The world is facing huge challenges. At the group Education and Learning Sciences (ELS) we aim to understand and facilitate learners throughout their lives to contribute to these challenges in a meaningful, responsible and critical manner. To support this process, we are looking for an Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in the field of (supporting the) development of
Inner Development Goals (IDGs) of learners. Sustainable development is more than just knowledge creation and innovation, it concerns the drive of individuals and groups. This drive is reflected in the Inner Development Goals, which concern important skills and qualities such as
being (relationship to self),
thinking (cognitive skills),
relating (caring for others and the world),
collaborating (social skills) and
acting (driving change). The need to focus more on other than just the cognitive dimensions of learning emerges from all kinds of developments in education and research , psychology, philosophy and sociology, as well as from the realization that without a healthy mind and body it is difficult to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable world (e.g. the realisation of the SDGs). The position concerns a position with its roots in educational sciences, however, disciplinary boundaries need to be crossed to learn about and work on the inner development for sustainable development.
The focus on the whole person and inner development in education and learning, includes attention for ethical, entrepreneurial and contemplative mindsets, professional identity development, supporting new skills and qualities focused on resilience, anxiety and dealing with uncertainty; but also of attention for the relational dimension, such as dialogue and cross boundary collaboration with others and connecting with place.
The focus on this topic aligns with the new vision of the Education and Learning Sciences (ELS) chair group and it's collaboration within the WUR Social Sciences cluster SPICE (Section Philosophy, Innovation and Technology, Communication and Education.
We expect you to develop your own research line on the topic of learning and teaching for inner development. The position aims to support educational design, pedagogies and learning processes and assessment in relation to inner development goals also in relation to the global sustainability challenges in which people's lives are nested. The focus on this inner dimension of learning brings all kinds of interesting questions, such as how to educate or train for it (within different target groups), how to assess it, how to optimise and innovate learning trajectories and learning environments and tools such that they also support this dimension, next to the more cognitive dimension. The focus also brings new ideas for expanding the education programme of ELS within and beyond WUR.
We expect you to attract research funds for this thread of education and research, to build up a leading (inter)national position, and that your work contributes to the development of educational innovation related to this field, also within and outside WUR.
You will be offered considerable freedom to develop your own research profile within the broad contours sketched here, which is to complement existing expertise in the Education and Learning Sciences group and link to ongoing activities within and outside Wageningen University & Research. As a teacher, you are expected to teach, coach and motivate our students - both at introductory and more advanced levels - and to develop new courses in your field of study.