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University of Gothenburg meets society's challenges with diverse knowledge. With 58,000 students and 6,800 employees, the university is a large and inspiring workplace. Strong research and attractive education attract researchers and students from all over the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University of Gothenburg contributes to a better future.

The Department of Pedagogy and Special Education (IPS) is one of four departments at the Faculty of Education.

For information about the Department of Pedagogy and Special Education: https://www.gu.se/pedagogik-specialpedagogik (https://www.gu.se/pedagogik-specialpedagogik)

For the full advertisement and application, visit: University of Gothenburg | One or more doctoral positions in pedagogy, pedagogical work or subject didactics with a focus (https://www.gu.se)

Research Environments

Within IPS, there are several strong research environments that contribute to increased dynamics between research, education, and collaboration with society. These environments include FUR, LUBS, PRIS, SKUL, KRIT, POP, and FYRK, each with its unique focus but all sharing a common commitment to pedagogical issues. https://www.gu.se/pedagogik-specialpedagogik/forskningsmiljoer (https://www.gu.se/pedagogik-specialpedagogik/forskningsmiljoer). The doctoral appointment will be linked to the department's research environments and preferably to ongoing research projects and commissioned research.

The research environment FUR focuses on classical pedagogical questions within three main areas: individual prerequisites for education, the organization and resources of education, and the results of education at both individual and system levels. LUBS, with its focus on learning, teaching, and assessment in language, works to integrate these aspects into both internal and external activities. This includes teacher education and collaboration with society outside academia. PRIS aims to bring together special educational needs issues with aspects of school development and leadership. The research environment SKUL concentrates on school development and leadership, with a particular focus on what teachers and school leaders do to promote the development and learning of children and students. It also addresses how preschools and schools handle change and improvement processes. KRIT tackles research questions related to power, subjectivity, and resistance within educational institutions, grounded in a critical educational sociological tradition. This environment uses methods such as critical ethnography, policy studies, and narrative analysis to explore its themes. POP studies the political aspects of pedagogical phenomena, linked to traditions in curriculum theory, comparative pedagogy, and analyses of pedagogical processes and systems. FYRK is a relatively new research environment focusing on important research questions within vocational education.

The Current Doctoral Project

At the Department of Pedagogy and Special Education, University of Gothenburg, national tests in social studies (grade 9) and English, as well as assessment support in modern languages, are being developed. The current doctoral position is particularly linked to the testing activities regarding national tests in social studies. The work with the national tests in social studies is in an expansive and dynamic phase where scientific anchoring is particularly significant. The doctoral student will have the opportunity to be included in the entire test development process – from task construction, trial testing, and collaboration with teachers, to analysis and presentation of test data, as well as collaboration with other social science subjects and the Swedish National Agency for Education. This means that the current doctoral project may include content and subject-specific parts as well as analytical parts. An important part involves ensuring that different groups of students have equal opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge; therefore, accessibility may also be a central aspect (e.g., functional variations, gender, and national background) in the doctoral project. Additionally, validity and reliability aspects of the test may be of central importance in the doctoral project.

Eligibility and Qualifications

Those admitted to doctoral education receive a four-year doctoral appointment at the department. To be admitted to doctoral education, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 35, the applicant must meet the requirements for basic and specific eligibility, and be assessed to have other abilities necessary to benefit from the education. Basic eligibility, according to Chapter 7, Section 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance, is held by those who have completed an advanced level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at the advanced level. Eligible is also the person who in some other way within or outside the country has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge.

For specific eligibility in the subject of pedagogy, the following is required:

A) 90 ECTS credits in the subject of pedagogy, of which at least 30 ECTS credits at the advanced level. The qualifying education must include a thesis of at least 15 ECTS credits at the advanced level.

For specific eligibility in the subject of pedagogical work, the following is required:

A) A master's degree in teaching, alternatively a teaching degree plus an independent work (thesis) of at least 15 higher education credits at the advanced level.

B) At least 90 higher education credits, with a focus on pedagogical professional activity or a focus on child and youth activities, or equivalent, of which at least 30 higher education credits are at the advanced level, including an independent work (thesis) of at least 15 higher education credits.

For specific eligibility in subject didactics with specializations, the following is required:

A) A teaching degree, with courses equivalent to at least 60 higher education credits in relevant subject didactic knowledge areas, and an independent work (thesis) of at least 15 higher education credits at the advanced level.

B) At least 90 higher education credits, of which at least 30 higher education credits are at the advanced level, within a relevant subject didactic knowledge area, including an independent work (thesis) of at least 15 higher education credits at the advanced level.

Eligibility is also held by those who in some other way within or outside the country are assessed to have acquired equivalent knowledge.

Contact Information for the Doctoral Position

Program Director for Doctoral Education:

Daniel Bergh, [email protected] tel: 076-618 21 09

Application

For the full advertisement and application, visit: University of Gothenburg | One or more doctoral positions in pedagogy, pedagogical work or subject didactics with a focus (https://www.gu.se)

Application deadline: 2026-08-01