Professor of Social Work

Södertörns högskola (Södertörn University) in south Stockholm is a dynamic institute of higher education with a unique profile and high academic standard. A large proportion of the university staff holds doctorates and there is a strong link between undergraduate education and research. Södertörn University has around 13 000 students and 840 employees. Undergraduate and postgraduate education and research are conducted in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Technology and Education. Our site is in Flemingsberg. Södertörn University is an equal opportunities employer.

The subject of Social Work is located at the School of Social Sciences. It offers a Bachelor’s programme in Social Work with an urban profile, a one-year Master’s programme and doctoral education in Social Work, as well as contract education. The School of Social Sciences is a multidisciplinary school which, in addition to Social Work, includes the subjects of Business Studies, Economics, Journalism, Law, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration and Sociology. 

Job description 

For the successful applicant, duties will include your own research, as well as teaching and supervision. The professor of social work is expected to lead and, along with their colleagues, take responsibility for research and education in Social Work at all levels (Bachelor’s to doctoral), and to collaborate with other interdisciplinary programmes. You will conduct your own research, as well as initiating and leading research projects that involve your colleagues, and are expected to contribute to increasing the amount of externally funded research in the subject by actively applying for external funding. Your duties also include applying for funding for doctoral studentships. You are expected to initiate and lead collaborative activities and actively participate in scholarly activities. Duties include participating in collegial bodies and in management work at Södertörn University, as well as in collaborative projects with partners inside and outside academia. Administrative duties may occur. 

The position includes a research allocation of 50% of a full-time post, with the possibility of an additional 10%. This is distributed between your own research and subject development, including tasks such as organising and leading higher seminars and applying for external research funding in cooperation with other researchers. You are expected to work actively for cooperation across subject boundaries and with the surrounding community. The position requires a high degree of presence and participation in collegial work. You are expected to take particular responsibility for promoting an inclusive and collegial culture, by being present and showing commitment in the workplace. The subject’s working languages are Swedish and English. Applicants who have not mastered Swedish at the time of application are expected to acquire the necessary language skills for teaching in Swedish within two years. 

Qualifications 

You are qualified for employment as a professor of social work if you have demonstrated research expertise and teaching expertise. This expertise must have been demonstrated in social work or in closely related disciplines. You must have completed a course in higher education pedagogy worth at least 7.5 credits or have the equivalent competence. For this position, you must be able to teach in Swedish and/or English. You must otherwise have the personal skills necessary to do the job well and to represent the university in a way that benefits its activities. 

Research expertise is demonstrated through high quality scholarly publications of significant scope in the relevant subject area, research funding obtained in competition, the initiation and leadership of research projects, research collaboration, third stream activities, contributions to the development of the subject, and through assignments as an external reviewer, external expert, editor or similar.

Teaching expertise is demonstrated through high quality teaching of considerable scope at first, second and third cycle levels, leading and participating in educational development work, published texts on teaching and learning, a self-reflective approach to students’ learning and experience and their own role as a teacher. Teaching expertise is also demonstrated by establishing links between research and higher education, appointment as a recognised or distinguished university teacher or the equivalent, building up and developing degree programmes, initiatives in educational cooperation and the supervision of doctoral students.

Grounds for assessment

The assessment criteria for appointment as a professor are the level of expertise required as qualification for employment.  

For this position, particular consideration will be paid to research expertise.   

The following assessment criteria have also been decided upon (in order of importance). The below items must be documented:

• Scholarly expertise 
• Expertise in building up and leading research environments 
• Good cooperation skills, characterised by sensitivity, effective communication and the construction management of disagreements
• Good leadership skills, characterised by successfully leading research groups and/or academic environments
• Expertise in subject development, characterised by showing responsibility and commitment in various types of development work
• Well-established national or international networks in research and collaboration
• Expertise in conducting third-cycle education
• Expertise in supervising doctoral students
• Educational expertise
• Administrative skills

For complete information about qualifications and the criteria for assessing them, please read Södertörn University’s Appointments Procedure.

Employment 

The position is until further notice and is full time, beginning as agreed.  

Application 

The application deadline is 18 February 2024. 

Additional information 

Ali Hajighasemi, Head of School, tel: 08-608 48 87, ali.hajighasemi@sh.se  
Daniel Seldén, Head of Department, tel: 08-608 53 80, daniel.selden@sh.se  
Nina Vettergren, HR Specialist, tel: 08-608 44 45, rekrytering@sh.se  

Welcome with your application! 

On our website, sh.se/vacantpositions, there is an application template that the applicant needs to follow. Publications referred to must be attached to the application.

An application that is not complete or arrives at Södertörn University after the closing date may be rejected.

The current employment is valid on condition that the employment decision becomes valid.

Union representatives:
SACO: info.saco@sh.se
ST: st@sh.se
SEKO: Henry Wölling tel: +46 8 524 840 80, henry.wolling@ki.se 

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