The University of Oulu is an international scientific community with 15,000 students and approximately 3,000 employees. The University is a multidisciplinary institute with modern facilities for research and studying. It operates in close contact with international educational and research institutes. The Faculty of Education offers degrees (Bachelor, Master, PhD) in Education with majors in education, educational psychology, early childhood education, music education and special education. Teacher education in the faculty has a broad scope, including early childhood education, primary teacher education, music education, secondary teacher education and university pedagogy. Post is located in the research unit Teachers, Teaching and Educational Communities, which is responsible for delivering high quality research and teaching in its focus areas.

We are seeking applicants for a tenure track (Associate Professor/Full Professor) position in Music Education to join our faculty at the research unit of Teachers, Teaching and Educational Communities (www.oulu.fi/ktk/ttec). The focus areas of this position are the applications of a comprehensive knowledge of various forms of music and research methods in empirical research as well experience with artistic and pedagogical activities in music and music education. A person appointed to a tenure track position is expected to conduct high-quality research in these focus areas, apply external funds for research projects, contribute to the development of teaching primarily in music and music education, and engage in administrative and university-level duties.

A person appointed to this position will be teaching music and music education at the undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral level, and supervise Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD theses in music and music education. Teaching duties and load will be specified in a personal work plan.

The tenure track position is open to individuals who hold a doctoral degree in music and music education and have excellent potential for a successful scientific career. Based on the experience and competence, the successful applicant will be placed at the level of Associate Professor or Full Professor.

Selection Criteria and procedure

A person appointed to the tenure track position must have a doctoral degree, high-level scientific competence, experience in leading scientific research, ability to provide high-level research-based teaching, and to supervise theses and participate in international co-operation projects in music and music education.

Candidates will be evaluated according to their career stage taking into consideration:

a)     Their potential to establish or currently have a vigorous externally funded research program,
b)     Highly visible scientific publications or other merits with scientific value,
c)     Demonstrated international collaboration and activeness of the applicant in the international scientific community,
d)     Demonstration of interdisciplinary research projects and capabilities,
e)     A demonstrated capacity for thinking broadly across disciplines, ability and experience in mentoring and supervising undergraduate, graduate (MA, M.Ed., M.Sc. & Ph.D.) and postdoctoral scientists, and
f)      Teaching experience and pedagogic training, ability to produce teaching material, other merits as a teacher and teaching demonstrations.

The selection criteria for each career level are detailed as follows:  

Associate Professor

The position of an Associate Professor is initially a fixed term position for five years with potential for extension after an evaluation. To be granted a continuation for the position requires meeting the criteria indicated in the University of Oulu Tenure Track guidelines. The selection criteria are the following:

-       Publications in high quality international journals, citations to publications
-       Active role in the researcher training
-       Acquisition of external funding
-       Working in more than one research facility during one’s career (in most fields represented at the University of Oulu this signifies working abroad)
-       An active role in international scientific community
-       Acknowledgements and awards.

Full Professor

The position of a Full Professor requires high-level scientific or artistic competence, experience in leading scientific research, ability to provide high-level research-based teaching and to supervise final theses, and merit in international co-operation projects in his/her field of expertise. The position of a Full Professor also requires the ability to act as an academic leader. When evaluating the merits of an applicant, his/her scientific publications and other research results with scientific or artistic value, teaching experience and pedagogic training, ability to produce teaching material, other merits as a teacher, teaching demonstrations and supervised doctoral theses shall be taken into consideration. Other factors to be taken into consideration are the active role of the applicant in the scientific community, practical experience in the field where applicable, success in acquiring supplementary research funding, scientific work abroad, international positions, and leadership and interaction skills.

The language of instruction in the University of Oulu is Finnish, and the degrees are awarded in Finnish. Teaching may also be given in English. 

Special attention will be paid to the applicants’ mastery of English. 

The selection procedure will be carried out by a Recruitment Committee according to the University of Oulu Tenure Track guidelines. Shortlisted candidates will be evaluated by outside academic experts.

Salary 

The salary of an Associate Professor on levels 6 – 7, and that of a Full Professor on levels 8-10 of the requirement level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition to the basic salary, supplementary salary will be given for personal achievement and performance, the sum rising to a maximum of 50% of the basic salary level for the post. The full salary is approximately 4000 – 5200 euros per month for an Associate Professor and 5600 – 8200 euros per month for a Full Professor.

The successful candidate will receive also full benefits provided by the University of Oulu to all its employees, including free time corresponding to holidays and free occupational health care services.

The position is scheduled to be filled as of August 1, 2020, or as agreed, and it is subject to a six-month trial period. 

Applications 

Please, submit your application and relevant enclosures through our online recruitment system no later than 31 October 2019

The applications should be written in English and include the following documents ( PDF-files preferred) 

1) A letter of application with contact information stating the career level on which the person would like to be evaluated at

2) A curriculum vitae following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity: thhp://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae 

3) A list of publications following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland (http://www.aka.fi/en/funding/how-to-apply/application-guidelines/guidelines-for-llist-of-publications/guidelines-for-complete-list-of-publications/) with the ten most important ones indicate.

4) A brief account of research merits (max one page)

5) A brief account (max two pages) of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio. The portfolio is expected to follow the outline given in the appendix.

6) Details regarding the acquisition of research funds

7) A brief research and action plan (max. three pages)

8) Contact details of three persons from whom recommendations are available

Before being officially accepted for the position, the successful applicant must present to the faculty his or her original degree certificates or certified copies thereof, as well as a signed curriculum vitae. 

Demonstration Lecture and Interview 

The recruitment committee will interview the applicants that they consider best and makes arrangements for any demonstration lectures that may be deemed necessary.

Contact Information 

For further information regarding this appointment process, please contact the Faculty of Education at the University of Oulu as follows: 

Kati Mäkitalo, Dean
University of Oulu, Faculty of Education
PO Box 2000, 90014 University of Oulu
tel. +358 294 483606
e-mail: kati.makitalo(at)oulu.fi

Kimmo Spets, HR Manager
University of Oulu
tel. +358 294 483819
e-mail: kimmo.spets(at)oulu.fi 

About the City of Oulu

The City of Oulu is Northern Finland’s largest and oldest city, with a population of over 200,000. Located in the Gulf of Bothnia in the Oulu River delta, the city has good access from anywhere. Oulu is a very safe and family friendly community with one of the highest qualities of life in all of Scandinavia. This modern city with a beautiful harbor and market area offers plenty of cultural activities as well as opportunities for exploring the northern nature. Open space and parks can be found all along the Oulu River and throughout the area and they are easily accessed by bike – the favorite mode of transport in Oulu. There is an entire range of outdoor and sports facilities to choose from, not forgetting Finland’s biggest spectator sport, ice hockey. Winter is a season that is highly celebrated and lit bike trails and bridges bring the city alive. As the world’s northernmost tech hub, Oulu has a highly educated and innovative workforce and the University has a strong role in the community. Oulu is a marvelous place to live, work and enjoy a vibrant academic community. Welcome to the home of science with Arctic Attitude!

OUTLINE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE TEACHING PORTFOLIO 

According to the policy approved by the University of Oulu, the teaching skills referred to in the Appointments Decree (Decree on the Appointment of Professors at Universities 1581/91; Amendment 462/98) are assessed according to the outline below: 

1.  Teaching philosophy and characterisation of yourself as a teacher 

- thinking underlying your teaching, the personal background idea of your teaching: how is this to be seen in your work as a teacher? Description of yourself as a teacher and worker in the teaching profession 

2.  Practical experience gained in the teaching profession, how you develop your teaching 

3.  Production and use of learning materials 

4.  Maintenance of your teaching skills

5.  Feedback received on your teaching (student and peer assessments, awards and approved teaching demonstrations) 

6.  Vision of the development of your work as a teacher 

- provide a brief plan for the development of your teaching and work as a teacher in the near future, e.g. in relation to the department’s curriculum