The teaching and research activities of this assistant professor vacancy centres around the theme ‘Youth participation in research, policy and practice’. In recent (inter)national law developments about children’s rights, children’s and youth participation are increasingly important. In research, policy development and monitoring, and all kinds of youth (work) practices children’s voices need to be listened to. Listening to young people’s voices, data collection by children and young people and their contribution to decision making in policies and practices concerning their life and their future are challenging methodological issues. We expect the assistant professor to contribute to the following bachelor courses:
- Youth and social development
- Youth in policy and practice
- Children in policy and practice.

The assistant professor will also act as an evaluator of bachelor and master theses concerning the theme of youth participation and related themes. In the master programme Youth0-21, Society and Policy the assistant professor will contribute to a methodology course on youth participation in research, policy and practice. This master track started in 2016 as a collaboration between the unit Youth Studies and the unit Special Needs in Youth Care. The assistant professor’s research activities will need to be developed in close relationship to this collaborative research line underlying the master track. In our research activities we also work in collaborations with other departments, within and outside the department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, i.c. Sociology and the NIDI. The assistant professor’s research activities will need to result in relevant and valorised output in the form of (peer-reviewed) international and national publications and presentations on national and international conferences.

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:
- a PhD degree in behavioural and social sciences (e.g. pedagogical and educational sciences, psychology, sociology, youth studies)
- knowledge of societal and developmental issues concerning the social world of youth, in particular knowledge of youth participation in research, policy and practice
- knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods in the social sciences
- a relevant publication record demonstrating the candidate's ability or potential to publish international academic publications, preferably in top tier peer-reviewed journals
- capacity and skills in teaching bachelor and master students, by preference regarding youth studies themes
- having obtained the University Teaching Qualification (BKO) or willingness to obtain the BKO within the first two years of your contract.

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 12:00 pm / 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. As part of the RUG’s priority areas, Sustainable Society and Healthy Ageing, youth studies will focus on research areas with a high urgency and societal impact. The faculty BSS employs around 600 staff members.

Youth Studies in the department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences
The assistant professor is situated in the unit Youth Studies within the department of Pedagogy and Educational Sciences. The unit Youth Studies contributes to the bachelor Pedagogical Sciences as is responsible for the new international master track Youth (0-21), Society and Policy. Research and teaching in the unit Youth Studies centres around the theme ‘the social world of youth’, with a specific focus on the peer group and its social dynamics. In the bachelor and in the master track the challenge is to bridge research, policy and practice.