Tenure Track Professorship Primary Education

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Onderwijs en Studentenzaken MILO, Department Multidisciplinair Inst. Lerarenopleiding, is looking for a tenure track lecturer. 

More concretely your work package contains: 

Education and Research domain:

Your broad Education and Research domain will be situated at the crossover of Pedagogy, Research Education (primary school level) and Mathematics. 

Education tasks:

• In this assignment you will teach the following course units in Dutch:
  • Mathematics and Statistics 3 ECTS
  • Mathematics, Science and Technology 6 ECTS
  • Data and evidence based teaching 6ECTS
• You will develop a teaching package on research methods, techniques and data analyasis for education professionals (12 ECTS) within the first three years. 
• You will provide flexible learning opportunities for working students, including career changers and regular pathways. The integration of educational technology applications is a key requirment. Lessons will be scheduled in the evenings, occasionally on Saturday. 
• You will supervise teaching assistants involved in your subjects. 
• Play an active role in developing updated Educational Master programs and teacher professionalization initiatives. 

Research tasks:

• You will conduct scientific research in pedagogy, teacher education and mathemathics. Publication productivity is a key requirement. 
• You will supervise at least one Ph.D. student and attract competitive external funding as principal or co-principal investigator.  
• You will build and maintain an (inter)national network in the research community and professional field. 

Other tasks:

• You will engage in departemental and university governance and outreach activities. 
• You will develop professional relationships with schools as part of 'de Onderzoekende School'.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You are holder of a PHD in mathematics, pedagogy or a related field. You are holder of a Teaching Degree, specialisation in primary education is recommended. 
   

• Teaching experience in primary education is recommended.

  • Scientific expertise:
    • You have expertise in mathematics and numeracy didactics.  
    • You have a track record of research in didactics, teacher education and mathematics, preferably focusing on primary school age groups. 
    • Experience in quantitative educational research is recommended. 
  • Skills:
    • You have a strong ability to coordinate scientific activit-ies and projects;
    • You have proven leadership in motivating and coaching a team;
    • You have a strong motivation for scientific research; 
    • You have excellent communication skills, written and oral, including written reports and scientific presentations;
    • You can find balance between working independently and collaborating in a team; 

• You subscribe to the university’s vision of education. The full text in relation to this is available on the university website.

• Every first appointment is dependent upon the successful delivery of a teaching session.  

• Language regulations:

A member of the academic staff who is entrusted with a teaching assignment must also be able to demonstrate that the language of instruction is known at ERK level C1 through a qualification certificate or through an adequate diploma. The VUB also provides courses in, for example, academic English.

The administrative language of the VUB is Dutch. In case of insufficient knowledge of Dutch, the VUB will provide an integration course. After a maximum of five years, a member of the academic staff must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the administrative language (ERK level B2).

For a complete overview, please consult the complete language regulations on https://jobs.vub.be/content/Regulations-concerning-language-proficiency/. 

Certificates demonstrating knowledge of the language can already be added to the application. 

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a tenure track appointment, for an assignment of 1 FTE, for 5 years, with eligibility for tenure in the rank of senior lecturer by the end of this initial period, with planned starting date 01/05/2025. 

You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 28/02/2025, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• your motivation letter, including your vision on education and research, and an explanation about the development of your future research;
• your curriculum vitae, including you academic dossier; 
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni) and language certificates.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Dr. Joost Vaesen at joost.vaesen@vub.be or on +32 (0)2 629 87 87.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.