Professorship "Governance in Global Land Use Transformation"

Welcome to Hochschule Osnabrück , the largest University of Applied Sciences in the German state of Lower Saxony. Besides offering around 100 practice-oriented study programmes in three locations, we have an impressive teaching and research record and provide excellent opportunities for personal development. Our students value the academic and professional expertise of our faculty, our international networks, and our modern university management. To fulfil our mission, we are looking for individuals with innovative ideas and life-long curiosity.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences invites applications for the tenured W2 position of:
Professorship for “Governance in Global Land Use transformation” to start as soon as possible.

Ref. No. AuL 275 P0325

The professorship is located at the interface between agricultural sciences and landscape architecture. As a core professorship, the position will shape the newly established English-language master’s program “Land Use Transformation", which focuses on the design of transformation processes in a global context from an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspective. The professorship contributes to the analysis and methodological development of appropriate governance processes for sustainable land use transformation. In this sense, governance refers to the design and network-based management of multi-actor processes that address the interfaces between different professions and land use interests and that aim to develop win-win strategies for sustainable land use. These strategies are to be implemented using suitable formal and informal instruments, involving all relevant decision-making levels (active state, European Union, international actors). The professorship is expected to deliver and further develop the content through internationally oriented, project-based teaching.

Requirements for the professorship
The criteria of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG) govern the requirements for appointment to a professorship at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences (www.hs-osnabrueck.de/berufungskriterien). These criteria must be met.

For the advertised professorship, these criteria are specified as follows in accordance with Section 25 (1) NHG:

• The future incumbent is expected to have a university degree in one of the following disciplines: political science, social sciences, agricultural sciences, landscape architecture, geography, economics, or a comparable discipline.
• The future incumbent is expected to have a particular aptitude for in-depth and independent academic work, usually demonstrated by an above-average doctorate. Where applicable, the candidate may also provide evidence of relevant achievements equivalent to a doctorate.
• The candidate’s professional experience (five years of professional practice, of which at least three years must have been outside the university setting) is required to be demonstrably relevant to the content and tasks involved in the context of the professorship.
• The future incumbent will focus on developing our students' competencies and demonstrating enthusiasm for the distinctive features of the subject (pedagogical-didactic aptitude with a high degree of application orientation). Appropriate teaching experience – preferably with university students – must therefore be demonstrated.

Ideally, the incumbent will also have the following qualifications and skills:

• Theoretical or practical engagement with current issues and innovative tools for shaping global land use transformation.
• Experience at the interface of science and practice in shaping transdisciplinary processes.
• Intercultural experience in an international environment and the ability to deliver courses in English to multicultural groups.
• International experience with land use change outside Europe, such as in the Global South.
• Willingness to cooperate and teamwork skills.
• Gender and diversity competence.

The future incumbent is expected to also teach courses in German. 

We look forward to recruiting an individual with above-average qualifications who will make an interdisciplinary contribution to our teaching and research. Motivated university students, exciting projects, and dedicated colleagues await you!  

Additional information
Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences is committed to gender equity and diversity. In line with our objective to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching, we explicitly encourage qualified women to apply for the position. In addition, we are keen to attract candidates with expertise in the areas of gender, diversity, and family friendliness. For further information, you may contact our Equal Opportunity Office (phone: tel:+49 541 9692955). 

Full-time positions can be shared, providing this does not conflict with organizational requirements. Applications by candidates with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.  

Application submission
Please send your application in electronic form – preferably as one PDF file – stating the reference number to the following address by April 9, 2025:

President of Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences | P.O. Box 1940 | 49009 Osnabrück.