The Digital Society

Digital information technology is becoming ever more deeply and rapidly entrenched in our society. It won’t be long before everyone is permanently connected to each other via the Internet. It has already become clear that extensive digitisation is set to radically change practically all aspects of society, not only in the Netherlands but throughout the world.

The Netherlands is a compact, highly developed, well-organised country with excellent physical and digital infrastructures. The academic research conducted at our universities is of high quality across the board. Furthermore, our researchers are highly experienced in crossing the boundaries between disciplines and institutions.

This unique combination of characteristics creates an equally unique opportunity for the Netherlands: to lead the world in the creation of effective connections between digital technology, people and their societies.

More information: https://www.thedigitalsociety.info/themes/learning-education/

In the years ahead, Dutch universities will work together towards this common goal. They will further combine the existing wealth of research in this field and focus it on a clear, common profile. As a corollary of the National Science Agenda, Dutch universities want to invest in cutting-edge research together with other knowledge institutions, the business sector and the government.

Continuing technological change will both enable and require new types of learning and communication, not just during childhood but throughout people’s lives. More than ever, people of all ages should be enabled to continuously update their skills to engage with the environment and the rest of the world. Formal and informal learning processes should be personalized and made more effective. These and related societal challenges are addressed in program line Learning & Education.

The researcher should help to build a strategic agenda for the field of Digital Learning and Education in the Netherlands and Internationally. The position is central to the cooperation of the VSNU program line Digital Education and Learning coordinated by the OU, Radboud University, and Tillburg University. The candidate has to be experienced in the development, implementation and scientific evaluation of educational technologies in distance and blended education settings. Furthermore experience in methods of strategic roadmapping and online consensus development (Delphi and comparable) is welcome. Experience in the acquisition of national and international funding is required as also experience of project management.

We are looking for people who:

• have a PhD in a relevant field (e.g., educational sciences, learning sciences, educational technology, cognitive sciences, computer science)
• are successful in acquiring and supervising externally funded research projects both at the national and European level and have a solid knowledge of Dutch funding and international funding sources in the field of digital education and learning
• have a scientific publication record in relevant journals (SSCI)
• have an excellent command of the Dutch and English language
• have a broad network nationally and internationally in the field of educational technology research
• contribute to the department’s collaborative atmosphere, have an open and transparent communication style

Fixed-term contract: position for 3 years.

The maximum salary for a full-time position is € 4.852,- gross per month (salary scale 11) in accordance with VSNU standards and depending upon your qualifications and experience.

The OUNL provides good secondary benefits such as training, mobility, part-time employment and paid parental leave.

This vacancy is a temporary position for 3 years.

" This vacancy is published internally and externally at the same time. Reactions of external candidates will be taken into consideration when the procedure with internal candidates has been completed.". 

Open Universiteit

Studying online anywhere in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders)

The Open University of the Netherlands (OUNL) is the university in the Netherlands where students study part-time and follow online and activating education in bachelor and master degree programmes in seven fields of study. Characteristics of the education are openness, flexibility and quality. Enhancing the study success of students is an important point of focus. More than 14.000 students are studying at the OUNL and it has 600 employees. The OUNL has a network of regional study centres in the Netherlands and in Belgium (Flanders). The head office is situated in Heerlen.
The most modern technologies and educational insights are applied in bachelor and master programmes and courses and also in projects and programmes with partners. Nationally and internationally the OUNL plays a key role in the innovation of higher education. Education and research are closely interrelated which guarantees that the current state of science is applied. The OUNL not only invests in research in the various academic disciplines, but also in research in the field of learning, teaching and technology.

Satisfied students
For several consecutive years, the OUNL has achieved a top position among the fourteen Dutch universities in the National Students Survey, the Dutch university guide ‘Keuzegids Universiteiten’ (in which the ratings by students and experts of the bachelor studies of the fourteen universities are compared), and the Dutch university guide ‘Keuzegids Masters’. In addition all studies score high in the rankings of the universities for these studies. All ratings are available on the website.

http://www.ou.nl

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

The faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences is strong in education and research. The faculty offers scientific bachelor and master studies Psychology and a master Educational Sciences. Four different master studies Psychology are offered: Work and organizational psychology, Health psychology, Clinical psychology and Lifespan psychology. The research programme of the scientific field of psychology is positioned within one of the four afore-mentioned fields of study of psychology. The Welten Institute is the research centre for learning, teaching and technology. It is a department of the faculty which plays an important role in research into the innovation of education and professionalization of teachers, both nationally and internationally.