Associate Professorship in China Studies with a specialisation in contemporary politics in China

The School of Culture and Society invites applications for an associate professorship in China Studies at the Department of Global Studies. The associate professorship is a permanent position and begins on 15 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Place of employment: Aarhus University, Denmark.

The Faculty of Arts is committed to creating an inclusive working environment in its pursuit of academic excellence. Therefore, it encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc.

The position

We are seeking an innovative and dedicated candidate with a strong research profile who will contribute to the development of the Department and its core activities in the areas of research, education, talent development, and knowledge exchange. The associate professor will be expected to develop collaborative research initiatives at the School of Culture and Society and develop projects with external financing. 
The Department of Global Studies at Aarhus University offers a dynamic, collegial, and internationally orientated research and teaching environment with good possibilities for career development, project funding, and administrative support.

Research

The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to core activities at the School of Culture and Society and Aarhus University in general and strengthen the Department of Global Studies and its research activities and output. She/he will be expected to be interested in and contribute significantly to the Department of Global Studies’ research activities and output.

We are looking for a candidate with a strong profile and interest in Chinese politics and society, knowledge and competency in theory and methodology, and skills in using digital tools to analyze contemporary issues related to China.
The candidate shall demonstrate a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration within the Department of Global Studies, the School of Culture and Society, the Faculty of Arts, and across Aarhus University. In the application, the applicant should explicitly present her/his vision and plans for the development of research and teaching at Aarhus University.
Past research achievements will be assessed based on the applicant's active research time. We therefore ask applicants to specify any career breaks they have had (for instance, due to maternity/paternity leave) to gauge their research productivity.

Education

The associate professor will be expected to teach and supervise students at all levels (BA, MA and PhD) and contribute to the development and application of innovative teaching methods. The Department of Global Studies expects that the successful candidate participates actively in the development of a dynamic teaching environment in dialogue with students and other professors. The position involves teaching duties in Chinese politics and society and the responsibility for developing interdisciplinary teaching activities. 
We emphasise the importance of maintaining a dedicated and respectful relationship between staff and students, so applicants should be able to demonstrate and exemplify their commitment to participatory teaching initiatives and student involvement in their teaching portfolio.

Talent development

The associate professor is expected to contribute to talent development at the Department. The applicant will be expected to recruit and supervise PhD students and teach and develop PhD courses.

Knowledge exchange

It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange as described in the strategy for the Faculty of Arts Strategy Arts 2020-2025 (au.dk), for instance research cooperation with private companies, government consultancy, cooperation with civil society partners or the public dissemination of knowledge. Applicants should document any prior experience within the field of knowledge exchange.
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Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent qualifications in China Studies/Area Studies, Political Science, Sociology/Anthropology, or related areas of research, as well as research and teaching qualifications equivalent to those acquired in an assistant professorship.
Applicants must furthermore be able to document: 

• An internationally oriented research profile.
• A strong, relevant international publication profile.
• Experience in participation in collective research projects.
• High proficiency in the Chinese language. 
• Proof of teaching experience in areas of relevance. 
• Participation in national and international networks, as well as experience in
  interdisciplinary cooperation.
• Experience in attracting external research funding.

Please note that applications that do not include samples of publications (a maximum of eight ) will not be considered. A list of publications is not sufficient.
References or recommendations should not be included in the application. Applicants who are selected for a job interview may be asked to provide professional references.
Applicants are expected to contribute to the department’s academic environment. We emphasize the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. In order to maintain and develop the department’s research environment, the person appointed is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.

Language and further information

Applicants must be able to teach and supervise in English at the university level.
If the successful applicant is not fluent in Danish, s/he will be expected to acquire the language within a period of approximately two years.
 
Applications must be uploaded in English.

For further information about the content of the position, please contact Head of Department Annette Skovsted Hansen (ostash@cas.au.dk]. 

For further information about the application procedure, please contact HR supporter Gerd Bech Thomsen (gebeth@au.dk)
 

The work environment

China Studies at the Department of Global Studies
We study and teach about China within the academic tradition of language-based area studies. Our main emphasis is on society, culture and history in contemporary and twentieth-century China. We have a comprehensive BA programme in China Studies and an MA programme in Global and Area Studies with a China specialisation, and we are an active part of the PhD programme Global Studies, Anthropology and Study of Religion. The China Studies section collaborates closely with other sections of the Department of Global Studies to produce interdisciplinary research and to offer interdisciplinary teaching. We are also engaged in several outreach activities, such as further education and media appearances.

Global Studies at Aarhus University

As an Area Studies programme, China Studies is an integral part of the Department of Global Studies at Aarhus University, which consists of language-based regional study programmes comprising China, Japan, India/South Asia, Russia, Brazil, Europe, and International Studies. It focuses on a broad spectrum of original language source-based research and the teaching of history, politics, culture, and society. The approaches used have roots in both the humanities and the social sciences and aim to introduce creative teaching methods solidly founded in research. A nation-wide reform of our MA programs will affect the education landscape over the next years in ways we hope will further strengthen our teaching profile.

The School of Culture and Society

At the School of Culture and Society, the object of research and teaching is the interplay between culture and society in time and space:
- From the traditional disciplines of the humanities and theology to applied social research
- From Antiquity to the issues facing contemporary societies
- From Danish cultural forms to other very different worlds
- From local questions to global challenges

The school’s ambition is to produce compelling research with an international resonance as well as to offer teaching and talent development of the highest quality.
The school has a broad cooperative interface with society as a whole, both in Denmark and abroad, and contributes to social innovation, research communication and further and continuing education.
For further information about the school, please see http://cas.au.dk/en/.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to check family and work-life balance and attractive working conditions for further information about the benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and career counselling for expat partners. For information about taxation, see Taxation aspects of international researchers' employment by AU.

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation services and career counseling to expat partners. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/.

Formalities

Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.

The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.
If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English.

Application deadline is 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day. 

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).

• Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities .
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.

The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and no more than eight examples of academic production (mandatory). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

Faculty of Arts The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 700 academic staff members, 200 PhD students, 9,000 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.
The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at https://international.au.dk/

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.
 

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/