Professor of Special Education

Sapere Aude—dare to be wise—is our motto. Our students and employees develop knowledge and expertise that enrich both people and the world around them. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and perseverance. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. We are located in an active and scenic region and we promote sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider society.
 
Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 17,300 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika.
 
More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-us

Description

The Department of Educational Studies currently has a staff of around 130 employees, all of whom are active in the university’s teacher education programmes. The department comprises three subjects: educational work, special education and sports science.

The subject of special education offers a programme in special needs training, commissioned education, as well as campus and distance courses at both undergraduate and master’s level. We have also applied for entitlement to award a postgraduate diploma in special educational needs.

We offer a vibrant workplace with students, staff and visitors from all over the world. We also offer generous annual holiday, wellness allowance and a favourable occupational pension scheme.

Duties

Duties as a professor include:

• Conducting research.
• Teaching on-campus as well as distance courses at undergraduate, master’s and doctoral level.
• Supervising bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students.
• Acting as examiner.
• Contributing to the development of the special education research environment at the department.
• Applying for external research funding.
• Being part of the department’s team of professors.

You are expected to collaborate with the wider community for a mutual exchange, as well as work towards ensuring that the knowledge and expertise available at the university is of benefit to society.

To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community to a great extent.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for the position of professor in Special Education, applicants are required to have demonstrated both research and teaching expertise.

To be eligible, applicants are also required to hold a Degree of Doctor in Special Education, Education, Educational Work or other subject area that is relevant to the position, as well as professorial skills and expertise in special education. The position requires proficiency in Swedish and English.

Pursuant to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure, teachers must have the personal qualities required to perform all duties involved in the appointment, in this case, the ability to work autonomously, show initiative and work as part of a team. A professor must also have completed courses in supervision and higher education pedagogy. Applicants without these qualifications may still be hired provided they commit to completing the courses within two years of employment, or apply for validation of equivalent qualifications. For other qualification requirements, refer to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure.

Assessment criteria

Equal weight will be given to research and teaching expertise. In order to distinguish between candidates who meet the qualification requirements, the following will be considered:

Special weight will be given to

• Good publication rate in international scientific journals in the research field of special education.
• Experience in leading and developing environments for research, collaboration and education.
• Established national and international networks in the field of special education.
• Documented extensive experience in teaching and supervising doctoral students.
• Previous success in securing external research funding.

Considerable weight will be given to

• Experience of initiating and executing collaborative projects with external actors.

Weight will be given to

• Recognised or distinguished teaching and assessment skills.
• Completed international assignments such as international employment, postdoc position, experience as a visiting research fellow.

Terms

This is a permanent full-time position (100%) starting at the earliest convenience upon agreement.

Application

Submit the application via the university’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. For advice on how to draft your application, refer to “What should be included with my application?”

Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• CV
• cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and research interests in relation to the duties of the position
• an in-depth account of research experience
• an in-depth account of teaching experience
• certificate to verify completed courses in higher education pedagogy or an account of equivalent skills
• documented and successful experience in supervising doctoral students, including scope
• an account of other relevant experience
• an account of managerial and administrative experience
• plans for future work
• an account of collaborations, international network experience, etc.
• list of publications
• an account of Swedish and English language proficiency
• copies of relevant course transcripts, degree certificates, and other certificates
• no more than 10 scientific publications and no more than 5 materials intended to convey knowledge, such as textbooks, computer programs for teaching, or popular science articles
• two references, at least one of which is a current or former supervisor.

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent in triplicate to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 KARLSTAD

Application deadline: 15 August 2024                             

State the ref. no: REK2024/131

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university’s commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4r

1. Björn Eliasson, +46547002406

1. Thomas Bragefors, SACO, 054-7001714
2. Denita Gustavsson, OFR, 054-7001434