Ref PAR 2023/538
The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.
The Department of Political Science is an open and socially active department, located centrally in the city of Gothenburg. Members of the Department participate regularly in public debate. In 2022, Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities placed the Department at number 1 in Sweden, number 5 in Europe and number 19 in the world in political science. We are very active in research and offer a vibrant research environment with a number of thematic seminar series and internal workshops. Our research revolves around elections, democracy, corruption, forms of governance, globalisation, the environment, policy and European affairs. The Department is host for research programmes such as the Centre for Collective Action Research (CeCAR), the Quality of Government Institute (QoG), Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem), Governance and Local Development (GLD) and the Swedish National Election Studies programme (SNES). We offer education at all levels – first, second and third cycle – as well as freestanding courses. The languages of instruction are Swedish and English. In total, around 1400 people study with us. The Department of Political Science has around 160 employees.
For more information about the Department, visit our website www.pol.gu.se.
The Department of Political Science is now looking for one or more associate senior lecturers (Assistant Professor, tenure track) in political science. The positions are open to applicants from all specialisations and from different sub-disciplines.
One of the candidates may be offered work in the PregDem research programme. The Gothenburg Research Program on Pregnancy and Politics (PregDem) is a research collaboration between political scientists, midwives and obstetricians. The aim of the research programme is to provide an in-depth understanding of how pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood affect how pregnant women and their partners view society. The head of PregDem is Professor Elin Naurin, and more information is available at PregDem.
Subject area
Political Science
Subject area description
Political Science is the study of politics.
Duties
The term for this position in Swedish is “biträdande universitetslektor”. The university’s official translation (in British English) is Associate Senior Lecture, which is equivalent to a position as Assistant Professor on tenure-track.
Duties include research equivalent to at least 50 per cent of full-time. The associate senior lecturer is free to choose their research questions, develop theories, collect data, and choose research methods. This includes actively seeking external funding for their own research and participating actively in the Department’s research environments and seminars. Active participation in the international research community is also expected through participation in conferences and through publication in international journals.
Duties also include teaching, course coordination, supervision, and examination in courses at the first- and second-cycle levels, and possibly also in third-cycle education, corresponding to at least 30 per cent of full-time.Teaching in most study programmes and courses offered at the Department may also be required. Duties also include course and study programme development and participation in the Department’s pedagogical development activities.
The Department of Political Science is active in the public debate and the associate senior lecturer’s duties include initiating collaborations and actively interacting with the wider community and working to promote the utilisation of the research we produce to benefit society. Managerial assignments, educational assignments, and other assignments within the Department’s, Faculty’s and University’s faculty forums may be included in the associate senior lecturer’s duties in the longer term.
Eligibility
Eligibility for appointment as an associate senior lecture is specified in the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 4 Section 12 a) and the University of Gothenburg’s Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded their PhD or achieved the equivalent research expertise within five years of the deadline for applications. Those who were awarded their doctoral degree earlier than this may be considered if there are special grounds. Such grounds may comprise leave of absence because of illness, leave of absence for service in the defence forces or an elected position in a trade union or student organisation, or parental leave or other similar circumstances.
Assessment criteria
The assessment of candidates is based in the first instance on their research expertise, and in the second instance on their teaching expertise.
Research expertise
Research expertise is demonstrated through publications in scholarly journals and current participation in national and international research collaborations. The ability to obtain external research grants is considered a plus. In assessing research expertise, special emphasis is placed on publications of high quality with prestigious international publishers or in prestigious international peer-reviewed journals. Greater importance is placed on the quality and impact of the publications than on the total number of publications.
Teaching expertise
Teaching expertise is demonstrated through documented experience of having planned and implemented teaching in various forms (lectures, seminars, workshops, distance education, supervision) at the first- and second-cycle levels. When assessing teaching expertise, special emphasis is placed on teaching done and documented that has contributed to the development of the course or study programme and its instruction and improved the quality.
Collaboration with the community at large
Experience of initiating contact and interacting with the wider community is considered a plus.
Overall assessment
A position as Associate Senior Lecturer is a career-development position targeting researchers and teachers who defended their doctoral thesis relatively recently. The quantitative scope of the candidate’s qualifications will therefore not be decisive – instead the assessment of the candidate’s expertise will consider the period of time during which their qualifications were accumulated. The position will be offered to the candidate who is assessed to have the best prospects for carrying out the duties required in the position, collaborating and cooperating with other staff, and contributing positively to the development of activities based on an overall assessment of their expertise and development potential.
Since the Department operates in an international environment, the successful candidate must also speak and write English fluently.
Additional Information (Requirements for Tenure and Promotion)
No later than six months before their fixed-term employment ends, an associate senior lecturer is entitled to apply to be assessed for promotion to a Senior lecturer with tenure (in Swedish: “universitetslektor”) in the subject area, provided that the person is eligible for employment as a senior lecturer and is assessed as suitable for such an appointment in accordance with the assessment criteria applicable at the University of Gothenburg. In this assessment, the following requirements apply for promotion:
- The applicant needs to have demonstrated research expertise by meeting the criteria for appointment as “docent” and by publishing their scholarly work in leading international journals or in books and/or book chapters published by leading international publishers.
- Qualifications in teaching and learning in higher education (or equivalent) are a requirement for promotion. Another requirement is demonstrated progression in pedagogical development. Progression refers to experience of teaching at different levels and within different subject areas and/or advanced studies in previous subject areas, and to teaching amounting to a minimum of 1600 hours.
- Qualifications in research and teaching carry the most weight for this promotion and are valued equally. Collaboration with the community at large as well as managerial and administrative skills are expected and are considered a plus.
- Regarding the assessment criterion of suitability, good judgement in professional matters, the ability to successfully perform the duties that come with the appointment, and the ability to cooperate and contribute to the development of the Department are considered.
- It is a requirement to be able to teach in Swedish when promoted to the position as Senior Lecturer.
The application for promotion must follow the Faculty of Social Sciences template, which states the assessment criteria.
Medarbetarportalen – Befordran
Employment
Fixed-term employment for four years with the possibility of promotion to senior lecturer and indefinite-term employment. Full-time position with placement at the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg
Start date: 1 July 2024, or by agreement
Contact information
For more information about the position, please contact Mikael Gilljam, Professor, Head of Department, +46 31 786 12 21, mikael.gilljam@pol.gu.se
Questions about the employment procedure can be directed to Helena Jensen, Human Resources Officer, +46 31 786 26 17, helena.jensen@gu.se
Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande
Application
Apply for this position via the University of Gothenburg recruitment portal by clicking on the “Apply” button. As an applicant you are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the University at the latest by the deadline for applications: 31 August 2023.
We ask you to write your application in English as it may be reviewed by international experts. The recruitment process will probably include trial lectures, interviews and contacting referees.
Please attach the following to your application:
- Résumé/CV, including complete list of publications and a list of external research grants obtained (with amounts).
- A description of your research qualifications containing:
a) A list of your top five scholarly publications. Please indicate your role and the scope of your contribution for publications co-authored with others. Co-author certificates must be attached; they must contain information about each author’s contributions (quantitatively and in substance) and be signed by all co-authors. If an article or book has been accepted for publication but not yet published, a certificate must be attached proving that the article or book has been accepted for publication.
b) A brief account of your research qualifications, your research profile, and your research plans for the coming years. (Max. 2 pages.) - Complete electronic copies of your top five scholarly publications.
- A description of your teaching qualifications containing:
a) A list of the courses and study programmes you have developed and taught (including courses and programmes at first-, second- and third-cycle levels b) A brief account of your teaching qualifications with information on scope and quality, including a self-reflection on teaching and learning in higher education. (Max. 2 pages.)
c) Evidence (certificates of completion) of completed courses in teaching and learning in higher education.
d) Certification of your teaching experience from the head of department, director of studies or equivalent at a minimum of one university/department where you have taught. - Electronic copies of teaching materials such as course syllabuses, reading lists, examination tasks, lecture PowerPoint slides, and instructions for students (maximum 3 documents). Refer to these documents in your account of your educational achievements and teaching qualifications (4b).
- Other certificates and documents that you wish to cite.
Scholarly publications, articles, CVs, and the like that are not available in electronic form should be sent to:
University of Gothenburg
Department of Political Science
Attention: Helena Jensen
Box 711
SE-405 30 Göteborg
Sweden
Applications must be received by: 2023-08-31
Information for International Applicants
Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.
Salaries are set individually at the University.
In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.
In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.
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