Recent research shows that about 60-90% of higher education students regularly use ineffective self-study skills, and as a result, study results suffer. This research also provides evidence of self-study skills that are effective and should be used by students. However, formal training of these skills is scarce and research on what makes training effective is lacking. At Maastricht University, a university wide self-study skills training is being developed and implemented, within the context of a Comenius Teaching Fellowship provided by the Ministry of Education (https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/news/anique-de-bruin-receives-teaching-fellow-grant) and in a collaboration between EDLAB (the Maastricht University Institute of Education Innovation), the Institute of Education at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), and the School of Health Professions Education (SHE).

We are looking for a PhD student who will conduct both quantitative (experimental) and qualitative research to examine the effect of the newly implemented training, which will allow further innovation and improve effectiveness of the training. Given that the development of self-study skills touches heavily upon issues of habit change, behavior change, and self-regulation, we are looking for a candidate with expertise or specific interest in one or more of these areas.

Requirements
- a passion for studying and improving learning and teaching methods, in this case in the field of self-study skills in higher education;
- a (Research) Master’s degree in Educational Sciences, Psychology, Health Promotion, Cognitive Science, Artificial Intelligence, or another relevant field;
- broad experience in quantitative research, outstanding methodological and analytical qualities, and experience with collecting and analysing data. Affiliation or expertise with qualitative research is a plus;
- interest in multidisciplinary research (psychology, education, health);
- excellent oral and writing skills (in Dutch and English);
- organisational talent, strong collaboration skills, accompanied by independence and perseverance.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/support/um-employees

Temporary employment for 4 years.

Your salary would be € 2.222,-- gross per month in the first year up to € 2.840,-- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-student salary scale.

Each year an evaluation will take place.

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,500 students and 4,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.