The world is facing huge challenges. At the group Education and Learning Sciences (ELS) we aim to understand and facilitate learners throughout their lives to contribute to these challenges in a meaningful, responsible and critical manner. To support this process, we are looking for an Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in the field of (supporting the) development of Inner Development Goals (IDGs) of learners. Sustainable development is more than just knowledge creation and innovation, it concerns the drive of individuals and groups. This drive is reflected in the Inner Development Goals, which concern important skills and qualities such as being (relationship to self), thinking (cognitive skills), relating (caring for others and the world), collaborating (social skills) and acting (driving change). The need to focus more on other than just the cognitive dimensions of learning emerges from all kinds of developments in education and research , psychology, philosophy and sociology, as well as from the realization that without a healthy mind and body it is difficult to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable world (e.g. the realisation of the SDGs). The position concerns a position with its roots in educational sciences, however, disciplinary boundaries need to be crossed to learn about and work on the inner development for sustainable development.

The focus on the whole person and inner development in education and learning, includes attention for ethical, entrepreneurial and contemplative mindsets, professional identity development, supporting new skills and qualities focused on resilience, anxiety and dealing with uncertainty; but also of attention for the relational dimension, such as dialogue and cross boundary collaboration with others and connecting with place.

The focus on this topic aligns with the new vision of the Education and Learning Sciences (ELS) chair group and it's collaboration within the WUR Social Sciences cluster SPICE (Section Philosophy, Innovation and Technology, Communication and Education.
We expect you to develop your own research line on the topic of learning and teaching for inner development. The position aims to support educational design, pedagogies and learning processes and assessment in relation to inner development goals also in relation to the global sustainability challenges in which people's lives are nested. The focus on this inner dimension of learning brings all kinds of interesting questions, such as how to educate or train for it (within different target groups), how to assess it, how to optimise and innovate learning trajectories and learning environments and tools such that they also support this dimension, next to the more cognitive dimension. The focus also brings new ideas for expanding the education programme of ELS within and beyond WUR.
We expect you to attract research funds for this thread of education and research, to build up a leading (inter)national position, and that your work contributes to the development of educational innovation related to this field, also within and outside WUR.
You will be offered considerable freedom to develop your own research profile within the broad contours sketched here, which is to complement existing expertise in the Education and Learning Sciences group and link to ongoing activities within and outside Wageningen University & Research. As a teacher, you are expected to teach, coach and motivate our students - both at introductory and more advanced levels - and to develop new courses in your field of study.

You are a visionary and enthusiastic scientist, teacher and team player, dedicated to research and teaching in the domain of education and learning sciences, preferably with expertise and experience in relation to the non-cognitive dimension of learning (including aforementioned subtopics) and affinity with the broader WUR domain of sustainable development.

You also have:

• a background and a PhD in the field of Education and Learning Sciences, Psychology or a related social science domain, with specific expertise in one or more of the domains of attitudes, ethics or entrepreneurial mindset, professional identity development, resilience, anxiety, dealing with uncertainty, dialogue and collaboration;
• the ability to acquire funding for research on the topic of the Tenure Track position;
• knowledge and expertise in designing and conducting local (i.e. WUR), national and international research and innovation projects, including the capability to collaborate across the boundaries of disciplines and sectors;
• experience with developing and teaching university-wide courses as well as smaller-scale courses, connecting students from multiple WUR study programs, academics from WUR science fields and societal stakeholders for responding to grand challenges related;
• a vision on (higher) education and completed the University Teaching Qualification programme (or the intention to do so);
• proven expertise in the domain of the position, for example visible via publications, participation in educational innovation or other science for impact projects, NWO or EU funded projects, etc.

We offer you a challenging and meaningful career trajectory called Tenure Track within the Education and Learning Sciences group. This challenging career path starts at the level of assistant professor, from which you can grow into an associate professor and obtain ius promovendi. There is also the possibility to grow to personal professor. Of course, training and coaching are provided and interdisciplinary (international) cooperation is stimulated. As we will only be selecting outstanding candidates to take part in Tenure Track, this will be a good stepping stone to a further career within Wageningen University & Research or elsewhere.

Wageningen University & Research also offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 7 year contract which, upon positive evaluation based on criteria elaborated in the University's Tenure Track policy, can lead to a permanent employment contract as professor. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.974,-- and € 5.439,-- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale <>).

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR's Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

The Education and Learning Sciences group. For more information see: https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Social-Sciences/Education-and-Learning-Sciences-1.htm
The chair group is part of the Department of Social Sciences of Wageningen University & Research.

Wageningen University & Research: Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus - each and every day. Within our domain of good and safe food & food production, food security and a healthy living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society - such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don't do this alone. Every day, 5000 people work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality, on a global scale.
Could you be one of these people?

For more information about Tenure Track within Wageningen University & Research look at https://www.wur.nl/en/Jobs/Why-choose-Wageningen-University-Research/Your-development-in-focus/Tenure-Track.htm

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.