As the driving force behind radical, disruptive innovations at Erasmus University Rotterdam, ErasmusX aims to challenge the educational status quo by providing a human centred learning experience with a strong focus on student agency and emerging technologies in a complex innovative setting. A few notable projects developed in 2020 are: the EUR Minecraft university campus, a fully online leadership program called Pre-Academic Program, and a minor focused on the future of education enabled by novel technologies.

Our team and network consist of national and international academics, students, and expert stakeholders from industry. ErasmusX projects are disruptive by nature. Our primary focus is on experimenting with educational technology and co-creation in a complex innovative setting with multiple stakeholders.

The programme is aligned with the EUR strategic ambition to ensure future-proof education for her students.

We pride ourselves on a strong team culture, based on the following principles:

• Authenticity: our professional-selves equal our home-selves, we are not shy to share our vulnerabilities, to have a bad day in front of colleagues, or to laugh out loud about random memes together.
• Teamwork makes the dream work: ​to us teamwork is essential for success. It is the sum of all of the skills and characters that make up a team. When an individual succeeds, we all succeed and share in the joy together.
• Bold with ideas, kind and respectful to people: ​we aim to improve our students’ learning experience and inspire our colleagues. We do this through initiating bold ideas, inviting others to the table and by always being nice (even to those who do not like our ideas).
• Creativity is of the essence: ​creativity comes in all shapes and forms. That is exactly why we love working with a diverse group of people and encouraging them to creatively express themselves in whatever fashion they feel like.
• No fear: ​if you’re into innovation you know that you will fail 9 out of 10 times. For ErasmusX, failing i​s just another way of learning. It is not the falling itself, but the getting-back-up that makes all the difference.
• Always learning: we approach everything as a learning opportunity, learning constantly. We share our knowledge and expertise within our team and the communities beyond.

Are you excited yet?

We are looking for a postdoc researcher to strengthen the ErasmusX team, to conduct research on how new technologies impact learning (in particular virtual environments), and to ensure the design of our experiments allows for evidence-based evaluation. Are you passionate about education innovation and improving the learning experience for students? Does an authentic, self-steering and dynamic team culture inspire you? And do you have a ‘hands-on’ mentality? Then we are looking for you!

The postdoc will be financed from ErasmusX, but the position will be hosted within the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences faculty (ESSB). The focus of this postdoc position would be to research if and how virtual worlds can enhance the quality of (online) education. Constructs such as engagement and sense of belonging will be explored in this connection.

As a postdoc researcher, you will:

• Conduct research into how the experiments of ErasmusX impact the learning of students, with a particular focus projects that make use of virtual environments and new technologies
• Advise and participate in the design of experiments such that scientific research can be conducted with the outcomes
• Write research articles on the topic of education innovation for publication on both our medium account and in scientific journals. Furthermore, lead the discussion on the topic of virtual worlds on both social and traditional media
• Conduct desk research on education innovation, education technology, and strengthen our knowledge base to feed into the projects
• Participate in and contribute to the wider research community on innovation of education at Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Work with various stakeholders and collaborate with other project groups at the university in the pursuit of education innovation. Stakeholders include students, academics, and industry representatives

To further strengthen our team at ErasmusX, you:

• have a PhD in a discipline related to educational (design) research, innovation in education and teaching or learning sciences
• have excellent research skills, and is able to conduct scientific research in an action oriented and scientific manner
• are able to combine research activities with educational design activities
• have a burning curiosity and passion for investigating new ways of learning
• have a strong demonstratable affinity with trans- or interdisciplinary education
• have demonstrable affinity with (some of) the broad fields in which ErasmusX is active: (social) entrepreneurship, co-creation, research, and technology
• have a creative, flexible, strategic, and analytical mindset
• are an excellent communicator and writer
• are fluent in verbal and written English (C1 level)
• have a proven track record of a sense of humor

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

An internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with good working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU).

The successful candidate will be offered an employment contract for 1 year with Erasmus University Rotterdam, with the possibility of an extension. In accordance with the conditions applied at Erasmus University Rotterdam as indicated in the Collective Labour Agreement (CAO NU) of the Dutch universities, the salary is dependent on the candidate’s experience and is set at a maximum of CAO NU scale 10-11 with a minimum of € 2.790,-  and a maximum of € 5.127,- gross per month, on a fulltime basis.

In addition, EUR pays an 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year payment of 8.3% and offers excellent secondary benefits, like a very generous leave scheme. Furthermore, EUR is affiliated with ABP for the pension provision and we offer partially paid parental leave. Employees can also use EUR facilities, such as the Erasmus sports center and the University library.

We value diversity and believe that a diversity of talents contributes to our vision and strategy to excel as a university on research and education. The Erasmus University Rotterdam is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities and nationalities.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research. Our scientists and students work in close collaboration with internal and external parties to solve global, social challenges, inspired by the always dynamic and cosmopolitan Rotterdam. Our mission is therefore "Creating positive societal impact". Our academic education is intensive, active, and application oriented. Our research increasingly takes place in multidisciplinary teams, which are strongly intertwined with international networks. With our research impact and thanks to the high quality of education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. The Erasmian values ​​function as our internal compass and make Erasmus University recognizable to the outside world: engaged with society, world citizen, connecting, entrepreneurial and open-minded.

The General Management Directorate (ABD)

The General Management Directorate (Algemene Bestuursdienst, ABD) is the central staff organisation responsible for the organisation and support of EUR’s policy and administration at the institutional level. ABD supports the Executive Board in fulfilling its responsibilities with regard to the quality, accessibility and financing of EUR’s education and research programmes. ABD handles the joint design of integrated policy, ensures the timely submission of policy within decision-making procedures and the implementation of the adopted policy measures and constantly monitors and evaluates developments in the interest of further improvement. ABD comprises the departments of Academic Affairs (AZ) including D&I Office, Corporate Planning & Control (CPC), Administrative Affairs (BZ), Legal Affairs (JZ) and the Chief Information Office (CIO). The independent university publication Erasmus Magazine also falls under ABD in organisational terms. The management directorate is headed by the Director of the General Management Directorate, who also serves as Secretary of the Executive Board.