Assistant Professor of Comparative and International Education and the New Bildung

Our contemporary societies face unprecedented challenges and uncertainties, most of which have a transnational scope and reach. Ecological crises, resource scarcities, technological disruptions, geopolitical tensions, increasing inequalities and threats to democracy combine into intractable ”wicked problems” – problems that are multifactorial and exceptionally complex. In this context, more than ever, education is of key importance. The urgencies of our time call for a new Bildung project, where education policy fosters the cultivation of citizens who are able to embrace this complexity and project their responsibility onto contemporary challenges to the common good.

The Graduate Institute is looking for a scholar in the field of comparative and international education with a particular focus on countries in the Global South. We are especially interested in candidates who:

• analyze changing international cooperation modalities (including, for example, the rise of results-based aid and private sector involvement);
•  uncover the inequalities in the current international cooperation architecture;
• critically reflect on “governance by numbers” and global norm-setting for national educational developments;
• investigate the proliferation of international large-scale student assessments (PISA, TIMSS, and regional and national standardized tests) for policy and planning in the education sector;
• explore the question of the futures of education;
• study the ways in which current global challenges are having an impact on education systems, practices and policies.

Candidates must hold a PhD in Anthropology, Sociology, International Relations, Political Science, Education or a related discipline and demonstrate excellence in research through completed projects and a promising research agenda in international and comparative education. Postdoctoral research experience is not required but considered a strong asset. So is professional experience working with international organizations and initiatives that afford governments and civil societies in the Global South opportunities to set reform agendas, play leadership roles, and take ownership in collaborative efforts. Applications from candidates already holding a position of Assistant Professor in another institution are also welcome. A multimethod approach is strongly favoured – and prior application of quantitative research, indicator research and/or network analysis in combination with qualitative methods will be a strong asset.

The position is opened jointly by the Anthropology and Sociology Department and the International Relations/Political Science Department of the Graduate Institute. We are particularly interested in a profile that would cross some of these disciplinary boundaries.

The successful candidate will teach postgraduate courses (in comparative and international education, public policy studies with a focus on education policy, and international cooperation in education) and supervise master’s theses in the interdisciplinary programme of the Institute. They will supervise PhD dissertations in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology or the Department of International Relations/Political Science. Commitment to excellence in teaching and working with students from diverse backgrounds and especially those from groups historically underrepresented in higher education is expected. Candidates from the Global South are encouraged to apply.

The successful applicant is expected to serve as the academic Director of NORRAG, the Network for International Policies and Cooperation in Education and Training, and closely cooperate with the Executive Director of NORRAG. NORRAG is a vibrant and innovative global education network that is affiliated with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

The teaching language is either English or French. Prior knowledge of French is not required, but the successful candidate is expected to acquire a passive knowledge of French within two years of being hired.

Application deadline: 15 January 2022.

To apply: https://erecruit.graduateinstitute.ch/professeurs/  

Please note that offers received by post will not be considered.

For more information, candidates are encouraged to consult the Institute’s website: www.graduateinstitute.ch.

The Institute is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, marital status, disability status, race, national origin, colour, gender, sexual orientation or religion.