PhD Interdisciplinary Team Teaching in Challenge-based Learning

Are you passionate about shaping the future of engineering education? Are you eager to delve into how interdisciplinary teams of teachers learn and work together? Then, this PhD project at the department of Applied Physics and Science Education is for you.

With this Eurotech Alliance PhD project, in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is now seeking a PhD candidate to investigate new ways of understanding and scaffolding interdisciplinary work in a constructive way.

Eindhoven University of Technology has indicated in their vision document 'Strategy 2030', their ambition to transform education by adopting challenge-based learning (CBL) as the main educational model for educating the engineers of the future. Central to CBL is the interdisciplinary collaboration among educators to design complex yet achievable challenges to align with intended learning outcomes and scaffold students during an open-ended process.

The objective of this project is to improve the preparedness of interdisciplinary teaching teams to design CBL courses but also to train them in coaching and scaffolding student teams' learning in CBL. By focusing on developing CBL teaching teams that are well-prepared and well-coordinated, we can create a more supportive learning environment for students.

This PhD research project aims

• To foster interdisciplinary teaching teams' preparedness in designing CBL courses and interdisciplinary collaboration via professional development activities.
• To improve teacher-student interactions during CBL by focusing on training teaching teams in scaffolding CBL student teams.
• To increase teachers' reflexivity to facilitate continuous adaptation of teaching methods during CBL.

As a PhD student, you will be part of a team of experienced researchers and educators, offering a supportive and enriching research environment. You will contribute to the formulation of specific research questions and overall research design in consultation with the research team. We are looking for a motivated and curious individual who will contribute positively to this project and our department.

As a PhD student you will:

• Conduct a literature review in the areas of interdisciplinary teaching teams' collaboration.
• Design and conduct empirical research to answer your research questions.
• Design and validate assessment tools that can effectively measure teacher team collaboration and reflexivity in CBL environments.
• Disseminate your research results via academic publications and participation at national and international conferences.

As part of the PhD project, there is a research period (3-6 months) at DTU (Copenhagen) at the co-supervisor.

We value diversity and inclusivity in our team, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. If you are eager to contribute to a field that shapes the way future engineers learn and work together, we are looking forward to your application.

Requirements:

• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in educational sciences, psychology, STEM or any other related field.
• Experience in conducting literature review and empirical research in higher education.
• Knowledge of or affinity with innovations in higher education.
• Knowledge of or affinity with engineering education.
• Positive attitude towards innovative teaching and learning.
• Being able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing.
• Creative and analytical mind.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Salary Benefits:

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

38 hours per week

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