Description of the project :

The Dutch education system works quite well, but also faces a number of challenges. For example, due to the process of early selection and free school choice, there is an increased risk of inequality. The question is whether at present there are sufficient strong and well-functioning incentives for a good education system, a system that optimises all functions of education. There are indications that this is not always the case, especially because incentives are not streamlined or because for some functions they 'push the wrong way'. In addition, incentives may lead to strategic behaviour of stakeholders that can be counterproductive for the goals set by policy makers.

In order to understand how the Dutch system and policy incentives work, it is important to know to what extent schools make different choices and how these different choices can lead to differences in educational outcomes. For example, do we see that certain schools primarily choose to offer equal opportunities, while other schools do not consciously do so because they aim to increase the academic achievements? And to what extent do schools face a trade-off between the different functions of education (qualification, selection, allocation, socialization)?

To gain insight into this, the Inspectorate of Education has taken the initiative to set up the Academic Workplace Educational Quality together with the Amsterdam Center for Learning Analytics (Free University VU) and the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (Maastricht University). At the Academic Workplace Educational Quality in Maastricht, 1 internal PhD student, 2 external PhD students, 2 professors and 2 researchers are involved.

Job description:

The postdoc will be responsible for the development and implementation of a part of the research program of the Academic Workplace. It is expected that the postdoc will do this in close cooperation with colleagues from the Inspectorate of Education and the postdoc at the VU. The postdoc will work under the direct supervision of Prof. dr. Rolf van der Velden and Prof. dr. Dr. Inge de Wolf.

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

ROA offers you an inspiring and academic work environment. We offer an initial contract of 2 years. Salary scale will be 10 or 11 (extension to scale 12 may be possible) according to the Dutch University Salary Scales.

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.

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 16,300 students and 4,300 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.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

The Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA), Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

The Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA) is a research institute of the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, established in 1986. Through its research the institute aims to improve the understanding of the relationship between education and the labour market. The overarching research theme of ROA is the acquisition and depreciation of human capital over the life course in relation to the dynamics of the labor market. This is studied in four research programmes: Education and occupational career, Training and employment, Dynamics of the Labour Market, Human capital in the region.

http://www.roa.nl