We are looking for a highly motivated PhD Candidate / Lecturer who seeks to conduct their PhD research in the context of a research project on intercultural communication competence and global citizenship in higher education, funded by EUR’s Community for Learning and Innovation (CLI), as well as teach within the context of the various degree programmes in the field of Media and Communication provided by the ESHCC.

As a PhD Candidate/Lecturer of the Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC), you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with renowned academics with an international and interdisciplinary approach.

A Master’s degree in the Social Sciences is required, as well as knowledge of and affinity with intercultural and/or cross-cultural research. In addition, the candidate should possess a demonstrable interest in and experience with quantitative research methods.

Project Description

The aim of the research project is to examine the development of students’ intercultural communication competence (ICC) and global citizenship in international university programs. The PhD Candidate will conduct analyses on existing datasets, to uncover determinants of students’ ICC development over time. Furthermore, the PhD Candidate will assist in collection, management and analysis of new longitudinal datasets, with the aim to better understand the development of and interplay between ICC and global citizenship in the educational context. The studies will be primarily conducted through use of digital questionnaires, distributed among cohorts of students at different time points. As such, the PhD candidate must be willing to familiarize themselves with complex quantitative analyses (i.e. Structural Equation Modeling, Latent Growth Curve Modeling, Cross-Lagged Panel Modeling). Depending on further development of research questions, a mixed method approach, including qualitative data collection, could become part of the project.

Research and management duties

• Conducting PhD research within the framework of the project;
• Contributing to the data collection and data analysis of the project;
• Publishing and presenting research results in the form of deliverable reports, articles in international peer reviewed journals and papers at international conferences;
• Writing a dissertation;
• Defending the dissertation to complete the doctoral degree;
• Participating and assisting in the organisation of project meetings, workshops and other knowledge utilisation activities;
• Performing organisational tasks in the context of the project;
• Taking part in seminars, workshops, etc. that are organised by the Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC) and the Community for Learning and Innovation (CLI).

Teaching duties

• Preparing and providing lessons within the context of the various degree programmes in the field of Media and Communication provided by the ESHCC;
• Monitoring the literature and integrating new insight into the lessons;
• Supervising and coaching students;
• Contributing to the evaluation of the lessons, both in terms of structure and execution;
• Participating in committees or working groups, as well as performing designated organisational tasks.

• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline of social science (such as communication science, psychology, sociology, educational science, pedagogy); a research master is preferred;
• Wide-ranging knowledge of and affinity with intercultural and/or cross-cultural research
• Proven affinity for advanced quantitative research, as evidenced by your master’s thesis, publications, research plans and other projects;
• Organisational experience and skills;
• Didactic potential. Prior teaching experience is considered an advantage;
• A willingness to develop knowledge and skills in various disciplines and to increase the ability to teach related subjects within the faculty’s degree programme;
• Proficiency in spoken and written English. Non-English speakers have to meet the C1-standards of the Common European Framework (CEF).

Employment starts in the fall of 2020, with a preferred starting date before November 1st, 2020. The position will initially be for a term of 1,5 years, which - depending on performance – will be extended with a second term of 3,5 years. The conditions of employment correspond with the “CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten” (CAO NU). For the job of PhD Candidate (Promovendus) the salary amounts to a maximum of € 3.061,- (grade P) gross per month on a 38 hour per week contract.

The EUR has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8.0%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 41 annual vacation days in case of a full workweek. 

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research. Our scientists and students work in close collaboration with internal and external parties to solve global, social challenges, inspired by the always dynamic and cosmopolitan Rotterdam. Our mission is therefore "Creating positive societal impact". Our academic education is intensive, active and application-oriented. Our research increasingly takes place in multidisciplinary teams, which are strongly intertwined with international networks. With our research impact and thanks to the high quality of education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. The Erasmian values ​​function as our internal compass and make Erasmus University recognizable to the outside world: engaged with society, world citizen, connecting, entrepreneurial and open-minded.  www.eur.nl

Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC)

The Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) offers education and research in the fields of Media and Communication, History, and Arts and Culture Studies. The faculty has more than 2000 students and over 200 employees.

Media and Communication Department
The Media and Communication Department is a dynamic, internationally oriented department within the ESHCC. The department offers five international degree programmes: the International Bachelor’s programme in Communication and Media (IBCoM), three international Master’s programmes in Media Studies (Media & Business, Media & Creative Industries, Media, Culture & Society) and the Research master in the Sociology of Culture, Media and the Arts. The department has close ties with the Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC), the primary research institute at EUR in the field of Media, Communication and Culture.

Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC)

The Erasmus Research Centre for Media, Communication and Culture (ERMeCC) is a vibrant, internationally oriented research centre within the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication which serves as the main base for researchers in Media, Communication and Culture at Erasmus.

Community for Learning & Innovation (CLI)

The Community for Learning & Innovation (CLI) is a support and knowledge network of the EUR to stimulate and support educational innovation, together with the faculty-based Learning & Innovation teams.