Academic position in Learning and Reflective Practices in Teacher education

Reference: 35422 / PSP 050 / 2024 

UCLouvain seeks to recruit 

A full-time academic in Learning and Reflective Practices in Teacher Education 

Main campus: Louvain-la-Neuve

About us

UCLouvain is in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Founded in the heart of Europe in 1425, the university brings together 40,000 students and 6,000 staff members on nine campuses in Brussels and Wallonia. Research and education activities are organised in 14 faculties, 22 research institutes, five learning centres and 18 libraries. UCLouvain also has two university hospitals.

UCLouvain is a major player in the transition to a sustainable society. The challenges of the ecological crisis are integrated into courses and the university develops numerous local projects (such as a university farm and sustainable campuses). As a digital university, UCLouvain is involved in open science and education, and trains academics in innovative teaching practices through its Louvain Learning Lab. Thanks to two science parks, the university’s research benefits from interaction with 250 companies and three incubators, which is fuelled further by being at the centre of a region driven by technological innovation.

UCLouvain has a long tradition of international collaborations for teaching and research through partnerships across the world. As a member of the Circle U. European University alliance, the university offers a unique opportunity to work in an environment of interconnected campuses across Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Pisa, Belgrade, Aarhus and Oslo).

The university has a gender and inclusion policy which prioritises equity and respect. Working at UCLouvain means contributing to the development of every individual’s skills and promoting the values of equality, transparency and efficiency.

Within a consortium of four university colleges (Galilée, Vinci, HELHa and Hénallux), the Université Saint-Louis - Bruxelles and the University of Namur, UCLouvain collaborates in implementing the reform of teacher training, which sets out to increase the quality of teacher training, and therefore of pupils, by linking teaching and research.

In view of these joint degree programs between UCLouvain and the four university colleges, the holder of this position will teach in the pedagogical departments of these university colleges, which are located at about ten sites.

Post description

Within the Faculty of  Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and the Institute for the Analysis of Change in Contemporary and Historical Societies, Social Sciences and Humanities Sector, this position will include the following teaching, research and community service duties:

• Teaching 

You will teach mainly in the field of initial teacher training, within the various study cycles (co)managed by the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, and in particular within the framework of the Master's degrees in teaching in sections 1, 2 and 3. You will also supervise Master's theses.

Sections 1, 2 and 3 are those that train teachers from, respectively, kindergarten to the 2nd year of primary education, from the 3rd year of kindergarten to the 6th year of primary education, and from the 5th year of primary education to the 3rd year of secondary education (in line with the Decree of 7 February, 2019 defining initial teacher training). The different programs will open progressively: from September 2023 for section 1, section 2 and section 3 and from September 2024 for the Advanced Master in Teacher Education, the evolution of the volume of teaching hours will be progressive.

You will collaborate with school-internal and school-external professionals within the field of compulsory education.

Most of the teaching assignments will be situated at the pedagogical departments of the university colleges, courses will be given in French, and you may be required to work on evenings and on Saturdays.

• Research

You will develop your research activities, including coordinating research projects in the field of the analysis of teachers’ professional practices and those of other educational professionals. This research, conducted within the Interdisciplinary Research Group in Socialisation, Education and Training (https://uclouvain.be/en/research/girsef) of the Institute for the Analysis of Change in Contemporary and Historical Societies, will focus on learning from professional practices, with a particular focus on activities and experience as sources of learning. This research will also focus on the analysis of training systems that allow the development of future teachers’ reflexivity in a logic of integrative alternation (video training, micro-teaching, portfolio, etc.). You will supervise doctoral theses on these topics.

• In addition …

When you will obtain tenure, you will take on various service activities and responsibilities within the institution, such as a role in program committees, in the examination committee, or management responsibilities within the faculty or research institute.

You will also contribute to services to society through collaboration with educational stakeholders, schools and university colleges, who are involved in teacher training. You will also collaborate with partners in the economic and socio-cultural field or in the field of development cooperation. In addition, through your research and teaching activities, you will contribute to UCLouvain’s international visibility.

Who we’re looking for

• Education

You have a PhD in Educational Sciences (or a comparable field). You have completed an extended stay abroad or have substantial experience outside the university where you completed your PhD.

You have a degree in teacher training.

• Experience

You have a proven track record in university teaching, evidenced if possible by formal assessments. Your scientific track record is evidenced by publications in international outlets.

You have a professional experience in compulsory education and/or in teacher training. You have knowledge of the compulsory educational system of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

• Skills

You are able to work as part of a team and to integrate research results into your teaching. You can conduct high-quality scientific research, from obtaining funds to managing a research team. You are creative, open to pedagogical innovation and to multi-disciplinarity.

Given the nature of the position, you will have a perfect knowledge of the French language from the start.

You will be able to communicate in English. If this is not the case, you commit yourself to mastering this language within two years in function. Knowledge of other languages is an additional asset.

Specifically: you have expertise in coaching and in analysing teaching practice.

What we offer

• Tenure after positive assessment of the probationary period – typically four years. This type of career entitles you to a public sector pension.
• Appointment as lecturer or professor according to your previous academic experience, as determined by the Rectoral Council.
• Teaching load capped at 90 hours for a full-time tenure-track position, and 150 hours once tenured.
• An attractive and progressive salary according to seniority and the promotion process.
• A start date of 1 September 2024 at the earliest.
• An integrated leadership and management training programme, including a range of pedagogical, linguistic and other training courses.
• Benefits including transport, family, culture, commercial, etc.
• Official policy that supports equal opportunities and promotes diversity within academic and all other categories of staff.
• Specific emphasis on a work-life balance.

Practical Information

Application deadline: Monday, November 13th at noon (UTC+1 Time Zone)
Starting date: September 1st 2024 

Location:

Social Sciences and Humanities Sector
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (PSP) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/facultes/PSP)
Institute for the Analysis of Change in Contemporary and Historical Societies (IACS) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/instituts-recherche/IACS) 
 

Need more information?

Questions about this position?

Prof. Emmanuelle Zech, Dean PSP – doyen-psp@uclouvain.be
Prof. Marc Zune, President IACS – president-iacs@uclouvain.be

Questions about the procedure?
Cécile Lion, Rector’s Office, cecile.lion@uclouvain.be

Questions about online application?
Andreea Chiriac, Rector’s Office, secretariat-vrpp@uclouvain.be

Interested?

Apply only via the online application (applications submitted via any other channel will not be considered). 
To be considered, your application must contain within a single PDF:  

• motivation letter;
• current curriculum vitae;
• full publication list and summary of three most significant recent publications;
• research strategy: your five-year research programme AND a PhD thesis proposal for hiring a PhD student;
• teaching programme;
• copy of PhD diploma;
• names and contact details of three to five persons who can recommend your application according to the mandatory current procedure.

For full details of the application : https://uclouvain.be/fr/emploi/candidature-aca.html