Associate Professor in Political Science with emphasis on environment and sustainable development

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a temporary position as Associate Professor in Political Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Media and Social Sciences. The position is open for appointment from 1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024.

The subject area of the position is political science, with emphasis on environment and sustainable development. This includes climate policy and politics on the national and international level, energy politics and policy, energy technologies, transition theory and the green shift. The hired candidate will be part of two exciting and dynamic professional environments in the Department.

The position is attached to the international master programme, Master in Energy, Environment and Society, particularly the course Societal transition and transformation - Energy and climate change (MEE100). In addition, there is teaching in the master course MEE115, Social Science Research Methods. The employees involved in the master programme have a varied background and have several ongoing research projects connected to various aspects of environment and sustainable development.

The position is also part of the political science group of the department. This group offers a bachelor’s degree in political science and does research on various topics. The position is linked to the elective bachelor course in Energy and Environmental Politics (BST210), also in English. It is expected that the hired candidate can cover the teaching, but colleagues at the Department will contribute in the teaching where necessary.

The hired candidate will primarily teach and supervise students at bachelor's, master's and PhD level within the subject area, conduct research and disseminate research results within relevant research areas at the department, and contribute to the development of partnerships with business.

The development/use of digital and diverse learning methods, innovation, value creation based on results from research, and academic development work, will be included in the position.

The general job description  for Associate Professors at UiS gives a more detailed account of relevant duties.

We are seeking an Associate Professor with a PhD or equivalent qualification in or similar in political science, sociology, or geography, with a specialisation within environment and sustainable development. This qualification will cover some of the central topics in the courses - climate- and climate politics and policy nationally and internationally, energy politics and policy, energy technologies, transition theory and the green shift.

You must be able to document active, ongoing research at a high academic level and have the potential for future high-level research in the subject area.

It is expected that you have a reflective and conscientious attitude towards your own teaching and supervision. You should be able to document pedagogical and didactic skills relating to higher education, and basic skills in planning, evaluation and development of teaching and supervision.

Norwegian is the language mainly used at UiS. The working and teaching languages are Norwegian and English. It is expected that you can teach and supervise in Norwegian, another Scandinavian language or English upon accession.

• ability to involve and engage students in teaching where the course's objectives, content and assessment situations are closely interlinked
• experience and/or interest in the development of varied learning methods and digital tools in teaching
• research results published in recognised publications, and references indicating progression in research and publications
• ability to initiate, obtain external funding for, lead and carry out research and development projects
• experience of partnerships with businesses relevant to the subject area
• contributed to the use of research-based knowledge in society and that you can refer to results from innovation and the commercialization of research
• demonstrated the ability to build and preserve professional networks - regionally, nationally and internationally
• ability to manage heavy workload, inquisitiveness and motivation to contribute to the development of academic and interdisciplinary collaboration at the university
• good teamwork and communication skills, and ability to contribute to a constructive working environment

• varied duties in a large, exciting and socially important organisation
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
• colleague-based guidance programme during your first year of teaching at UiS, NyTi .
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.510, code 1011, NOK 630.000-715.000 gross per year. A higher salary may be considered in special cases. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund , which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the company sports club, SiS sportssenter
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• Hjem-jobb-hjem , discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced
• relocation programme
• language courses : Look up “language courses” under employment conditions

University of Stavanger values independence, involvement and innovation. Diversity is respected and considered a resource in our work and learning environment. Universal design characterises physical and digital learning environments, and we strive to provide reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities.

You are encouraged to apply regardless of gender, disability or cultural background.

More information on the position can be obtained from Head of Department Oluf Langhelle, tel: 51831508, e-mail: [email protected] .

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from HR-consultant Annette Falch Lothe, tel: 51 83 13 61, e-mail: [email protected] .

Apply for the position online via the “Apply for the position” link on this page. Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In the application letter, you must state your competence and motivation for the position.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• complete list of academic publications with information on where they are published
• up to 10 academic publications which are pivotal to your research output, including your PhD thesis or published monograph based upon the thesis

• transcripts and certificates, and other documentation that you consider relevant

It is desirable that you also attach documentation of pedagogical and didactic competence related to higher education, preferably in the form of a pedagogical portfolio with a professionally based description and discussion of your teaching and educational competence, see guidelines for assessment of educational competence

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload.

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants, in accordance with Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act . If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to UiS. 

The university's guidelines for appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts , sections 2 and 3.3, provide further discussion of criteria for employment as Associate Professor.

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an expert committee. You will receive the committee's statement as soon as it is available.

If you do not satisfy key parts of the qualification requirements, you may have your application rejected before applications are submitted to the expert committee for assessment.

Based on the expert committee's statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview and teaching demonstration before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at/available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of opinion between the texts, the Norwegian text shall be decisive.

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 1,900 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.

In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.

Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.

The Faculty of Social Sciences has about 2,400 students and 170 employees. The studies are based on a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, on interdisciplinarity and cooperation with public and private sectors. New knowledge is generated from both practical experience and systematic research, or a combination of them. The educational offer is varied and includes Hospitality and Tourism, Media, Sociology, Social Work and Child Welfare, amongst others. The Faculty consists of: Department of Media and Social Sciences, Department of Social Studies and the Norwegian School of Hotel Management.

The Department of Media and Social Sciences offers study programs and carries out research within Change Management, Energy/Environment/Society, Sociology, Documentary production, Television and Media Production and Journalism. There are currently 45 employees including research fellows and postdocs, and around 900 students at the department.