Aarhus University, Department of Theology at the School of Culture and Society
Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Church History
Institution Type: | College / University |
Location: | Denmark |
Position: | Assistant Professor |
An assistant professorship is a full-time, three-year training position that involves research and teaching at BA and MA level and includes an obligatory course in university teaching for assistant professors. Following the assistant professorship period, an associate professorship within the same academic field will be announced in open competition.
An associate professorship is a permanent, full-time position involving research and teaching at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level.
Applicants must state explicitly whether they are applying for the assistant or the associate professorship.
Place of employment: Aarhus University, Faculty of Arts, Department of Theology, Jens Chr. Skousvej 3-7, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark. In its pursuit of academic excellence, the Faculty of Arts is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and therefore encourages all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of personal background, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity etc.
Research
We are seeking an innovative and dedicated candidate with a strong research profile who will contribute to the development of the Department of Theology and its core activities in the areas of research, education, talent development and knowledge exchange.This includes close cooperation with colleagues specialising in other theological disciplines, as well as colleagues from other departments at the School of Culture of Society. Research at the department is organised primarily within the research programme for theology, but also in a number of specialised projects and centres, for example Lumen – the Centre for the Study of Lutheran Theology and Confessional Societies, and the Grundtvig Study Centre. The Department of Theology is part of a PhD programme alongside the Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas.The Department of Theology 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. In regard to research as well as teaching, church historians at the Department of Theology have traditionally covered international church history from the origins of Christianity in Antiquity until the present day, with a special focus on Danish church history in its Nordic as well as its general European context.
In regard to research fields, we are looking for applicants with strong academic contributions in the history of the Christian church in the early modern and modern period, (from around 1500 until today), including special focus on Danish/Nordic church history in its Nordic as well as its general European context.
Applicants should present a concrete plan for research including external research funding for the next three years.
Teaching and track coordination
In relation to teaching at BA level, applicants should be able to document their ability to teach church history covering the early modern and modern period (from around 1500 until today), including special focus on Danish/Nordic church history.In relation to teaching at MA level and PhD supervision (cf. below on the difference in responsibility for PhD supervision between assistant and associate professors), the emphasis should be on church history from the early modern and modern period with a strong preference for topics related to the Nordic cultural region. So knowledge of church history in this context will be of special relevance, but we also invite applicants specialising in the ecclesiastical history of other Northern European countries.
The successful applicant will be responsible for planning, developing and teaching church history at Bachelor’s and Master’s level. This includes sources and methods of special relevance for the ecclesiastical history of Denmark as well as other parts of Europe and the wider world. The successful applicant must be prepared to take part in interdisciplinary and methodological courses for students of theology alongside colleagues from other disciplines at the department.
Applicants should present a teaching portfolio which also details their visions for teaching.
We emphasise the importance of maintaining a dedicated and respectful relationship between staff and students, so the ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate and exemplify their commitment to participatory teaching initiatives and student involvement as part of their teaching portfolio.
Talent development
If an associate professor is appointed, they will be expected to supervise PhD students and contribute to the development and implementation of PhD courses in church history. An assistant professor may act as co-supervisor to PhD students and assist in PhD seminars and other events aimed at doctoral training.Knowledge exchange
It is expected that the successful applicant will engage in knowledge exchange as described in the strategy for the Faculty of Arts https://arts.au.dk/om-arts/strategi-arts-2020-2025/, 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.Qualifications
Applicants must have a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications in theology or related fields.Applicants for the assistant professorship must have teaching experience corresponding at least to the experience gained during a PhD degree programme.
Applicants for the associate professorship must be able to document competences corresponding to the completion of an assistant professorship.
All applicants must also document:
- Relevant academic publications, and possibly other research contributions, at top international level.
- Strong skills in working with primary sources (including handwritten sources), based on the necessary palaeographic and linguistic competences.
- A knowledge of contemporary theoretical and methodological discussions within a historical discipline such as church history.
- A focus on the modern period (1500 until today) and on Danish/Nordic church history in its Nordic as well as its general European context.
- Experience of active participation in international research collaboration.
- Experience of research organisation, ideally including the obtaining and administration of external funding.
- Strong teaching competences and experience of supervising at Master’s level and, if possible, also at PhD level.
- A commitment to teaching development, the supervision of student projects and talent development.
Applicants for the associate professorship must also document:
- Experience of participation in national and international research networks, ideally in leading roles.
- Experience of communication and knowledge exchange.
- Experience of interdisciplinary collaboration as well as interdisciplinary research.
- Experience of obtaining external research funding.
- Experience of interdisciplinary teaching, including innovative teaching methods.
- Experience of teaching development, the supervision of students at all levels, talent development, research management, and the development of PhD courses.
Applicants for the assistant professorship should be able to document at least a general knowledge of the six areas of experience mentioned above in connection with the associate professorship.
In addition, all applicants should submit:
- A cover letter including a concise statement of motivation.
- For the position of associate professor, a maximum of eight academic publications should be uploaded. The status of each publication must also be stated (published/being published/in manuscript form respectively).
- For the position of assistant professor, a maximum of five academic publications should be uploaded. The status of each publication must also be stated (published/being published/in manuscript form respectively).
- A research plan for the next three years including plans for external funding.
- A teaching portofolio demonstrating their approach to teaching within the field of church history.
The application must be uploaded in English.
Past research achievements will be assessed based on the active research time of the applicant in question. We therefore ask applicants to specify any career breaks they have had (for instance due to maternity/paternity leave) in order to gauge their research productivity.
Only submitted publications will be assessed; a list of publications is not sufficient. As a result, applications without submitted publications will not be assessed.
References or recommendations should not be included with the application. Applicants who are selected for a job interview may be asked to provide professional references.
Language
Normally, teaching and supervision at the Department of Theology are conducted in Danish. However, applicants must also be able to teach and supervise in English at 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.
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.
For further information about the content of the position(s), please contact Head of Department Kirstine Helboe Johansen (afdelingsleder.teologi@cas.au.dk)
For further information about the application, please contact HR supporter Marianne Birn (mbb@au.dk)
The Department of Theology
The Department of Theology at Aarhus University is one of the largest environments for theological research in Europe and attracts a number of internationally recognised researchers. The department is nationally and internationally renowned for its research activities in a number of areas such as Christianity in Antiquity, Reformation theology, bioethics and nanoethics, as well as the study of N.F.S. Grundtvig and K.E. Løgstrup.
The department’s researchers are often involved in interdisciplinary projects and networks with researchers from other fields, including the study of religion, the humanities in general, medicine and social science. https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/theology/
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 local questions to global challenges
The school’s ambition is to produce compelling research with an international resonance and 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 AUFormalities
- 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, copies of relevant degree certificates, and (if relevant for the position) a teaching portfolio. Please upload this material electronically along with your application.
- When you submit your application for the assistant professorship, please upload a maximum of five samples of your scholarly output (mandatory).
- When you submit your application for the associate professorship, please upload a maximum of eight samples of your scholarly output (mandatory).
All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal bagground.
Shortlists are 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
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners: http://ias.au.dk/au-relocation-service/. Please find more information about entering and working in Denmark here: http://international.au.dk/research/
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 550 academic staff members, 275 PhD students, 9,500 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.
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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 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/
Contact: |
For further information about the content of the position(s), please contact Head of Department Kirstine Helboe Johansen (afdelingsleder.teologi@cas.au.dk) |
Website: | https://cas.au.dk/en/about-the-school/departments/theology/ |
Primary Category: | Religious Studies and Theology |
Secondary Categories: | Cultural History / Studies Modern European History / Studies |
Posting Date: | 05/26/2021 |
Closing Date | 08/02/2021 |