1 - Working at the VUB

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has championed freedom, equality, and solidarity, values that thrive on our campuses among students and staff.

Vrije Universiteit Brussel freedom, equality, and solidarity

At the VUB, you'll encounter a diverse array of personalities: innovators at heart, but above all, people who are 100% their authentic selves. With around 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer in the private sector in Brussels, an international city with which we are proud to connect and where our four campuses are situated.

people who are 100% their authentic selves 4,000 employees largest Dutch-speaking employer in the private sector in Brussels

Our commitment to free research—emphasizing self-reflection, a critical attitude, and an open, creative approach to scientific and social issues—makes us fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.

free research the VUB all over again

Additionally, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of forward-thinking European universities ready to reinvent themselves.

EUTOPIA

2 - Position Description

2 - Position Description

The Brussels School of Governance, Department Instituut voor Europese Studies, is seeking a PhD student with a doctoral grant.

Brussels School of Governance Instituut voor Europese Studies PhD student with a doctoral grant

Your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, includes:

for the preparation of a doctorate

Pursuing a PhD in line with the objectives and activities of the SBO project ENGINE (Tackling the Ethnic Gap in Higher Education). ENGINE, a consortium-based project funded by FWO under the SBO funding scheme, aims to address the societal issue of ethnic inequalities in higher education institutions (HEIs), commonly referred to as the 'ethnic gap'. This gap is characterized by the underrepresentation, lower academic performance, reduced well-being, and diminished sense of belonging among students from ethnic minority groups compared to their majority counterparts. The project aims to develop a 'Close-the-Gap toolkit' to significantly reduce this ethnic gap and harness the potential of the diverse youth in Flanders (Belgium). The research and tools will be developed in collaboration with various societal partners, particularly with (ethnic minority) student organizations, who are co-initiators of this project. We seek PhD candidates passionate about researching and addressing ethnic/racial inequality in higher education and developing tools that promote equity.

PhD SBO project ENGINE (Tackling the Ethnic Gap in Higher Education) societal issue of ethnic inequalities in higher education institutions (HEIs), commonly referred to as the 'ethnic gap'

You will contribute to the development of the second work package, examining the role of HEI's Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) Policies in fostering an inclusive climate and reducing the ethnic gap in higher education. This work package also aims to unravel the contextual factors for the successful implementation of evidence-based good-practice examples. The research will utilize several complementary methods: a qualitative content analysis of policy documents, interviews with policymakers, a multi-level regression analysis correlating the policy analysis with student survey results, and video interviews with initiators and implementers of good practice examples.

You will join the SBO 'ENGINE' project consortium team, composed of PhDs, post-doctoral researchers, and junior and senior professors from various research groups and entities in three Flemish Universities: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BIRMM, BSOG-C-MDJ & MILO), KU Leuven (LABO), and Universiteit Hasselt (R4D, School of Social Sciences). The team will hold monthly full-day seminars and meetings, allowing you to exchange with other team members and receive feedback. You will work with Prof. Ilke Adam (VUB) and be co-supervised by Prof. Dounia Bourabain (UHasselt).

Further details about the project and other work packages can be found here.

here

For this role, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.

Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene)

3 - Profile

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You have a Master's degree in political science, sociology, anthropology, or equivalent.
• You have demonstrable experience in qualitative research methods, with quantitative skills being an asset;
• You are familiar with (research and) theory surrounding ethnic, racial, or intersectional (in)equalities in higher education;
• You are fluent in Dutch, essential for fieldwork, writing policy reports, and developing tools;
• You have strong writing and communication skills in English;
• You demonstrated strong academic performance at BSc and MSc levels, or equivalent through relevant research experience;
• You can work independently and proactively, ensuring timely and thorough completion of research tasks, and are not deterred by challenges in information gathering, enjoying engagement with experts in the field;
• You have the capacity and willingness to work closely with other PhD and post-doctoral researchers and stimulate co-creation with (ethnic minority) student organizations.
• You have not performed any work in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, for more than 12 months cumulatively.

The VUB aims to be a reflection of society, valuing everyone's talent regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability, and neurodiversity.

a reflection of society

4 - Offer

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD scholarship for 12 months (extendable up to 48 months, subject to positive evaluation of PhD activities), with a planned starting date of 01/01/2025.

full-time PhD scholarship 12 months 01/01/2025

You’ll receive a grant in line with government-set scales.

IMPORTANT: The effective award of the doctorate scholarship is contingent upon your enrollment as a doctorate student at the university.

IMPORTANT: The effective award of the doctorate scholarship is contingent upon your enrollment as a doctorate student at the university. IMPORTANT:

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved, and diverse workplace where you have opportunities to build your career.

open, involved, and diverse workplace

Additionally, you will enjoy various benefits:

benefits

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
homeworking options telework allowance internet fee
• An open and informal working environment with attention to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a full-time contract), closure between Christmas and New Year, and 3 extra leave days;
open and informal working environment work-life balance 35 days of leave
• Cost-free hospitalization insurance;
hospitalization insurance
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport as per VUB policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute
• A wide selection of meals at our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
campus restaurants
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, discounts via Benefits@Work (in various shops, on flights, at petrol stations, amusement parks...), and Ecocheques;
facilities for sport and exercise Benefits@Work Ecocheques
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps;
Nursery holiday camps
• The space to shape your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
continuously learn
• And finally, great colleagues with a healthy drive.
great colleagues

5 - Interested?

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply by 13/10/2024 via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents in one PDF, in the order listed below:

13/10/2024 via jobs.vub.be via jobs.vub.be

• A cover letter detailing your fit with the project (2 pages max), including contact details of 2 referees (references will only be requested from shortlisted candidates).
• A CV with detailed information on your academic track.
• A short research proposal (max 1000 words) on how you would conduct the WP2 research into how institutional DEI policies in Flanders foster an inclusive diversity climate and reduce the ethnic gap, and/or how contextual factors allow or impede successful implementation of evidence-based good-practice examples elsewhere.
• A writing sample in English/Dutch (MA thesis, article, ...) demonstrating relevant skills.
• Copy of degree certificate(s).

Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 21 October, and interviews will be held on 24 October.

For questions about the job content, contact Prof. dr. Ilke Adam at ilke.adam@vub.be or +32 2 614 80 01.

To learn more about working at the VUB, visit jobs.vub.be for information on our campuses, benefits, strategic goals, and future colleagues.

jobs.vub.be

For more information about EUTOPIA, visit eutopia-university.eu to read about the VUB's role in the EUTOPIA alliance.

eutopia-university.eu