Professorship in educational transitions (based either in Copenhagen or Aarhus)

The Danish School of Education (DPU) at the Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a professorship in educational transitions, with a focus on educational and/or career guidance, career trajectories and transitions, and/or the barriers and enablers that influence such transitions. 

The selected applicant will be employed in the Department of Education Studies.

The professorship is a permanent position, commencing on 1 June 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is based at DPU at either Aarhus Campus or Emdrup Campus (see the description of DPU below). It is important that the selected applicant takes part in the daily activities of the department, including both teaching and supervision. As the department is located in both Aarhus and Copenhagen, the selected applicant should expect some travel activity.

The position
The selected applicant for the professorship will complement and contribute to the development of existing research and teaching within the field of education studies in relation to educational transitions, including teaching on the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in education science as well as on the professional Master’s degree programmes at DPU. The selected applicant will also be expected to contribute to the public dissemination of research to relevant professional fields and to the wider Danish public.

In the Department of Education Studies, you will find colleagues working with a broad range of empirical, methodological and theoretical approaches, both within specialised areas and across interdisciplinary research fields. Our Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes focus on historical and contemporary issues related to education, including digital technologies, sustainability, diversity and dominant forms of organisation, management, governance and administration of education. The research environments in the department include a cluster of researchers specialising in guidance.

Research
We are looking for a candidate with a research profile in educational transitions, with a focus on educational and/or career guidance, career trajectories and transitions, and/or the barriers and enablers that influence educational transitions. The selected applicant for the professorship will also be required to document a record of scientific production at the highest international level, as well as scholarly contributions to theoretical, methodological and empirical developments within the field of educational transitions.

The selected applicant is expected to contribute to Aarhus University’s core activities in the areas of research, education, talent development and knowledge exchange, and to provide academic leadership related to research, education and academic development. Applicants are asked to outline their vision for future developments in the field and to document a solid track record of research leadership, as well as experience with international research funding and collaboration.

It is of vital importance that the selected applicant actively participates in the daily activities of the Department of Education Studies, including research and teaching communities, and contributes to the work of management and/or organisational boards (such as the central board of studies, degree programme boards and various local management positions). 

Further information about current research at DPU, including the research programme Teachers and Teaching, is available at: https://dpu.au.dk/en/research

Teaching
The selected applicant is expected to have solid experience of teaching at university level and should be prepared to teach and supervise at all levels of the degree programmes (Master’s and PhD) in education science and on DPU’s cross-departmental Master’s degree programmes.

The selected applicant is also expected to play a leading role in the development of new degree programmes and teaching initiatives related to subjects within the field of education science. Broad experience and knowledge of education in this field and related fields are considered an advantage.

Talent development
The selected applicant must be able to document experience in supervising student projects and demonstrate an interest in talent development. The selected applicant will be expected to recruit and supervise PhD students, and to contribute to the development and implementation of PhD courses.

Knowledge exchange
The selected applicant is expected to engage actively in knowledge exchange, in line with the strategy of the Faculty of Arts – for instance through research collaboration with private companies, government consultancy, collaboration with civil society actors or the public dissemination of knowledge. Applicants should document any prior experience with knowledge exchange.

Qualifications
The selected applicant for the professorship must hold a PhD or equivalent qualification in education or the social sciences and must be able to document:

• an internationally oriented research and publication profile, including empirical, methodological and theoretical contributions to the research field of educational transitions, educational and/or career guidance, career trajectories and transitions, and/or barriers and enablers in educational transitions
• a clear vision for future developments in the research field
• experience of participation in national and international networks
• experience of research management and leadership, including the development of early-career researchers
• experience of securing external research funding
• experience of communication and knowledge exchange
• solid experience of teaching at all university levels, including Bachelor’s, Master’s and professional Master’s levels
• experience of supervising student projects at all university levels.

The applicant must be able to teach and publish in English.The applicant will be expected to contribute actively to the department’s academic environment. We emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students.

For further information about the position, please contact the Head of the Department of Education Studies, Miriam Madsen, by email at mirm@edu.au.dk or by telephone on +45 2084 2672.

Read more about the Department of Education Studies here.

The application must be submitted in English.

About the Danish School of Education  
The Danish School of Education at Aarhus University is Denmark’s largest centre for research and teaching in the fields of education, didactics and learning, with approximately 240 full-time researchers, including 80 PhD students, and 4,500 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students. The school’s activities are characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinarity and close interaction with society, including businesses, organisations, government agencies and institutions, both in Denmark and abroad.  

International applicants  
International applicants are encouraged to read about family and work-life balance as well as the attractive working conditions and other 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 the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/ 
 

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 five 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 arts.au.dk/en

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/