Professor of Education

Would you like to be part of developing the research and teaching in education at one of Sweden’s strongest research universities? Would you be prepared to take on the responsibility of ushering the subject area education into the future? If so, we would welcome your application for a position as Professor of Education at Uppsala University.

The Department of Education (EDU) at the University conducts research, offers courses and study programmes at first-, second- and third-cycle levels and provides contract education in education including curriculum studies and the sociology of education. EDU offers several Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, while also being heavily involved in the teacher education programmes offered at Uppsala University. EDU has around 250 employees, of which around 175 are teaching staff and/or researchers, 45 are doctoral students, and 30 are administrative staff. More information about the Department's activities can be found at www.edu.uu.se.

Description of the subject area

Education as a subject area deals with questions about the processes by which people are shaped and changed in various social, cultural and institutional contexts, as well as questions about the growth and development of education institutions and the conditions under which they operate. The Department of Education conducts multifaceted research in the subject area, combined with development projects of various kinds. The core research questions in the subject area at the Department concern, for example, how and why different forms of values, knowledge and skills arise, are maintained and change within and between generations, groups and individuals. This also includes questions related to governance, evaluation and management, as well as digital media, communicative practices and diversity aspects.

Duties

The successful applicant will play a central role in academic leadership, administration and further development of the subject area education, in research and the courses given in the Bachelor’s programmes, Master’s programmes, pre-school teacher and other teacher education programmes (including the Special Needs Teacher Education Programme) and courses and study programmes at third-cycle level. The professor’s duties largely consist of research, research management, teaching and supervision at first-, second- and third-cycle levels, as well as overall planning of these activities such as formulating research applications. Assignments of an administrative nature and third-stream activities are also included in the professor’s duties. The position may include leadership roles at department or faculty level, for example.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements for employment as a professor are fulfilled by someone who has demonstrated both research and teaching expertise. Research expertise must have been demonstrated through independent research projects of significance in relation to the position’s subject area content, and the duties that will be included in the position; and by the applicant’s research activity having been of high quality, internationally and nationally. The applicant must have demonstrated expertise in planning, initiating, managing and developing research, as well as the ability to secure competitive research funding. The successful applicant’s expertise must exceed the qualifications required for appointment as a docent, in terms of both quality and quantity. The applicant’s teaching expertise must have been demonstrated through qualifications in education and teaching as described below under Assessment criteria. Furthermore, the applicant must have documented expertise in the supervision of students at first- and second-cycle level, and having supervised doctoral students as principal supervisor to the point of the award of the degree of doctor. For the applicant to be deemed to have the requisite teaching expertise, they must have completed courses in teaching and learning in higher education relevant to the activity and lasting at least ten weeks, or have equivalent knowledge. If there are special reasons why the applicant has not completed courses in teaching and learning in higher education, these course may be completed during the first two years of employment. These courses must include a course in supervision at third-cycle level. The applicant must demonstrate a documented ability to teach in Swedish and English. A successful applicant who does not have a documented ability to teach in Swedish must acquire this ability within the first two years of employment. The successful applicant must have the personal qualities required to perform the duties of the position well.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as a professor must be the degree of expertise required as qualification for employment. In addition, the degree of other expertise that is of importance to the subject area and duties of the position applies. When appointing this professorship, the emphasis will be primarily on the applicant’s research and teaching expertise, with a particular emphasis on research expertise. The applicant must show documented broad and deep knowledge in the subject area education. In assessing the applicant’s research and teaching expertise, particular emphasis will be placed on their experience of research and teaching relevant to the subject area education, their familiarity with a variety of traditions and methods in the subject area, and experience of publishing in national and international journals and other publications with a broad specialisation in the education field. The University will employ the applicant who, after a qualitative overall assessment of their competence and skills, is deemed to have the best prospects of performing and developing the duties of the position and contributing to the positive development of the Department.

Research expertise: Research expertise refers to research qualifications. In assessing research expertise, research quality will be taken into account in the first instance. The scope of the research, particularly in terms of its depth and breadth, is also of importance. The applicant’s contribution to the international and national research communities will be assessed on the basis of, among other things, the quality and quantity of their scholarly publishing in the most relevant publication channels within the subject area. In addition, the ability to plan, initiate, lead and develop research and education, the ability to secure competitive research funding, and a demonstrated capacity for interaction both within the field of education and with the broader community will be accorded importance.

Teaching expertise: Teaching expertise refers to the applicant’s qualifications in teaching. In assessing teaching expertise, teaching quality will be taken into account in the first instance. The scope of the applicant’s teaching, i.e. Its breadth and depth at different levels of instruction, is also accorded importance. Furthermore, the ability to plan, initiate, lead and develop education and teaching, as well as the ability to link teaching to research being pursued in the subject area education, and in teaching and learning in higher education, will be accorded importance. Furthermore, a capacity for interaction with actors within and outside the University concerning questions related to teaching and learning in higher education is also seen as part of teaching expertise. Special emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s experience of teaching at a university or other higher education institution relevant to the position.

Administrative skills: Administrative skills are important to the position and will be given emphasis. Administrative skills are demonstrated by the ability to plan, organise and prioritise work effectively and in ways suited to the purpose, and by the ability to set and keep to timeframes. Administrative skills also include overall planning of activities and the ability to manage resources in a way that reflects the priorities of the activities as well as the ability to work in a structured way, based on an awareness of objectives and quality.

Management skills: The applicant’s suitability for and interest in leadership roles will be accorded importance. Management skills are demonstrated through the ability to manage activities and staff, make decisions and take responsibility as well to motivate others and provide them with the conditions necessary to achieve common objectives efficiently. The ability to coordinate a group as well as engaging and empowering those in the group for their job satisfaction, and the ability to manage conflicts, are further examples of demonstrated management skills.

Other conditions: Parental leave, part-time work due to the care of a sick child, professional association/union roles, military service, etc. are counted as working life experience and should be included in the applicant's curriculum vitae.

About the position 

This is a full-time (100%) position. Appointment to be taken up in December 2026 or by agreement. Location: Uppsala.

More information about the position is available from: Head of Department Jonas Almqvist, e-mail: prefekten@edu.uu.se Phone number: +46(0)18-471 24 06

See also Uppsala University’s Appointment Regulations and the Supplementary guidlines to the Appointment Regulations for Uppsala university.

Please submit your application by 16 February 2026 UFV-PA 2025/733.