The vacancy refers to a temporary position as assistant professor in the Special Needs Education & Youth Care Unit, with the aim to intensify and diversify the teaching activities. The new assistant professor will be involved in the teaching programme of Bachelor 2 and 3, in particular in our modules on clinical assessment (diagnostics) and professional skills. Besides teaching in larger groups, we particularly ask the new assistant professor to teach in small groups, and to include specific teaching techniques, for instance case-based teaching, reflection activities, conversation skills training, and so forth. The assistant professor will also be asked to supervise students writing their bachelor thesis, and to support students in developing academic writing skills.

The research activities of the assistant professor will be linked to the research programme and current research lines in the unit. We plan to involve the assistant professor in our longitudinal projects. Depending on the candidate’s interests and expertise, he or she may be involved in research on child welfare, intellectual and multiple disabilities, learning disabilities or special needs education. The candidate is supposed to publish the output of their work in peer-reviewed international and national journals and present at national and international conferences.

- a PhD degree in a relevant field of behavioural and social sciences (youth care, child welfare, disability studies, special education, learning disorders, family psychology, social work)
- knowledge and expertise in the field of child welfare, special needs education and/or disability studies
- provable clinical skills, e.g., clinical experience in a relevant setting (child welfare, special needs education,…)
- knowledge and skills in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
- scientific publications in international peer reviewed journals in the field of expertise
- experience in higher education, and in coaching students (lectures, discussion groups, working on assignments, thesis writing)
- in possession of the University Teaching Qualification (or similar) and being prepared to undertake further training
- strong social and communicational skill
- being able to work both independently and in a team
- being able to express yourself clearly and convincingly, in Dutch and English, both oral and in writing (Command of Dutch is B1 level, English is C1 level).

Fixed-term contract: 48 months.

The University of Groningen offers a salary depending on qualifications and work experience. For candidates at the assistant professor level, salary ranging from a minimum of € 3,475 (salary scale 11 Dutch Universities) gross per month to a maximum of € 5,405 (salary scale 12) gross per month for a full-time position, excluding 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus and participation in a pension scheme for employees. Favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants.
This vacancy of Assistant Professor is a temporary position of 4 years.

We expect candidates to start as soon as possible.

Application
You may apply for this position until 8 September / before 9 September 2017 Dutch local time by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Applications are requested to submit:
1. a cover letter including your view on how your research and/or teaching may fit into the department
2. an up-to-date curriculum vitae
3. a short statement of your research accomplishments and future research goals
4. the names and contact details of two references.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative centre of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.

The Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences (BSS) is a centre of knowledge focusing on individuals and society. The faculty studies issues relating to human behaviour, the relationships between people, and society as a whole. This includes the study of how people function under normal circumstances, but also of the problems encountered by individuals or groups, and how these can be resolved or prevented. The RUG’s priority areas are Sustainable Society, Healthy Ageing and Energy. The faculty BSS employs around 600 people.

To raise the quality of teaching and learning, the faculty BSS focuses on educational innovations, particularly on strategies for activating and intensifying students’ learning experiences (Strategic policy plan, Faculty BSS). The assistant professor is situated within the department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences (BSS).

Pedagogy and Education
Recently, the department of Pedagogy and Education has committed itself to a second round of educational innovations (‘Activating teaching strategies and academic skills’) for 2017-2021. This project aims to raise the quality of the current bachelor programme, and to develop five lines of action related to the didactical concept: internal coherence and structure of the programme; to improve the embeddedness of Academic Learning Communities (ALCs) in the curriculum; to develop a clear pathway for academic writing skills; to strenghten the quality of assessment; diversifying practices of teaching and assessment.