VID Specialized University

VID Specialized University announces one scholarship for PhD projects within the PhD-programme in Diaconia, values and professional practice.

The stipulated length of the PhD position is three years.

In this announcement, we encourage applications focusing on leadership in social innovation and/or service development. New models of welfare provision imply retreat from dominance of public-agency provision and an engagement with new ?partnership' models involving both churches and congregations, diaconal organizations as well as other civil society organizations. Emergence of new cross-sectoral collaborations and relationships opens a space for social innovation, i.e. innovating with products, services and models that meet social needs and/or globalization better than traditionally offered by the dominantly public health and welfare system.

We invite applications relating to the values aspects of innovation processes. In particular, projects should focus on the role of leadership in advancing social innovation in different and across sectors and within local, national or global contexts. Project proposals should relate to one of the following topics:

• Innovative practices of leading and organizing for voluntary work
• Community development and social innovation
• Institutionalization of collaborative innovation
• Working with disparate/conflicting logics of the private, public and civil society sectors
• Voluntarism and health and welfare service development
• Trust based management/Social trust

The topics may be approached from various disciplines, professional areas and methodological traditions, but in any case with a connection to management/leadership theory and/or practice. The suggested projects should apply empirical methods and enhance the interdisciplinary profile of the PhD program.

The position as research fellow is educational; it aims at the candidate achieving a PhD degree after completed research training at one of the University's two PhD programmes. An achieved PhD degree is a relevant qualification for positions within and outside academia.

The position will be within the PhD programme in diaconia, values and professional practice.

The PhD programme is one of two PhD-programmes at VID, and is dedicated to studies of professional practice in public sector and civil society institutions, in health care and social/welfare services, churches and faith- and value-based organizations. It applies diaconia and values as the main perspectives, and it works with an interdisciplinary approach as an innovative contribution to the research field of diaconal studies.

More information about the PhD programme may be found on our website:

https://www.vid.no/en/studies/diakonia-values-professional-practice-phd/

Admission to a doctoral degree programme is a condition for appointment as a research fellow. Applicants are therefore requested to specify the connection between their own project proposal and the PhD programme.

General criteria for appointment as a research fellow are stipulated in the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow, research fellow, research assistant and resident.

The project proposal should also relate to one of VID's research groups, where senior researchers, as well as PhD research fellows and master students, will make up a dynamic research environment. More information about the research groups are available on our website:

https://www.vid.no/en/research/research-groups/

The position will be located at the Centre of diaconia and professional practice. The work place will be located in Oslo, Bergen or Stavanger.

Requirements for the position:

• Master's degree (120 ECTS) in health- or social sciences or diaconia or other field of study relevant for the announcement. The Master's Thesis or weighted average grade on the master study must for both or each be at least B or better for the application to be considered.
• Excellent ability in oral and writing communication in English or a Scandinavian language
• Ability to work independently and focused

The following are also desirable:

• Ability to work well with others
• Experience with relevant research and development work
• Ability to carry out and complete major tasks

In an overall assessment of the applicants, emphasis is put on personal qualifications, relevant competence and research experience.

Diversity is one of the characteristics of a good working environment. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of gender, functional abilities and cultural background. The person appointed must be loyal to the aims and values of VID Specialized University.

The applicant must submit a project description of maximum 3,000 words (reference list not included) where he/she accounts for:

• the chosen topic and motivation for completion
• research question, choice of theories and methods
• a progress plan for the various parts of the research project must be part of the description

The project description must be written in English or a Scandinavian language. VID focuses on strengthening the cooperation between international educational- and research institutions, and expects applicants to indicate plans for studies abroad during the appointed period.

You can find guidelines for applicants to the PhD positions here: https://www.vid.no/site/assets/files/7484/guideline-for-applicants-forphd-position-vid.pdf?10q3w7

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. Emphasis will be given to the relevance and quality of the project description, quality of the Master's Thesis or thesis at second degree level and any publications or R&D-experience in the last 3-5 years. VID will also do a reference check on relevant applicants, and we ask that the application includes 2-3 names of people we can contact.

Emphasis will also be placed on the interview with the applicant (in person or per skype). The person who is appointed must be loyal to and work in accordance with the aims and values of VID and submit to current laws, regulations, guidelines and agreements applying to the position.

Applicants from non-Scandinavian countries who do not have a university degree from an English-speaking country must submit results from a TOEFL test, with a minimum of 550 points (80 points on the Internet).

• Opportunities of academic development with highly qualified and committed colleagues
• A value-based and church based specialized university with high academic teaching- and research ambitions relevant to society and the church
• Membership in the State Pension Plan with beneficial loan- and pension terms
• VID conforms to the main agreement between the Enterprise Federation of Norway (VIRKE) and Employees Union. The position is placed in code 1017 of the collective agreement, pay scale 54 (NOK 472,300) or 55 (480,600) depending on qualifications.
• Membership in the State Pension Plan, accident- and group-life insurance scheme is required.

Send application, CV and project description (maximum 3,000 words, reference list not included) by the Apply here link on top of this page. The applicant must take responsibility of making a complete application to be considered.

If you have documents that cannot be sent electronically, please contact HR-department, Anne-Marte Vaagan, phone + 47 22963843 or anne-marte.vaagan@vid.no

Application deadline: 05.04.2019.

Starting date: 01.09.2019 or by agreement.

An administrativ sorting committee will select the applications to be assessed by the expert committee. Please note that applicants not selected for expert assessment will not receive a written evaluation of the project description. The decision of the sorting committee will not be distributed.

Applicants who are invited for interviews must submit certified copies of diplomas, grade transcripts and certificates. For further information about the position or guidance related to the project draft, please contact the Professor Dr. Harald Askeland,harald.askeland@vid.no  +47 22963712, or Director of Centre of Diaconia and Professional practice, Professor Dr. Tormod Kleiven,tormod.kleiven@vid.no  +47 95084275

Visit our website at www.vid.no/en