PhD fellowship in Disciplinary approaches to Technology Education
Copenhagen University
PhD fellowship in Disciplinary approaches to Technology Education
PhD Project in Technology Education for K-12
Department for Computer Science Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen
The Center for Digital Education, the Department of Computer Science, Section for Human Centered Computing, invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in computational literacy and Disciplinary approaches to K-12 Technology Education. The project is part of the research project “Knowledge Center for Technology Understanding/Videncenter for Teknologiforståelse” (see tekforstaa.dk), initiated in August 2023 and funded by Novo Nordic, Willum and Lundbeck foundations.
Start date is (expected to be) 1 October 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The project
The work in the Knowledge Center for Technology Understanding is driven by the ambition to empower every child and young person in Denmark with the knowledge and skills necessary for active participation in a democratic society that is deeply influenced by digital technologies. The focus for the Knowledge Center is currently compulsory school and STX (the academic upper secondary program), with three disciplinary foci; First language (L1), Mathematics, and Technology as an independent topic (e.g. Informatics).
This PhD project focuses on L1 and Mathematics, that are both key school subjects in K-12 and play a crucial role in preparing students for a digitalized society. Technology education constitutes a research field but is also a relevant research field for both L1 and Mathematics education. This PhD project includes an empirical study of computational literacy and its potentials of the material, cognitive and social aspects in L1 and Mathematics. The PhD will also investigate how topics, content, technologies and learning designs can scaffold and shape students' opportunities to develop computational literacy. The work will be conducted in relation to interventions at compulsory schools and upper secondary schools that are partners in the Knowledge Center. Furthermore, the PhD student is expected to be an active participant in two work packages on technology understanding in mathematics and L1.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates with knowledge about technology education, and about compulsory and/or upper secondary school. Applicants should have a master's degree or equivalent, either in core-disciplines (e.g. mathematics, technology or L1/humanities) or in pedagogy/didactics (e.g. digital education, mathematics or L1 didactics) and can for instance have a background as a teacher. Interest for and ability to conduct intervention research showcasing the possibilities of teaching technology understanding and core disciplines in synergy is an advantage. Similarly, the ability to work in a Danish speaking school context is important.
Our group and research- and what do we offer?
The position is anchored in the department part of Computer Science, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen, located in Copenhagen.
The position is affiliated with the Center for Digital Education, which is a joint effort between the Department of Science Education and the Department of Computer Science, which aims to connect experts from computer science and science education to explore the possibilities and consequences of the digitalisation of STEM education across the school system. The PhD student will also join the Human-Centered Computing Section at the Department of Computer Science and the Center for Digital Education. The activities of the Human-Centered Computing Section aim to fundamentally understand and improve the relationship between computational technology and people. Our research focuses on using computing to support people's activities and well-being, inventing new ways for people to interact with technology, and understanding how human capabilities are influenced by technology."
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic, international research environment. The PhD students will join CDE and HCC – a new and emerging research center investigating the future of Digital Education. The University of Copenhagen is a highly ranked institution in Europe with a long Computer Science history.
Principal supervisor is Professor Morten Misfeldt, E-mail: [email protected] , Direct Phone: +45 22723094.
The PhD programme
Depending of your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:
Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master's degree.
Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.
Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the regular programme To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master's degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. disciplens allowing you to teach in upper secondary school (e.g. Mathematics, Computer Science, Danish or other relevant disciplines), or programs in Education (e.g. didactics of mathematics/L1/informatics), programs in STEM education or broader aspects of learning and pedagogy. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.
Terms of employment in the regular programme Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.
Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme
Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree , you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.
Terms of the integrated programme To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty's master programmes in Computer Science, STEM education or Mathematics.
Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.
The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www. science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.
Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of 150 working hours per year. A PhD grant portion is currently (2022) DKK 6.397 before tax.
When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary- earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.
Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes
(ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)
Carry through an independent research project under supervision
Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
We are looking for the following qualifications:
Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.
Please include :
Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 15 April 2024 , 23:59 CET.
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.
The further process After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.
The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https: // employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.
Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in May 2024.
Questions For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.
General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School's website: https: // www. science.ku.dk/phd/.
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.