent to full-time doctoral studies of four years

Uppsala University strives to be an inclusive workplace that promotes equal opportunities and attracts qualified candidates who can contribute to the University’s excellence and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people of all backgrounds.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.
 
Starting date: 15 August 2020

Type of employment: Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Scope of employment: 100 %

For further information about the position please contact: please contact Director of studies for post-graduate education Emil Bertilsson, emil.bertilsson@edu.uu.se, tel. +46 18 471 2467. Graduate school Coordinator Professor Esbjörn Larsson, esbjorn.larsson@edu.uu.se, tel. +46 18 471 7628.

Please submit your application by March 9, 2020, UFV-PA 2020/8

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.