Academic position in Urbanism, Planning and Development of Eco-territories

Reference: 35432 / LOCI 021 / 2024 

UCLouvain seeks to recruit 

A full-time academic in Urbanism, Planning and Development of Eco-territories 

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.

The Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning and the Louvain research institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built environment are organized on three sites of different character: Louvain-la-Neuve, Brussels, Tournai. The diversity of locations is conducive to the development of research interests related to multiple local contexts. The position will be specifically located in Louvain-la-Neuve.

Post description

Within the Faculty of  Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning and the Louvain research institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built environment, Science and Technology Sector, this position will include the following teaching, research and community service duties:

• Teaching 

You will teach mainly in the fields of urbanism, planning and development of eco-territories, in the various courses managed by the faculty.

Urbanism and territorial development have, at times, worked by juxtaposition and accumulation of disciplinary competences to respond to the processes of growth. The architect, urban planner, landscape designer, bioengineer, agronomist, etc. respond to requests in their individual and specific way. The results add up and are juxtaposed without sufficiently emphasize the need for coherence.

This historical method contributes to the development of the artificial (addition of artefacts) within the living world (biocenosis) and its environment (biotope).

Current environmental imbalances question this process of development.

The design of eco-territories requires a concerted vision nourished by competences and dialogue among all these actors, so as to generate a systemic and collaborative process restoring balance in the living world, of which humankind is an integral part.

The “eco-territorialist” needs to understand the expertise of each actor of the territory and be able to analyze the challenges of each biotope, in order to design, for each project, a systemic synthesis that respects the living world.

You will also be expected to supervise Master’s theses. 

• Research

You will develop your research activities, including the creation of a research programme in the fields of urbanism, planning and development of eco-territories, and particularly in the context of the environmental, ecological, energy, economic, demographic, climatic and social transition that we are facing.

In this process, among other methods, research by design can allow, by its iterative nature, to consolidate all the competences required, and propose fair and applicable knowledge.

You will be responsible for the supervision of PhD theses.

• In addition …

Once tenured, you will carry out various service activities and responsibilities within the institution, such as being a member of a programme committee or examination committee, or having management responsibilities within the faculty or research institute.

You will also contribute to serving society, particularly in the economic, social, cultural or development cooperation fields. Finally, you will ensure, through research and teaching activities, the university’s international visibility.

Who we’re looking for

• Education

You have a PhD in Building Arts, Design and Urbanism, or in Engineering Sciences (or in a domain that can be considered as equivalent). 

• Experience

You have a proven track record in university teaching, with evidence where possible by formal evaluations. Your scientific experience is demonstrated by publications of international standing.

You have extended experience abroad or at least outside your home institution.

• Skills

You are comfortable working as part of a team of academics and integrate research results into your teaching. You are capable of conducting high-level scientific research, from obtaining funding to team management. You are creative, open to pedagogical innovation and multidisciplinary.You can communicate in French and English. If this is not the case, you undertake to acquire a command of these two languages within two years of taking up your position. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

Specifically: 

• You hold a master's degree in architecture or in architectural engineering (or equivalent);
• A specialized master's degree in urbanism and territorial planning (or equivalent, e.g.: territorial management, urban development, socio-spatial dimensions, etc.) will be considered an asset.
• You have recognized professional experience as a designer in urbanism and territorial development – obtained within an interdisciplinary team, agency or territorial authority – and within scientific research, with publications of international level.
• You have a thorough knowledge of international research networks but also of the Belgian contexts and the urban, regional and territorial challenges of today and tomorrow.

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:

Science and Technology Sector
Faculté d'architecture, d'ingénierie architecturale, d'urbanisme (LOCI) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/facultes/LOCI)
Louvain research institute for Landscape, Architecture, Built environment (LAB) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/instituts-recherche/LAB) 
 

Need more information?

Questions about this position?

Prof. Eric Van Overstraeten, Dean LOCI – doyen-loci@uclouvain.be
Prof. Sergio Altomonte, President LAB – president-lab@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