Postdoc - Students Taking Responsibility for their own Learning Process

Be part of pioneering research on how students can take responsibility and agency for their learning! 

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is looking for a post-doc researcher within the Innovation for Delft Engineering Education (IDEE) initiative, on the theme “Students taking responsibility for their own learning process”.

For this post-doc position, you will investigate how learning in vibrant educational environments takes the form of ‘actionable knowledge’ and thus how students could be empowered to take responsibility of their own learning. You will explore what is the current practice and culture in TU Delft’s engineering education in this respect. Your initial goal will be to produce an overview of strategies, interventions, and concrete tools for our students, our teachers, and our organization at large. You will define the common ground within the theme and explore various dimensions of the theme through the perspectives of students and teachers, theories and concepts, and means and methods.

You will develop a theoretical framework by seeking answers to questions such as:

You will be coordinating and implementing work on:

• Literature review on the current paradigms and endeavors in relation to responsibility in learning.
• Workshops, panel talks, and interviews with a wide and diverse group of students, teachers, educational managers, and other stakeholders to gain insight into the different perspectives of all involved.
• Develop a Glossary of Common Ground that includes the shared approaches, concepts, and mindsets on the theme.
• Develop the detailed research framework that will be implemented in the following work packages and later stages of the Taking Responsibility program.

The outcomes of this two-year position include, but are not limited to:

• A website that includes the Glossary of Common Ground and the existing practices at the university within the theme.
• A symposium that will introduce common ground to all actors in the university and stimulate a larger group toward the goal of the theme.
• An international workshop or a round-table session to involve feedback from other universities.
• Publications such as conference proceedings and journal papers.

In this position, you will be surrounded by a talented and diverse group of academics and professionals who are dedicated to pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box. Together with a dedicated PhD candidate, other TU Delft researchers and educators from the Taking Responsibility team, and colleagues from the other themes of the IDEE initiative, you will take up this challenge. You will also closely work together with colleagues at the TU Delft Teaching Academy and the 4TU network.

You have:

• A PhD related to education sciences or engineering education research.
• Experience with publishing scientific results in academic journals.  
• Strong experience in qualitative research methods, including literature review, interviews and panel talk analyses.
• Teaching experience (or proven interest) on subjects within TU Delft disciplines related to engineering, design or applied sciences.
• Experience with organizing round tables and workshops, and writing policy recommendations.
• Experience or interest in educational design and innovation.
• Familiarity with contemporary theories and philosophy of (engineering) education.
• Strong social, communication and organizational skills.
• Good command of verbal and written English. Dutch language is an asset.   

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (based on scale 10: € 3.226,00 - € 5.090,00 per month gross). The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service . This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme  for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values  and we actively engage  to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment has a leading role in education and research worldwide. The driving force behind the faculty’s success is its robust research profile combined with the energy and creativity of its student body and academic community. It is buzzing with energy from early in the morning until late at night, with four thousand people studying, working, designing, conducting research and acquiring and disseminating knowledge. Our faculty has a strong focus on 'design-oriented research’, which has given it a top position in world rankings.

Staff and students are working to improve the built environment with the help of a broad set of disciplines, including architectural design, urban planning, building technology, social sciences, process management, and geo-information science. The faculty works closely with other faculties, universities, private parties, and the public sector, and has an extensive network in the Netherlands as well as internationally.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment.

TU Delft Teaching Academy
The Teaching Academy is the network for and by lecturers of TU Delft with the mission to collaboratively enhance engineering education and drive education innovations across faculty boundaries. Learn more about the Teaching Academy via https://www.tudelft.nl/teachingacademy/about/teaching-academy .

Click here  to learn more about IDEE; and click here  to find other related vacancies. 

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Aleksandar Staničić ([email protected] )  and Dr. Serdar Aşut ([email protected] ).

For more information about the IDEE application procedure, please contact prof.dr. Annoesjka Cabo ([email protected] ) and Ted Adrichem ([email protected] ).

The position will remain open until February 4th, 2024 (local Dutch time). You must apply via the "Apply now" button. Applications via e-mail will not be processed.

The preferred starting date for this position is spring or early summer 2024.

To apply, please share the following information.

• Motivation letter (2 A4 pages);
• CV that includes education and employment history, publications, and courses taught;
• A research statement that includes applicant's vision on the theme, supported by relevant publications (2 A4 pages);
• Names and contact details of at least two references.

Please note, you can only apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. A pre-employment screening can be part of the application procedure.