→ Apply before 12/12/2024 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
→ Faculty of Law and Criminology
→ Department: RE23 - Criminologie, Strafrecht en Sociaal Recht
→ Occupancy rate:100%
→ Number of positions: 1
→ Type of employment: Contract of limited duration
→ Term of assignment: 24 maanden
→ Wage scale: WM1 to WM4 (master degree or doctoral degree)
→ Required diploma:Master or PhD
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
YOUR TASKS
Background of the research project:
High-risk criminal networks (HRCNs) are currently one of the biggest threats to the European security landscape, according to Europol. And the threat is still increasing, including internationally (UNODC). The current global context, characterised by social decay and various humanitarian emergencies (due to economic, environmental and demographic challenges), creates several opportunities for criminal interference. For instance, HRCNs have greatly expanded in the areas of human trafficking, migrant smuggling and drug crime as a result. The overall criminal organised landscape is an increasingly networked environment with fluid, sustained and profit-driven international operations. In response to the socio-economic situation, the European Commission developed an ‘EU Roadmap for Combating Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime’ in 2023 to tackle high-risk criminal networks.
The PREVENT project was developed to contribute to the goals of the EU Roadmap, in particular by contributing to a strategic, intelligence-driven methodology and cooperation between European member states and Europol under the EMPACT framework. Thus, it aspires to establish uniform indicators and provide a systematic way of analysing relevant data, in order to coherently map phenomena EU-wide. First, the project will contribute to the identification and deepening of indicators and methods to detect HRCN. It will also work on clearing the financial profile of these actors by gaining substantial knowledge in the business strategies and intertwining of HRCN in the legal economy. The project will also provide insights for administrative approaches to organised crime and strengthen local efforts to prevent criminal infiltration into the legal economy and local infrastructures. Finally, from a crime-prevention framework, PREVENT assesses how socio-economic initiatives can create a new kind of ‘social capital’ and provide an alternative to participating in HRCN.
Tasks:
- Contribute to the overall management of Ghent University's responsibilities in PREVENT: help prepare meetings, take minutes and keep track of deadlines and deliverables.
- Conduct a literature review on high-risk criminal networks (HCRNs), in particular pre-existing indicators and methods to identify the phenomenon, and on criminal infiltration into the legal economy.
- Conducting interviews with experts, transcribing and analysing them.
- Contribute to the development, Belgian introduction and validation of the project framework (HRCN scorecard), in particular the deepening to harm and threat indicators to strengthen the detection of HCRNs.
- Conduct a case study in a selected Belgian city on the local criminal landscape and criminal networks to gain an in-depth picture of criminal infiltration into the legal economy (HRCN scorecard). This also includes interviews with police forces, financial intelligence units, local authorities and business representatives.
- Contributing to the project-wide comparative analysis of the case studies and analysing the impact (harm) of criminal entanglement in the legal economy by HRCN.
- Develop a project-wide data management plan, develop a research framework for the case studies and organise methodological workshops to streamline the research protocol.
- Assist in writing a manual to shape a model approach to HRCN prevention and control.
- Contribute to the dissemination of research findings.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- You hold a Master of Science in Criminological Sciences, a Master of Science in Economics or related disciplines.
- Basic knowledge of organized crime, organized crime policies and the EU Policy Cycle for organized and serious international crime is required.
- Experiences with (financial) crime script analyses, logistical analyses of (organized) crime phenomena are an asset.
- Demonstrated research experience in criminology or economics and related fields with regard to qualitative methodology is required.
- Excellent spoken and written English skills.
- Knowledge of other foreign languages such as French and German are an asset considering the geographical scope of the research project.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer you a full-time contract (100%) of definite duration for the period of two years (not renewable).
- Your contract will start on 15/01/2025 at the earliest.
- Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4 (if you hold a Master’s degree) or salary scale PD1 to PD4 (if you hold a doctorate). Click here for more information about our salary scales.
- All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 35 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
INTERESTED?
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
- In the field ‘CV’: your CV and an overview of your study results (merged into one pdf file)
- In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
- In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
- In the field “other documents”: a reference letter, an overview of your study results, …
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Jelle Janssens (Jelle.Janssens@UGent.be, +32(0)9/264 69 59). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.
Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36
