You will be working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Academic Outreach Programme  (‘Connecting Our Future’) of the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). The goal of this programme is to promote equal opportunities in education. More specifically, the programme aims to widen participation in higher education (i.e., improve access, success, and progression) of students who are historically underrepresented in higher education. This group includes first generation students, students with a migration background, and students from low income households.

The Academic Outreach Programme is part of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) team of the EUR and consist of three Action Lines. In the Early Outreach Action Line, we develop, implement, and evaluate outreach activities focused on improving access to higher education. In the Student-Centered Support Action Line, we (co)develop and evaluate outreach activities focused on improving success in and progression from higher education. With the Building New Blocks Action Line, we enable the EUR community (i.e., EUR staff and students) to develop, implement, and evaluate their own outreach interventions.

You will be working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Early Outreach Action Line. Currently, we are developing multiple educational programmes in co-creation with schools, parents, and pupils of 10 primary and secondary schools in the Rotterdam area. Your main task is to evaluate the effectiveness of (a sample of) these educational programmes, using both quantitative methods (i.e., questionnaires) and qualitative methods (i.e., focus group interviews or semi-structured interviews). You will also be responsible for setting up a school questionnaire with the aim of tracking long(er) term impact on the school climate in these schools. As a postdoctoral researcher, you are responsible for the study design, applications to the ethical committee, data collection, data analysis, and publication of results in international peer-reviewed journals. In this role, you will work closely with a postdoctoral researcher who focuses on the overall process evaluation of the Early Outreach Action Line, as well as your other colleagues in the Academic Outreach Programme and Diversity & Inclusion Office, and with external stakeholders (i.e., schools, parents, pupils).

Tasks and responsibilities

We are looking for a driven, socially engaged postdoctoral researcher. In this role, your main tasks will include:

• Performing outcome evaluations of several educational programmes implemented in primary and secondary schools;
• Performing (school level) impact evaluation of our outreach activities in primary and secondary schools;
• Publishing in international peer-reviewed journals;
• Supervising student research assistants/ MSc students/ BSc students

• You have a PhD degree in a relevant discipline, e.g., educational sciences, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, or related discipline;
• You have experience with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods and data-analysis, or are open to develop expertise in these research methods;
• You have an equity mindset and have affinity with equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI)/ outreach activities;
• You have very good command of spoken and written Dutch and English (C1 level);
• You work in an independent, structured, and result-oriented way.

Internationally oriented and varied work within an enthusiastic team, with attractive fringe benefits in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). We offer a contract that is initially for one year based on 0.8 fte, with a possibility of extension. Your remuneration will depend on your specific knowledge and experience, and will be calculated on the basis of full-time salary ranging between € 2.960,- and € 5.439,- gross per month (scale 10/11, CAO NU). A full-time appointment at EUR is 38 hours per week.

Erasmus University Rotterdam offers attractive terms of employment, including a holiday allowance of 8%, a year-end payment of 8.3% and 41 holidays per year based on 40 hour work week. In addition, EUR takes part in the ABP pension scheme, and we also offer fully paid extra birth leave for partners and partially paid parental leave. Moreover, EUR staff members are allowed to make use of the EUR facilities, including the Erasmus Sports Center and the University Library.

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Erasmus University Rotterdam is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its teaching and research. Our scientists and students work on solving global, social challenges, inspired by the always cosmopolitan and dynamic Rotterdam. Our mission is therefore ‘Creating Positive Societal Impact’. Our academic education is intensive, active and pragmatic. Our research increasingly takes place in multidisciplinary teams, which are strongly interwoven with international networks. With our research impact and educational quality, the EUR can measure up to the top of European universities. Important values for Erasmus University Rotterdam are daring, curiosity, social involvement, a focus on pushing boundaries.

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community. We nurture an open culture, where everyone is supported to fulfill their full potential. We see inclusivity of talent as the basis of our successes, and the diversity of perspectives and people as a highly valued outcome. EUR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, functional impairment, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We look forward to welcoming you to our community.

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), 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.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Erasmus University Rotterdam works hard on its ambitions regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion. That is why a central EDI team has been created, who is committed to furthering equity, diversity and inclusion at the university. In addition, each faculty has their own Faculty Diversity Officer (FDO). EDI consists of five pillars: Education & Students, Academic Outreach Programme, Monitoring and Research, HR, and an Institutional pillar. The EDI team is a multidisciplinary team, consisting of 17 members and is characterized by a warm and friendly atmosphere, united in passion and ambition for creating an inclusive EUR. You will be a very welcome addition to the team.