PhD position on Transdisciplinary Education and the Transformation of Universities

Transdisciplinary education transcends boundaries between subject areas and between academia and society. It includes a variety of voices and amplifies those that are often less heard, such as citizens, non-governmental organizations, or representatives of the Global South. Transdisciplinary education is closely linked to society, embraces diversity, and strives for equal collaboration in addressing societal challenges. Currently, there is an urgent need for better understanding how transdisciplinary education can be organized, within universities and their ecosystems. How can this education have a positive impact on (local and global) societies? How can it be structurally embedded and help transform universities ?

Job description

The PhD candidate will be part of an enthusiastic team of researchers and teachers shaping transdisciplinary education at the University of Twente. You will use qualitative and participatory methods to provide critically important insights to the design and organization of transdisciplinary education, and to the improvement of its societal impact.

Are you interested in joining our team? Please submit your application before April 2nd, 2024, and include:

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position;
• A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, an overview of publications and references;
• Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, internet. TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).

Additional information can be acquired via email from Prof.dr.ir. Klaasjan Visscher ([email protected]) or Prof.dr.ir. Mascha van der Voort ([email protected]).

You will join the Knowledge, Transformation & Society section (KiTeS) within the Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social Sciences. KiTeS delivers world-class interdisciplinary research, intensive education and high-impact interventions related to higher education, technology and environmental justice. This project is a collaboration with the chair of Human Centred Design at the Faculty of Engineering Technology, and with DesignLab, the university’s eco-system hub facilitating creative collaboration and knowledge transfer between researchers, societal organizations, students, and citizens.

The Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social sciences (BMS) aims to play a key role in understanding, jointly developing and evaluating innovations in society. Technological developments are the engine of innovation. As a technical university that puts people first, we tailor them to human needs and behavior and use social engineering to integrate them into society. We also ensure adequate governance at public and private level, and robust, inclusive and fair organizational structures. We do this by developing, sharing and applying high-quality knowledge in Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences and Health Sciences. Our research and education in these disciplines revolves around tackling and solving societal challenges. The research programs of BMS are closely linked to the research of the UT institutes Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

As an employer, the Faculty of BMS offers work that matters. We equip you to create new possibilities for yourself and for our society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact. We offer an open, inclusive and entrepreneurial atmosphere, in which we encourage you to make healthy choices, for example through our flexible, adaptable benefits.