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 Arts and Education is the region’s most important institution for educating teachers for kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, upper secondary schools and higher education. The faculty also provides basic education in sport, languages, religion and history, as well as eight master’s programmes and two doctoral programmes.
The faculty has three national centres: (The) Norwegian Reading Centre, (the) Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioural Research in Education (Centre for Learning Environment) and the Knowledge Centre for Education (KSU/KCE), and in addition Filiorum (Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education and Care). The faculty collaborates with the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills and local government authorities in respect of further and continuing education. The faculty has around 3,300 students and 460 employees divided between the Faculty administration, Department of Early Childhood Education, Department of Education and Sports Science, Department of Cultural Studies and Languages, Norwegian Reading Centre, Centre for Learning Environment and Knowledge Centre for Education.
The Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioral Research in Education is a nationwide centre and one of eleven national centers in education. The Center assists national education authorities in the process of realizing the national education policy. It additionally works with self-initiated assignments within research and development competence development for kindergartens and schools, as well as teaching an counseling within the university. The Centre’s vision is to be a national driving force in the promotion of safe and good learning environments in kindergartens and schools.
The University of Stavanger invites applicants for three PhD Fellowships in Cyberbullying at the Faculty of Arts and Education, the Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioral Research in Education. Positions are vacant from 01.08.2023.
The PhD Fellowships are funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, titled Parents and Technology in Cyberbullying: Intervention and Prevention for Future Experts, with Grant Agreement number 101073332.
This is a trainee position that will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.
The hired candidate will be admitted to the PhD program in Educational Science and Humanities. The education includes relevant courses to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture and public defence. Read more about the PhD education at UiS on our website.
The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.
PARTICIPATE Project summary
Cyberbullying is a significant social, health and behavioural concern throughout the EU and worldwide, yet crucial areas in its prevention and intervention have largely been side-lined, namely the key role of parents, as well as the role of gender, disability, ethnicity and sexuality.
PARTICIPATE will address this research and action gap, by delivering a world-class multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary doctoral training program incorporating plans for substantial networking and exchange of information, expertise and action potential regarding the nature and extent of cyberbullying across Europe. By focusing on parents, as well as on gender, disability, ethnicity and sexuality, the project aims to empower both parents and young people, creating a safer space online for our youth, while placing Europe firmly at the forefront of cyberbullying research and practice.
Of the ten individual research projects in PARTICIPATE the three projects for the ESR-positions in Stavanger, Norway, are as follows:
1. Cyberbullying involving ethnic minority pupils and the role of parents for prevention and intervention.
This project will address ethnicity (identity)-based cyberbullying behaviours and the role of parents in solving the cases, aimed to answer three research questions: (1) What mechanisms come into play in ethnic minority cyberbullying? (2) What characterise approaches contributing to the solution of ethnicity-based cyber bullying? (3) What is parent’s interpretation of ethnicity-based cyberbullying and their role in solving cases? Methodology will include questionnaires and interviews of pupils with both majority and minority backgrounds and their parents and teachers.
2. Developing knowledge about consequences of cyberbullying experiences and schools’ action, also involving parents.
The focus in this project will be on cyberbullying consequences and preventing cyberbullying, with three main objectives: (1) improve school owners’ capacity in following up after cyberbullying, (2) support schools in identifying and resolving cyberbullying cases, and rebuilding a good and safe learning environment, (3) use the whole school community approach to develop the school support system including parents. Methodology: questionnaires with different informants (school staff, parents, pupils, and community experts) and a pilot regarding actions.
3. Cross national comparisons of cyberbullying research on pupils and parents.
This project will examine the measurement issues in making cross-national comparisons of cyberbullying rates, including possible explanations for the limited agreement between four large-scale surveys. Methodology: analysis of quantitative data from four sources of large-scale survey data on victim rates, cross-nationally, that is EU Kids Online, Global School Health Survey (GSHS), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and Health Behaviour of School-aged Children (HBSC).
You may indicate in your application letter if you have preferences for one of the three projects.
The three doctoral candidates / ESR positions will be based in Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioural Research in Education at Stavanger University Campus.
Qualification requirements
We are looking for applicants with a strong academic background in social sciences. The candidates should have a postgraduate degree in education, psychology or sociology (see General Eligibility Criteria) and have a demonstrated interest in bullying and/or, digital safety and/or young people’s wellbeing. Experience of conducting surveys and handling quantitative data is desirable.
Emphasis is also placed on your: motivation and potential for research within the field, professional and personal skills for completing the doctoral degree within the timeframe, ability to work independently and in a team, innovative and creative ability to work structured and handle a heavy workload, good command of both oral and written English. If the candidates does not have one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA, and International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or a completed bachelor's and / or master's degrees taught in English in a EU/EEA country, it would be preferable to document English skills by one of the following certificates: TOEFL (minimum result: 90), IELTS (Minimum result: 6.5), Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge, PTE Academic - Pearson Test of English Academic (minimum result: 62).
The hired candidates will be required to work in a team and to work cross-culturally at an international level. They must be prepared to travel to conferences and network training events, and to take part in an academic and non-academic secondment abroad. Ability to work with a range of stakeholders including NGOs, social media companies, policy makers, parents and young people, and academics is essential.
Candidates must have obtained a master’s degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited or possess corresponding formal qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate. The UiS’ Regulations for the PhD degree and the Programme description for PhD in Educational Sciences and Humanities states our admission requirements: To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Stavanger both the grade for your master’s thesis and the weighted average grade of your master’s degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade (scale is from A to F - failed). If you finish your education (master’s degree) in the spring of 2023 you are also welcome to apply.
Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subject that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales to calculate your points for admission.
Candidates cannot have been awarded a doctoral degree and/or completed more than four years of full-time equivalent research experience. The candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (e.g., work, studies) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date – unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention. This excludes short stays such as holidays.
Mandatory Training
The hired candidates will be admitted to the PhD program in Educational Science and Humanities. The education includes relevant PhD courses which amount to about six months of study (a minimum of 30 ECTS), a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic dissemination, a trial lecture and public defence.
The hired candidates will also be required to undertake the following mandatory compliance training: Orientation, Health & Safety, and Data Protection (GDPR). Other mandatory network training activities will be undertaken when appropriate throughout the project.
All hired candidates are required to undertake two secondments abroad, one academic and one non-academic, of between 2-and 4- months duration.
We offer
Salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK kr 544.400 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
In addition, funds are provided to cover the cost of research, networking and research training.
The funding covers the 36 months during which the hired candidates is enrolled for PhD studies at the host institution.
In addition, we offer:
a PhD education 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.
favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club at campus
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
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: On this page you can see which language courses you may be entitled to (look up “language courses” under employment conditions)
Diversity
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.
Contact information
Informal enquiries in relation to this project can be obtained from:
Professor Hildegunn Fandrem e-mail: hildegunn.fandrem@uis.no or
Professor Simona Caravita e-mail: simona.c.caravita@uis.no
Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from HR-advisor Camelia Danaei, e-mail: camelia.danaei@uis.no.
Application Procedure:
To apply for these position please follow the link "Apply for this job". Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In your application letter, you must state your research interests and motivation for the position. Please also clearly state the role that you are applying for in your application.
The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:
CV with a full summary of your education and experience references,
certificates/diplomas and other documentation that you consider relevant.
Diploma Supplement or similar and a confirmed conversion scale if this is required
documentation on competence in English if this is required
publications or other relevant research work.
The documentation must be available in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload
Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above and that you have attached the necessary documentation.
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 - see 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.
General information
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. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further assessment.
Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. Based on the committee's statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.
The appointee will be based at the University of Stavanger, with the exception of a stay abroad at a relevant centre of research.
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.
