PhD position: Understanding and supporting effective innovation practices in interorganizational learning communities

In both research and industry, there is a growing push to establish interorganizational learning communities as hubs where professionals from diverse backgrounds can collaborate, learn, and innovate collectively. Although we have seen a significant rise of these interorganizational learning communities (LCs), as they hold a promise to contribute to offering solutions for current societal issues, most of these communities often do not result in the required innovations. While the participants often posses expert knowledge on the topic, they often get “stuck” in merely exchanging knowledge. Currently, we lack insights into how to support these LCs with actionable knowledge, tools, and guidance in adopting and implementing socio-technical innovations.

The focus of the PhD project is twofold. First, you will investigate the dynamics of effective innovation practices in teams and their keydrivers. Specific methods (combinations of video-observation, physiological measures and experience sampling) will be employed to studying, at a micro-level, the innovation processes and critical moments in those processes. Second, you will develop and evaluate the effects of training and other forms of support to accelerate the innovation practices.

The resulting insights will also be used to offer formative and summative feedback to the communities themselves, empowering them to reflect on and enhance their innovation and learning practices.

The PhD position is part of the NWO-funded project LIAT; Learning and Innovating Ahead of the Threat. In this project, several other partners are also involved including Saxion Hogeschool, the Haagse Security Delta (HSD), and the Centre and the Centre for Safety an Digitalization. Within this context, several learning communities are participating in the project.

Your profile

As a PhD-student in this project, you will work on the intersection of science and practice. You will contribute to the understanding of how interorganizational learning communities can collaborate and learn together to come up with the required innovations in the field of safety (i.e., digital and physical safety) and how you support a context for continuous learning and innovation. You will design a training to prepare participants and foster the complex skills required for developing innovative solutions together with others. In doing so, you can build upon earlier trainings which are designed for these purposes . Furthermore, you will map collaborative learning and innovation processes and how these emerge over time (e.g., different phases and transitions to the next phase). We use a novel, multi-modal approach to get a more holistic understanding of these processes and to also identify “critical moments” by using a combination of video observation and physiological measures.

A great opportunity of this project is that you are not only working with academics, but also maintain close relationships with stakeholders and practitioners that are affiliated in this project.

You will be expected to report and present your findings for both scientific and non-scientific audiences, such as at scientific conferences, in journal publications, and during project meetings with partners.

To be considered for this position, you should:

have a MSc degree in Educational Science, Business Administration, Psychology, Human Resource Management, Organization Studies, Communication Science, or a related field;

have expertise or demonstrable interest in the process of continuous learning and innovation practises in a team context;

have strong, demonstrable methodological knowledge and skills (qualitative and quantitative);

have an interest in the design of trainings or interventions;

have experience or an interest in field research, specifically in study designs where multiple methods are combined (observation and physiological measures);

have good social and communication skills in academic as well as non- academic contexts;

are fluent in English and able to understand and communicate in Dutch (hard requirement);

have excellent writing and organization skills;

have proven ability to work independently, but also to collaborate within a team and with relevant stakeholders (both within and outside academia).

Our offer

A 4-year PhD-position (1.0fte), starting in June 2024. The gross salary is in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) € 2.770,- to € 3539,- per month for a fulltime position, depending on experience. On top of this, you receive a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.

We offer excellent auxiliary terms of employment, such as

professional and personal development programs;

a secondary remuneration package;

a dynamic environment with enthusiastic colleagues;

an organization focusing on internationalization;

a high degree of responsibility and independence.

Information and application

Go to www. utwente.nl/vacatures/en (click twice to find the vacancy) to start with the application. You can upload your files here. Since only three documents can be uploaded per application, please combine documents if needed.

Your application should include the following documents:

a cover letter (in English or Dutch) which explains your interest in the position and your qualifications for it;

a curriculum vitae;

a copy of your Master's thesis or, if it is not yet available, an outline and summary of your thesis.

Apply before the application deadline of April 26. The first round of interviews will be held beginning of May. The second round also takes place in May. The starting date for the position is ideally June 2024, but some flexibility is possible.

For additional information about this position, or to receive the full text of the research proposal funded by NWO, you can contact dr. Marcella Hoogeboom ([email protected] / +31 53 4893984).

About the department

Working at the Professional Learning & Technology department at the UT

Researchers in our department study formal and informal learning of (future) employees, including the use of technology to measure and support professional learning. More broadly, we also study professional learning in relation to the collaboration and innovation processes of professionals, particularly so in multidisciplinary settings and new forms of organizing (such as learning communities or living labs). Our studies often take place in the high-tech, health, and educational sectors with the intention to understand, evaluate, and optimize (inter)professional and (inter)organizational learning, collaboration, and innovation in these various contexts. Increasingly, the settings we study revolve around grand challenges and wicked problems, such as the transitions to green energy and circularity or matters of digital transformation. To contribute to these challenges, we also design and evaluate (technology-based) interventions to optimize professional learning, innovation, and collaboration. In our research group, we combine expertise from a range of disciplines (e.g., educational sciences, psychology, business administration, organization studies, communication science).

More information about the departments of Professional Learning & Technology can be found on the following website

About the organisation

The Faculty of Behavioral, Management and Social sciences (BMS) aims to play a key role in understanding, jointly developing and evaluating innovations in society. Technological developments are the engine of innovation. As a technical university that puts people first, we tailor them to human needs and behavior and use social engineering to integrate them into society. We also ensure adequate governance at public and private level, and robust, inclusive and fair organizational structures. We do this by developing, sharing and applying high-quality knowledge in Psychology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication Sciences, Philosophy, Educational Sciences and Health Sciences. Our research and education in these disciplines revolves around tackling and solving societal challenges. The research programs of BMS are closely linked to the research of the UT institutes Mesa+ Institute for Nanotechnology, TechMed Center and Digital Society Institute.

As an employer, the Faculty of BMS offers work that matters. We equip you to create new possibilities for yourself and for our society. With us, you will become part of a leading technical university with increasing, positive social impact. We offer an open, inclusive and entrepreneurial atmosphere, in which we encourage you to make healthy choices, for example through our flexible, adaptable benefits.

Want to know more? Hoogeboom - Hendriksen, A.M.G.M. (Marcella)

Assistant Professor

Hoogeboom - Hendriksen, A.M.G.M. (Marcella)

Assistant Professor

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Then you can contact Marcella for all substantive questions about this position and the application procedure. For general questions about working for the UT, please refer to the chatbot.

Contact

Phone:+31534893984

Email:[email protected]

How to apply Step 1

Apply. When you see a vacancy that appeals to you, you can apply online. We ask you to upload a CV and motivation letter and/or list of publications. You will receive a confirmation of receipt by e-mail.

Step 2

Selection. The selection committee will review your application and you will receive a response within 2 weeks after the vacancy has been closed.

Step 3

1st interview. The 1st (online or in person) meeting serves as an introduction where we introduce ourselves to you and you to us. You may be asked to give a short presentation. This will be further explained in the invitation.

Step 4

2nd interview. In the second interview, we will further discuss the job content, your skills and your talents.

Step 5

The offer. If the conversations are positive, you will be made a suitable offer. If applicable, we will sign you up for screening.

Your Colleagues

Kolloffel, B.J. (Bas)

Personal page

Endedijk, M.D. (Maaike)

Personal page LinkedIn

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At the UT it's all about people, in line with our university's High Tech Human Touch philosophy. In everything we do, the well-being and future of our students and staff are paramount. From research and teaching to personnel management, campus management and the use of new technologies.

Our mission We are a university of technology

Our university is a public institution that serves society. We are accountable to society for the ways in which we use our academic freedom. We are responsible for ensuring that the power of science and technology is harnessed to achieve the best possible impact in a changing world. We cherish our rich tradition of combining technical and social sciences in our five profiling themes: Improving healthcare by personalized technologies; Creating intelligent manufacturing systems; Shaping our world with smart materials; Engineering our digital society; and Engineering for a resilient world.

Our mission We help to strengthen society

We help society meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. But we are also transparent about what science and technology can and cannot do in finding sustainable solutions. And help translate these solutions into everyday life.

Our mission We are sustainable

We want our communities to flourish and show resilience, so we seize opportunities for innovation. We are knowledgeable and have an eye for what society needs. Our students and staff receive all the guidance they need in their quest for ecological, social and economic sustainability. “The University of Twente is all about people. Our sustainable technologies help to strengthen society.”

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