Maastricht University has recently launched a broad interdisciplinary BA programme called ‘Global Studies’. This is a new interfaculty bachelor program with a focus on small-scale interdisciplinary teaching and a geographic focus on the Global South. The BA Global Studies trains students as professionals who can understand, analyse and explain complex global problems by integrating different disciplinary perspectives and act as bridge-builders in diverse work teams. This program concludes with a Bachelor thesis that is designed to demonstrate the students’ skills to engage with multiple disciplines, build bridges between them and use the combine knowledge to address a research question of societal importance.

We are looking for a thesis coordinator who will develop and manage the thesis track in collaboration with the programme team. Are you a teacher with interdisciplinary experience? A skilful communicator both in educational settings and with colleagues? A dedicated team-player with excellent organisation skills? Are you committed to the educational practices at Maastricht University? Do you have experience in collaborating internationally and across different cultures? Do you enjoy the challenge of guiding students in their first research collaboration? Then consider applying for this vacancy:

Thesis Coordinator

The thesis coordinator has responsibilities in the following areas:

• Establishing the quality standards and thesis regulations for the Bachelor thesis given its interdisciplinary nature, and with reference to the programme’s intended learning outcomes, as well as faculty, university and national standards.
• Determining criteria of eligibility for potential supervisors (internal and external), search supervisors and operating a matching system for supervisors and students.
• Developing relevant trainings and briefing materials for students and supervisors for the thesis proposal, the thesis and its defence.
• Shaping and monitoring the supervision and peer support for thesis.
• Liaising with the teams surrounding the programme’s field study (semester 5) and final projects (semester 6) for synergies relating to the thesis
• Monitoring the quality of theses and defences in coordination with the Board of Examiners to ensure the programme’s intended learning outcomes are demonstrably met
• Establishing a reconciliation procedure in case of grade differences that accounts for the points of view of different disciplines represented
• Designing and operating a two-stage recovery process for failed theses (revise and restart)
• Participating in all relevant quality assurance activities and education planning components required by our host faculty
• Contributing to developing a support system for students from the Global South working on their thesis
• Contributing to an atmosphere of inter-cultural awareness among students and supervisors engaged in the thesis track

We are looking for someone that wants to contribute to the design and development of a challenging new educational programme. You have interdisciplinary academic training or experience and a mind for developing educational experiences for students. You have good communication skills and experience working in international and inter-cultural teams. You have demonstrable expertise in developing educational components, supervising junior researchers and implementing quality standards and agreements. You are pro-active in your tasks and are supportive of others. You combine managerial and organisational skills with enthusiasm for creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. You are a team-player and have a collegial mind-set. You have completed a doctorate and are willing to go the extra mile on the road of educational improvements and revision.

We offer you a part-time position (0,8 fte) as Teacher. Remuneration will be according to standard salary levels. This implies a minimum of € 3820,-  (scale 11) and a maximum of € 5934,- (scale 12) gross per month for a full-time appointment (38 hours per week - salary scale 11/12 according to Dutch Universities Conditions of Employment). Final grading will be based on relevant education combined with relevant work experience. Each year, the standard salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

The university’s relocation policy stipulates that you need to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If not already living in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. Other secondary conditions include, for instance, a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave as well as a shared office space.

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 www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Starting date: 1 April 2022

Maastricht University

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 20,000 students and 4,700 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 Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,600 students. More than 76% of the students are non-Dutch (64 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. FASoS offers four 3-year bachelor’s programmes: Arts and Culture, Digital Society, European Studies and on behalf of all faculties, Global Studies. It also offers eight different 1-year Master’s programmes and two 2-year research master’s programmes.

Research is organised around four programmes: Politics and Culture in Europe; Science, Technology and Society Studies; Arts, Media and Culture; and Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.