Are you passionate about finding out how university teachers can be best supported to redesign and innovate their own education? And what the effects of such redesign processes are on what happens with the learning and learning outcomes of students, as well as the professional growth of the teachers themselves?

Then this vacancy might just be something for you!

Recently, Wageningen University and Research (WUR) decided to implement a new Learning Management System (LMS), called Brightspace. This implementation brings the opportunity for teachers to innovate and adapt their courses. On the one hand by using new options provided by the LMS, and on the other hand by tackling challenges and bottlenecks they encounter. For example, as a result of growth in numbers and diversity of the student population, new demands emerging from the new educational vision of the university (encouraging for more active and self-directed, flexible learning) and emphasis on new skills and content. The university has decided to support such innovation via a so-called Redesign Lab. The Redesign Lab brings teachers of multiple courses that seek to radically innovate their courses together. They follow a series of steps, starting from analysis of the current situation, via goal formulation to actual implementation, in which they regularly meet in a small professional community, added with support staff and educational experts. The process of the Redesign Lab and the resulting processes and outcomes with both students and teachers will be intensively monitored and evaluated. Different research methods are anticipated in order to achieve this, for example observation of Redesign Lab sessions of professional community groups, analyses of created course materials and the use of LMS functionalities, interviewing various stakeholders in the process, and potentially other available data. The evaluation aims to deliver various outcomes, such as:

• sets of recommendations for teachers and support staff,
• inspiration for teachers to innovate their courses,
• tools for teachers and other stakeholders,
• and scientific outcomes such as a report and potential journal publications.

The evaluation study is the aim of the proposed postdoc project. The ELS chair group conducts the study, and the project resides under the 4TU Centre for Engineering Education, that disseminates and stimulates educational innovation in the wider 4TU context. As postdoc, your supervision lies by senior staff of ELS.

• you have a PhD preferably in educational/learning sciences or a closely related discipline (educational psychology, innovation sciences), and future ambitions in science
• you have experience with research on (Dutch) higher education and/or blended education or Learning Management Systems, and have written scientific publications on these topics
• you are creative and innovative
• you are a hardworking networker who loves working in a team in an international context and with a variety of actors
• you are dedicated, open for receiving feedback and able to replace oneself in others
• a minor role in education is possible, depending on wishes/needs

This position requires an excellent English language proficiency (minimum CEFR C1 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.

We offer you a meaningful job until the end of 2021 (first a 1 year contract and upon positive evaluation an extension for the remainder period of the project) at WUR, at the Education and Learning science group. The organization has good and flexible employment conditions, including good education and training facilities. This will be a position for 0,6-0,8 fte. We will reward you with a market-based salary. You have the opportunity to work more hours to save for additional holidays. The salary will depend on the qualifications and experience with a gross minimum of salary scale 10 € 2.709 and a maximum of € 4.274 based on 38 hours, in according to the Collective Labour Agreement of Wageningen University.

In addition we offer (on a fulltime base)

• 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% fixed-year allowance
• Excellent training opportunities and secondary working conditions;
• Flexible working hours and vacations can in consultation with colleagues be settled so that an optimal balance between work and private is possible;
• An excellent pension scheme via ABP;
• 232 holiday hours, the ability to purchase and good supplementary leave arrangements and an individualized model to compose part of your working conditions and a bicycle plan;
• sports facilities available on campus which can be used against a small fee

We stimulate internal growth opportunities and mobility with an active and internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a creative learning environment.

Wageningen University & Research

The Education and Learning Sciences (ELS) group aims to understand and facilitate the enhancement of human potential in response to global challenges, in particular those in the domain of food and life sciences through research and education. Research focuses on learning trajectories, learning environments, learning processes and outcomes and relations between these elements.

The mission of our University is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 30 locations, 6,500 employees, and 10,000 students, it is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.