Institute for Labour Law - doctoral researcher (100%) - sports law

Institute for Labour Law - doctoral researcher (100%) - sports law

(ref. BAP-2023-579)

Last modification : Friday, September 1, 2023

The Institute for Labour Law and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Ethics, Regulation and Integrity in Sport (iCERIS) at KU Leuven are looking for a collaborator/doctoral researcher in the field of sports law. The doctoral researcher will be embedded in the department of Labour and Social Security Law and iCERIS. The doctoral researcher will be doing research under the lead of Prof. Frank Hendrickx and in close cooperation with the iCERIS team members. The topic of the doctoral project is: “The legal dimension of labour market integrity in sport (football)”. The funding will be provided by the European Union's MSCA Doctoral Networks funding scheme, and the larger doctoral programme to which it belongs is called “DAISI”, a doctoral training network in Sport Ethics and Integrity, in which 17 researchers from different disciplines and university partners are being recruited. The Doctoral Training Network in Sport Ethics and Integrity (DAISI) has established an interdisciplinary network of research institutions and non-governmental organisations in the field of sport ethics and integrity. It will produce a cohort of doctoral candidates (DCs) that are capable of understanding, developing, and critiquing the complex ethico-legal challenges in sporting contexts around the globe. The DAISI Doctoral Training Network (DTN) will form a new generation of experts and sport officials equipped with the necessary theoretical and methodological skills to identify, prevent, and manage current and future threats to sport integrity in both sport ruling and sport-related government bodies. Each of the 17 research projects is an interdisciplinary combination of ethical, legal, and social dimensions. Joint degree PhDs will be awarded to the successful candidates by two of the consortium partners. Moreover, each project is characterised by joint supervision reflecting this philosophy and is supported by one or more prestigious sport or sport-related institutions: Athletics Integrity Unit; Biathlon Integrity Unit; Federation of International Football Associations; International Olympic Committee, Union of European Football Associations; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; and the World Anti Doping Agency. The doctoral project for this particular vacancy is in the field of law, with project title: “The legal dimension of labour market integrity in sport (football)”. Its major objects are to determine how employment laws (public regulation) and football law (private regulation) can/do coexist; to advance a regulatory model which respects the specificity of the football labour market, fairness and integrity, including compliance (the rule of law). The research aims to clarify the main characteristics and legal principles governing the labour market of football players and their clubs, governed by public regulation (labour and employment laws and EU law) and football regulation (including FIFA). The interplay of public and private rules and practices will be identified as hotspots (such as player transfers, contract stability, protection of minors, training compensation, player salaries). Recommendations and guidelines will be made to advance labour market integrity in professional football, considering public policy concerns, including EU law, by promotion compliance, sustainability and the specific characteristics of the football (labour) market. The doctoral project will be undertaken with a major stakeholder in football (FIFA) which will enable a short period of internship in its home basis (Switzerland) to which the doctoral researcher is expected to participate. The doctoral researcher will also participate in an exchange research stay with the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NSSS).

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Project

You conduct scientific research in the described domain. You will be involved in the design, setup, and execution of the research, and you will report on the results in scientific publications. This research aims to lead to a doctoral degree (PhD).

You work under the supervision of your promotor and co-promotor.

You work in team with the other members of the Institute for Labour Law and iCERIS.

You will work with other PhD candidates and colleagues within the research team and network.

You contribute to collective activities of the research group (such as educational services, meetings, research proposals, master thesis supervision, revision of exams).

You are integrated in the scientific service provision and team activities of the Institute for Labour Law and iCERIS, such as conferences and publications.

You engage with the project partners and will visit the partners through the exchange periods provided in the project.

Profile

You are holder of a Bachelor and a Master degree in Law.

You received excellent study results and you obtained the Master degree with distinction.

You have distinguished yourself during your studies and show a track of interest and/or expertise in the field of sports law and the project theme.

You have a very good active knowledge of English, in (academic) reading, speaking and writing.

Knowledge of Dutch, the working language of KU Leuven, is an asset but not a requirement.

You have a specific interest in sports law including its European and international context.

You have good communication skills.

You have the skills to analyse critically theoretical texts as well as legal research and to report about it.

You have a social personality, you can communicate well and you have a fluent writing style.

You can work independently, but also well in team and you take sufficient initiative.

You are capable to bring scientific research under supervision to a good end.

You are motivated and you show willingness to elaborate the conducted research to a doctorate.

You have good organisational skills and can work independently and make decisions.

You can work in an international multidisciplinary team.

You have not resided or carried out your main activity (e.g. work, studies) in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the start of the assignment (this is a condition of the applicable EU's research funding programme).

Offer

A PhD position within an internationally leading multidisciplinary team with relevant experience and expertise. The research will take place at KU Leuven under supervision of Prof. Frank Hendrickx and with co-supervision of Prof. Sigmund Loland (from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences).

Full-time position for a fixed-term (the project lasts 3 years) as a doctoral bursary (contracts are for 1 year, and renewable for in total maximum 3 years), with an attractive scholarship.

You will be part of a strong team.

We stand for qualitative education and for high level legal research, with attention for its societal relevance and with an openness towards other disciplines.

We let you discover the field of sports law and sport integrity, via multiple contacts with academia, practice and policy actors.

We offer a stimulating and pleasant work environment, with the highest respect for academic freedom, engagement, critical thinking and personal development.

The applicant will be able to participate in an international doctoral training network focused on sport ethics and integrity.

At the conclusion of the PhD, a joint doctorate from two universities will be provided. The start date will be determined in consultation with the candidate (with the ambition to start no later than 1 January 2024).

https: // www. kuleuven.be/iceris/daisi

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. Dr. Frank Hendrickx, tel.: +32 16 32 51 66, mail: [email protected].

KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at [email protected].