Vacant job

Sapere Aude – Dare to be wise – is our motto. Our students and staff develop socially important knowledge that enriches the individual and the world. Our academic environment is characterized by curiosity, courage, and openness, with close connections between people, roles, subjects, and research. The foundation of our operations is gender equality, diversity, and a democratic perspective. We are located in Värmland, a nature-rich and culturally vibrant region where we act as an engine for sustainable development in close collaboration with society.

Karlstad University has approximately 1,400 employees and 18,700 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. Read more about us at: kau.se/jobb (https://kau.se/jobb)

Description

The Department of Social and Cultural Studies (ISK) consists of the subjects of history, cultural studies, social studies, political science, and risk and environmental studies, in addition to religious studies. Karlstad University has a long and proud tradition of conducting teacher education from preschool to upper secondary level. Religious studies is one of the department's smaller subjects but has close collaboration with other subjects and is an important part of the social science and humanities education offered by the university. Religious studies at Karlstad University conducts research within areas such as lived religion, religious didactics, religion in the contemporary world, as well as international and transcultural perspectives on religion. The research is characterized by strong societal relevance and a close link between research and education. An important part of the operations is carried out within the framework of the nationally and internationally recognized center CSD, Centre for the Didactics of Social Science Subjects, where religious didactic research forms a central area. Read more on CSD's website. The subject has been running a study center in Varanasi, India, for thirty years and offers unique opportunities for international cooperation and exchange for both students and teachers through long-term collaboration with schools and universities in the region.

Job Responsibilities

The responsibilities consist mainly of teaching in religious studies and religious didactics at the basic level, as well as examinations, supervision, and other education-related tasks such as course planning, course evaluation, and educational administration. The teaching takes place primarily within the various programs of the teacher education, i.e., with a subject-didactic orientation, but also within the subject's standalone courses. We conduct practice-based education (VFU), which means that tripartite meetings and visits to the workplace may be included in the job responsibilities. The subject of religious studies collaborates closely with other subjects at the department, such as social studies, history, and political science, and teaching within religious studies modules on these programs may therefore occur. The teaching is given in Swedish in campus, distance, and hybrid formats. You will actively participate in the subject's and department's meetings and contribute to the subject's development work regarding teaching and collaboration with the surrounding society. To contribute to a good work environment, you are present and participate in the daily work and community.

Qualifications

Eligible for appointment as University Lecturer (Universitetsadjunkt) is someone who has at least a Bachelor's degree in religious studies or another subject/field relevant to the appointment. Furthermore, good subject knowledge, pedagogical ability, and good ability to express oneself orally and in writing in Swedish are required.

Assessment Criteria

Of particular importance

• Pedagogical skill
• Experience of teaching within the central areas of religious studies, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• Experience of religious didactic teaching
• Experience of teaching within teacher education
• Experience of teaching, supervision, assessment, and examination in Swedish
• Special weight will be placed on personal qualities such as initiative, teamwork skills, collegiality, and cultural understanding

Of great importance

• Experience of using or teaching about religious studies methods
• Experience of teaching in upper secondary school
• Experience of teaching and examination in digital and hybrid learning environments
• Experience of thesis supervision

Meritorious

• Pedagogical appointments.
• University pedagogical education.
• Subject teacher education with a focus on religious knowledge.

Conditions

The appointment is a part-time temporary position, 50–70%, fixed-term until 2027-01-24, with possible extension. Start date as soon as possible according to agreement.

Application

The application is made via the university's web-based recruitment tool Varbi. You are responsible for ensuring the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement, that any documents in languages other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, or English are translated, and that your competence is documented in a way that allows for an objective, qualitative assessment. A complete application must be received by the deadline. An incomplete application may result in your competence not being assessed in all respects.

The application should include:

• CV
• Cover letter with a description of your qualifications in relation to the content of the position
• Description of pedagogical and professional merits
• Copies of relevant grades, degree certificates, and certificates from previous work environments
• Statement of language skills
• Two references, at least one from a previous or current manager

All documents and publications that you wish to be part of your application must be attached to the digital application (not links). Name each uploaded document so that it is clear what it contains. Materials that cannot be sent electronically, such as books and publications, should be sent to the address below.

Karlstad University
HR Administrator
651 88 KARLSTAD

Last day for applications: July 14, 2026

Reference no: REK2026/161

We look forward to receiving your application!

Karlstad University has made its selection for this recruitment and therefore declines contact with advertising sales and sellers of recruitment services.