FASoS is seeking a professor with demonstrated excellence in teaching and research in the philosophy of Sustainable Development, from a Humanist Perspective. This special chair is established by the Socrates Foundation. (see: https://www.humanistischverbond.nl/wie-we-zijn/de-organisatie/stichtingsocrates). The chair will focus on humanist values in seeking to understand sustainable development and how to apply it in actual practices.

You will contribute to the teaching in the BA and MA programmes of our Faculty; you will conduct and stimulate research; and you will engage in sustainability related activities of the humanist movement in the Netherlands. The annual division of teaching and research duties is ca 130 hrs teaching; 130 hrs research; and 65 hrs valorisation.

Research is carried out within the context of the Research Institute for Arts and Social Sciences (see: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/fasos-research-institute) and, in particular, relating to the interdisciplinary Maastricht University Science, Technology and Soc Studies (MUSTS) research program (see: https://www.maastrichtsts.nl).

As Socrates chair you also have a public role and are expected to participate in discussions in The Netherlands on humanist perspectives on sustainability.

You have a PhD degree in philosophy (or a PhD in another discipline, but with a very substantial training in philosophy), and thorough and broad research experience in the area of sustainable development, with special attention for its philosophical and normative aspects. You have experience with an integral, interdisciplinary approach of sustainable development. You are an experienced and enthusiastic teacher with affinity with our system of small-scale problem based learning (PBL); You display outstanding quality in research and have experience with interdisciplinarity. You have a relevant international network. International peer-reviewed academic publications are imperative. We are looking for candidates  with demonstrable affinity with the humanist philosophy of life and worldview, who have a strong interest in participating in public discussions about humanism and sustainability. A fluent level of Dutch is required for this position.

The professor will be appointed for 0.2 FTE (*1 day a week). There is no formal employment contract with the university, but an appointment by the Socrates Foundation. The initial agreement is made for five years. After an evaluation, an extension of five years can take place. There is no salary associated with the chair; The Socrates Foundation provides a modest reimbursement of expenses.

Starting date: August 15th, 2022

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 22,000 students and circa 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts six faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has about 250 staff members, and about 1,730 students. More than 77% of the students are non-Dutch (65 different nationalities). All programmes are offered in English and some are also offered in Dutch. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is housed in the historic city centre of Maastricht.

Socrates Foundation

The Socrates Foundation is a humanist institution with endowed chairs at over 10 Dutch universities. The Socrates Foundation aims  to promote the exchange of views on fundamental social and cultural issues faced by humanism, and promotes the scientific reflection of the backgrounds of modern humanism. Establishing and maintaining endowed chairs contributes to these goals. The Socrates Foundation is a working foundation of the Humanist Covenant, and Socrates professors are expected to contribute to reflection within the Humanist Covenant on the (social) themes on which they work. You can find more information on the Socrates Foundation on: https://www.humanistischverbond.nl/wie-we-zijn/de-organisatie/stichtingsocrates/