Do you have a strong enthusiasm for teaching and enjoy working in an academic environment marked by interdisciplinary learning? Then we invite you to join the team of teacher-scholars at University College Utrecht (UCU). UCU, as a Liberal Arts and Sciences institution, attracts students with diverse academic backgrounds and interests. Instruction occurs in small, interactive classes with a maximum enrollment of 28 students per course, where educators employ various pedagogical methods to facilitate student learning effectively.

Your job
We are looking for an early career academic teacher in the field of political theory to complement our current team of academics in the political science track. As one of the larger tracks at UCU, the political science track offers a diverse yet cohesive curriculum in domestic politics, world politics, and political thought. It brings together courses on comparative politics, governance, political economy, international relations, and international political economy. Our courses connect to themes in political thought, European governance, coloniality, gender, geopolitics, and party politics. Additionally, the track offers students the possibility to explore interdisciplinary connections with many other tracks at UCU, such as law, economics, anthropology, philosophy, history and media studies.

The position is primarily based at UCU but entails additional tasks at Utrecht University’s Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) programme, which is located on the same campus. At UCU, you will be responsible for teaching three sections of the 1st year ‘political theory’ course. You are expected to teach the ‘classics’ of Western political theory, from Plato through Machiavelli to Arendt to Locke while also covering feminist, non-western, and critical race theory. This course is designed to prepare political science students for upper-level political science classes, alongside with students from outside the political science track, who are taking the course as part of their breadth requirement. Furthermore, at UCU, you will be supervising Bachelor's theses in the political science track. In parallel, you will also be actively involved in the China Studies track. At PPE, you will contribute to courses such as Political Philosophy, Integrating Insights or PPE in Society, in addition to providing thesis supervision in the programme.

Specifically, we are looking for a motivated political scientist, political philosopher, or social theorist, who can connect traditional approaches with current developments in political thought while having a strong regional expertise in Chinese/East Asian politics. Candidates with expertise in the contemporary politics/international relations/economy of China/East Asia are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are looking for early career candidates who:

• have a PhD in the field of Political Science, preferably in the field of political theory, have ‘regional’ expertise in the contemporary politics and governance of China/East Asia,
• have a University Teaching Qualification (BKO or similar) or willing to obtain this within two years;
• have teaching experience, where several years of experience and/or experience in multi- or interdisciplinary teaching settings is an asset;
• are enthusiastic about teaching in a Liberal Arts and Science setting; are eager to collaborate with teachers and students outside of the field of political science;
• are fluent in English (spoken and written).

You are expected to devote 20% of your time on academic research in the broadest sense of the word (including broadening your knowledge on educational methods). Ideas on how to combine this with the teaching tasks are an asset.

We offer:

• a position for 18 months with the prospect of a permanent contract, following positive evaluation, starting 1 August 2024;
• a working week of 30 to 34 hours and a full-time gross salary between €3,226 and €5,929 (salary scale 10-11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The University Corporate Offices provide integrated support to the Board of Utrecht University. The eight corporate offices assist the Executive Board in drawing up and implementing the annual executive agenda and the four-yearly Strategic Plan and in providing support services.

University College Utrecht offers the English-language undergraduate Liberal Arts & Sciences programme at Utrecht University. Founded in 1998 as the first university college in the Netherlands, we presently have around 750 students with close to 70 different nationalities. We offer students complete freedom to compose their individual curriculum from over 200 different courses in humanities, science and social science. In this they are supported by individual tutors. The students live and study on campus, a close-knit community and vibrant hub of intellectual exploration and social engagement. University College Utrecht is where worlds meet.