Research project

Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) forms the core of the educational vision of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).  Central to CBL is that students acquire knowledge by engaging in real-life challenges that directly impact our world, and that students take ownership of their own learning. Besides deepening disciplinary knowledge and skills in context, students learn to collaborate with different disciplines and stakeholders, and deal with complex, open-ended processes. CBL is an innovative educational model which is getting shape through the involvement of a broad variety of staff at the university, inspired by own experiments and knowledge of comparable innovations elsewhere. The development of CBL is research-based: the effects of CBL pilots on student' learning are carefully studied so the design of CBL can be adapted based on the research outcomes.

The postdocs will work for a project granted as Comenius leadership Fellow to TU/e innovation Space (https://www.nro.nl/onderzoeksprojecten/comeniusprogramma/toegekende-projecten/#reymen). The focus of the project is to develop a framework and means to make CBL a leading educational principle for the TU/e-community and transferable to other institutions. Important research questions that will be addressed are:

• What are current promising practices that align with the vision of CBL?
• What are design criteria for courses according to the CBL concept?
• What are students' learning gains in CBL compared to traditional lecture-based education in terms of (a) interdisciplinary thinking, self-directed learning, collaboration skills, and engagement, and (b) disciplinary knowledge and skills?
• How much and what kind of guidance is needed to enable different kinds of students in different stages of the program to realize productive challenge-based learning processes?
• What characterizes a good CBL coach?
• What do teachers need to design and facilitate CBL?

Context

The postdoc will be based at TU/e innovation Space,  the community and facility that plays a central role in the development of CBL at TU/e. TU/e innovation Space is the centre of expertise for Challenge-Based Learning and student entrepreneurship at TU/e, a learning hub for education innovation and an open community where students, researchers, industry, and societal organizations can exchange knowledge and develop responsible solutions to real-world challenges. The postdoc will closely work with the research group of Eindhoven School of Education (ESoE). ESoE is the TU/e expertise centre in the field of the education and professional development of (future) teachers in the science and engineering domain. 

Job description

The postdocs will:

• Conduct a literature review on CBL and related educational models
• Design and conduct empirical research on the effects of CBL experiments
• Design and adapt tools for measuring effects of CBL on students' learning and engagement
• Collect and analyse data, both qualitatively and quantitatively
• Report the research results for both practice-oriented as well as scholarly audiences, both verbally and in writing.
• Present their work at national and international conferences
• Contribute to writing project proposals and applying for funding for future research

• PhD in a relevant discipline
• Good research skills for review and empirical research in higher education
• Knowledge of innovations in higher education
• Knowledge of or affinity with engineering education
• Positive attitude towards innovative teaching and learning
• Being able to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
• Creative and analytical mind

We are offering:

• A 1.0 or 0.8 fte temporary employment for a period of 3 years
• A gross monthly salary between € 3.353 and € 4.402 (on a full-time basis), depending on knowledge and experience; plus holiday allowance (8% of annual salary, in May) and end-of-year allowance (8.3% of annual salary, in December)
• Support for personal development and career planning
• A wide range of secondary employment conditions, such as excellent technical infrastructure, moving expenses, daycare, savings schemes, excellent sports facilities, and parental and maternity leave.
• Membership of a vibrant research and educational community