Job description

Applications are invited for a 3 to 4 year position as PhD Research Fellow affiliated to the research group “Knowledge, Learning and Governance in Higher Education and Work “ (HEDWORK) at the Department of Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo. The area of research for the PhD is collaborative learning in higher education and workplace.

Collaboration in educational or work contexts holds immense potential for learning. Collaboration can enable the synthesis of diverse ideas, where new ways of thinking and learning emerge through the interplay of individual contributions with shared knowledge and experiences. Collaborative learning can take many forms; from short-term interactions during structured discussions, team-based simulation sessions or problem-solving tasks to long-term collaborative work on open-ended projects. Collaborative learning is therefore frequently seen as a meaningful form of activity, which often combines the learning of new knowledge and development of competences with problem solving, project-based work, or creative tasks in authentic contexts. The collaborative processes and their intricate nature make collaboration an important and interesting topic for research, with much potential to focus on the interplay of the various dimensions of collaboration such the cognitive, metacognitive, social or affective, and how this happens in disciplinary or interdisciplinary contexts, supported by analogue or digital tools. Such examination may require in-depth qualitative analyses but also mixed-methods approaches enabled by emerging AI-enhanced techniques. 

The PhD project should overall contribute to a better understanding of processes collaborative learning in higher education and / or workplace learning context. The focus can be on, for example, students’ or professionals’ collaborative problem solving / project work in a disciplinary domain, collaborative processes in teams engaged in joint activities, or characteristics of (technology-enhanced) learning designs aimed to support collaborative learning and practice. The candidate is expected to conduct empirical studies and analyses of rich datasets, and in particular, interaction data, with a focus on examination of collaborative learning processes and practices. The PhD position can be connected to ongoing HEDWORK projects with a focus on collaborative learning and practice (especially, TeamLearn or CORPUS), and make use of projects’ datasets. 

The project description is expected to elaborate on the research problem of the prospective PhD project, how it is embedded in the research literature and which theoretical perspectives as well as methodologies are considered. It is important that the topic and the methods in the PhD project are aligned with relevant research on collaborative learning and practice, and theoretical perspectives that allow interpretation of collaboration in context. 

The announced PhD position will be connected to the HEDWORK research group, which investigates the dynamic interplay between knowledge, learning and governance in higher education and in knowledge-intensive work. The group comprises researchers with different interdisciplinary backgrounds (e.g., higher education governance, teaching and learning in higher education, workplace learning) and offers an internationally oriented and stimulating research environment, with a connection to research communities in learning sciences and educational technology, and educational research worldwide. More information about research topics and projects covered by HEDWORK can be found on the research group’s website.

More about the position

The appointment is a fulltime position for a period of three years. If there is a good match between the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs at the Department of Education the position may be extended to four years, 25 percent of which are devoted to teaching, supervision, and research assistance.

The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. 

For more information, please see our web site: Doctoral degree: PhD in Educational Sciences - Faculty of Educational Sciences (uio.no)

Qualification requirements

Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the faculty´s PhD program. 

This normally includes:

• Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in education or another field with relevance to higher education research (e.g., educational sciences, educational psychology, social or behavioral sciences)
• A Master’s degree (120 ECTS) with a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS, with a minimum grade B
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in a Scandinavian language is an advantage, while English is required

In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be placed on:

• The quality of the project description, the description of the research topic’s relevance to educational issues, the specific problems to be studied, the choice of scientific theory and method, and the proposed implementation plan for the study
• The applicant’s experience, personal suitability, and motivation for the post, including the ability to collaborate and to form part of a cross-disciplinary academic community
• The applicant’s academic attitude and motivation regarding completing the research training program
• Documented experience with research within the educational field, preferably learning sciences or educational psychology

Personal skills

In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be put on the applicants’ academic and personal qualifications for completing the research training program personal suitability and motivation for the position good ability to collaborate nationally and internationally.

We offer

• Salary NOK 532 200 – 575 400 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter, including statement of motivation and research interests
• A project description (proposal), including progress plan (5-7 pages) Please see our guidelines 
• CV (summarizing education, positions, and academic work)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only). Foreign applicants must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system
• Documentation of English proficiency (for information on required documentation, see information on this webpage)
• Master thesis
• A complete list of publications and academic works
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number)

Incomplete applications will not be assessed.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the eventuelt “project description” and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

• Professor Crina Damsa
• Professor Monika Bærøe Nerland 

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