The Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University has a vacancy for a full professor in Media, Literacy & Public Engagement (1.0 FTE). The chair will play a pivotal role in initiating and stimulating the development of research, teaching, and societal impact of media and culture studies, with a focus on the role of media and media literacy in education, empowered citizenship, and various forms of public engagement. More specifically, the chair will, in collaboration with colleagues and societal partners, co-create innovative forms of impact of media and culture studies in and via societal and educational projects that foster empowered and inclusive forms of citizenship and socio-cultural diversity, especially among youth, for a deeply mediatized society that is characterized by local and global challenges and inequalities. In line with the strategic plans of the Department of Media and Culture Studies, the Faculty of Humanities, and Utrecht University, the chair furthers interdisciplinary and publicly engaged research and teaching on media within the contexts of Utrecht University’s interdisciplinary strategic themes, in particular Dynamics of Youth, and also Pathways to Sustainability, and Institutions for Open Societies.

We are looking for a colleague who has a strong publication record, proven abilities to generate external funding, and an extensive international network within and outside of academia. The successful candidate has specialist knowledge of critical debates on, and practices within, media literacy, education, youth studies, and cultural theory. They are also committed to developing innovative forms of societal impact from the humanities, in collaboration with other academic disciplines as well as various societal stakeholders.

The new chair will be positioned in the Department of Media and Culture Studies (MCW). Our department has a staff with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and views. As a department, we are committed to support our staff and their development and we foster various forms of interdisciplinary collaboration and team-based teaching and research. In our department, we study a wide range of media as well as cultural and artistic expressions, also in their intermedial relations. We interpret culture as a dynamic combination of artistic, creative, and everyday activities that people use to shape their identities, and within which social processes, structures and institutions are shaped. We welcome colleagues who can further strengthen the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds in our department.

The successful candidate:

• is an experienced and internationally recognized senior researcher in the field of media literacy and education, as demonstrated by a completed PhD in Media Studies or an adjacent field, and a substantial peer-reviewed scholarly output in leading academic journals and distinguished book publications, as well as other forms of output for professional or societal communities;
• has excellent communication skills and is capable of inspiring a positive team spirit;
• is willing and able to take on leadership responsibilities at the departmental level, and beyond;
• is experienced in fostering a culture of mutual respect, collegiality and care in which principles of diversity and inclusion are respected;
• engages in public outreach and has developed, or contributed to, various forms of societal impact;
• has a successful track record in attracting research subsidies from external funding bodies;
• has substantial experience in teaching at both undergraduate and graduate level as well as experience in developing teaching curricula;
• has experience in supervising PhD candidates and junior researchers in an inspiring and effective way and fosters teamwork and team spirit;
• has an extensive network beyond the University, and is able to engage this network in collaborative, inter- and transdisciplinary research projects and public engagement;
• is expected to teach in Dutch and English. International candidates will be assisted in acquiring Dutch language skills during the first two years of their appointment.

Leadership and responsibility are part of your job. That is why you recognise yourself in the core values that are central to the Faculty of Humanities: professionalism, transparency, responsibility, connection and safety.

The UU works with the methodology of Triple that values teamwork over individualism and calls for an open academic culture that promotes accountability, reproducibility, integrity and transparency, and where sharing (open access, FAIR data and software) and public engagement are normal daily practice.

We offer a temporary position with an appointment as professor for initially five years. After positive evaluation, the appointment will be turned into a permanent one.
The minimum gross salary is €6,099 and the maximum gross salary is €8,881 (scale H2 of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities) per month, at a full-time employment.

Utrecht University offers a pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% per year, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% and flexible employment conditions. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including supporting a better work-life balance (e.g. a number of specific leave arrangements, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions). These conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities. More information on working at Utrecht University can be found here.

Are you an international applicant? Then have a look at what our International Service Desk can do for you. Check the information for international staff and guests about living in the Netherlands.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability. For an impression of the university, you can watch the Utrecht University Campus Tour

The Faculty of Humanities has around 7,000 students and 1,100 staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city centre of Utrecht, where the faculty is housed, contribute to an inspiring working environment.

The Department of Media and Culture Studies at Utrecht University is an internationally renowned research and teaching consortium composed of scholars in media studies, performance studies, musicology, and gender and postcolonial studies who are dedicated to an interdisciplinary and societally engaged approach to media and culture studies.