PhD studentship in Work-integrated Learning with focus on occupational health, risk- and change management in Industry 5.0

The Department of Health Sciences at University West is announcing a PhD position in work-integrated learning within the framework of the research project "Co-production of work-integrated learning in the era of Industry 5.0 - CoWORK 5.0" contingent on approval of funding from the Foundation for Knowledge and Competence Development (KKS).

In the era of Industry 5.0 there is an increased focus on human-centric perspectives to balance previous one-sided technological perspectives. With rapid changes in industry there are also issues that need addressing how those changes impact humans in industry from different perspectives, such as occupational health, risk- and change management. This calls for a transdisciplinary approach, especially to understand complex organizational challenges and rising opportunities for sustainable working life, competence development, and lifelong learning.  

The aim of the doctoral project is to identify and analyze human-centric perspectives on individual and organizational capabilities and actions required for co-production of WIL in the era of Industry 5.0 focusing on occupational health, risk- and change management.

The scientific part of the project

The doctoral project will be closely linked to other projects where researchers in work-integrated learning and production technology collaborate with industrial partners, such as the interdisciplinary KK-funded project Human-centric Smart Automation. The doctoral project is based on co-production with manufacturing companies that contribute with industrial issues and environments for exploring occupational health, risk- and change management related to Industry 5.0. Co-production together with manufacturing partners demands spaces for communication and change, but also a need to learn and reflect, to influence decision-making and taking informed actions.Key to the project is the ongoing and continuous nature of the phenomena under study. This calls for a research methodology that captures perceptions and insights of prevailing conditions, processes and impacts. The intended research methodology of the project is mainly qualitative, combining interviews with observations and case studies. There is room to adjust the project to the specific strengths that the recruited PhD candidate will bring. PhD education should provide PhD candidates with generalizable, transferable and specific skills, to enable employment or entrepreneurship both within and outside of academia. This includes fostering skills such as project management, co-production and communication, problem-solving, scientific rigor and in-depth understanding of research methods, academic writing and publishing, and research dissemination to create impact of research findings to the wider society. CoWORK 5.0 will enable the PhD candidate to learn the requested skills.

Based on the framework of the CoWORK 5.0 project, the doctoral student is given the opportunity to identify and influence questions and method choices for their own scientific work. The doctoral project takes place within the core research area of industrial work-integrated learning (I-WIL) and is expected to contribute to increased knowledge about human-centric perspectives within Industry 5.0.

Doctoral degree program: Work-integrated Learning

Research center:

The research project, in which the PhD student participates, will be conducted within the subject area of work-integrated learning (AIL) and more specifically within the core area of industrial work-integrated learning (I-AIL). The doctoral student will be part of postgraduate training for AIL with approximately 55 doctoral students. The doctoral student has the opportunity to be part of the research environment KAM-AIL and PRIMUS as well as the research group LOVHH (learning and caring for sustainable health) at University West, which includes opportunities to take part in established doctoral student networks both at University West and internationally. The project and the supervisory group are transdisciplinary to address complex working life challenges. The research is carried out in close collaboration with other doctoral students and researchers at the University of the West, as well as in collaboration with industrial companies.

The PhD candidate is expected to be integrated into adjacent research projects and benefit from this wider interdisciplinary diverse network of experts in health sciences, manufacturing, digitalization, and organization and leadership.

Job description:

The research program includes, in addition to participation in third-cycle courses and other activities, the implementation of independent thesis work. Doctoral students shall primarily devote themselves to their own education. A doctoral student may, however, be engaged to a limited extent in education, research, and administration, mainly within Production Technology. Such duties, before a doctorate has been conferred, may not occupy more than 20 percent of full-time working hours. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 2).

Qualification requirements:

To qualify for appointment as a PhD, two eligibility requirements must be met: 1) basic eligibility and 2) special eligibility.

1. The basic eligibility requirements for doctoral programs as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance are as follows:
   • a degree at master’s level,
   • completed courses totaling at least 240 university credits of which a minimum of 60 at master’s level
     or,
   • substantially equivalent knowledge gained in some other way whether in Sweden or abroad.
     
     
2.  To fulfil the special eligibility requirements for a doctoral degree in Work-integrated Learning, a student must hold a degree at master’s level in a subject relevant to the doctoral degree subject with a thesis project corresponding to at least half a year of study. The eligibility requirements may be fulfilled by studies in Sweden or abroad.

For more information please read 3.1 and 3.2 in General Syllabus for Third-Cycle Studies in Work Integrated Learning, daybook nr U 2021/814. 

Additional Qualifications:

Mandatory:

• Ability to communicate well orally and in written Swedish/Scandinavian language
• Ability to communicate well orally and in written English

Other relevant but not mandatory qualifications:

• Experience of research, or studies, in work-integrated learning, occupational health, risk- and change management or equivalent
• Work-experience from occupational health, health promotion, manufacturing inductry
• Interprofessional collaboration competence
• Interest in transdisciplinary research approaches
• B-driving license

Selection:

The basic factor for selection among qualified applicants is the ability to profit from such a program. For more information, please read 3.3 in General Syllabus for Third-Cycle Studies in Work Integrated Learning, daybook nr U 2021/814. 

Duration and terms of employment:

Employment as a doctoral student shall be on an open-ended basis but not for longer than to a specific point in time and never for a period extending more than one year after receiving the doctoral degree. The initial appointment must not be for more than one year. The appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be employed as a research student for a total of not more than eight years. The total period of employment, however, may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study at the third level of higher education. (Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100) Chapter 5 section 7). If 20% of the working hours are dedicated to education and administration, this normally means an employment of 5 years.

Application

Applications are to be submitted electronically through the University West web-based recruitment tool, Varbi.

The application must include:

• CV/Personal qualifications
• Personal letter containing
  • Interest in the research topic.
  • Previous experience regarding the proposed research topic and its research         methods and scientific theories.
  • Motive to pursue doctoral studies
• Degree project of second level of higher education
• Degree certificate of first and second level of higher education in the original language and in translation
• Diploma Supplement in original language and in translation
• Course list/transcript of all semesters for bachelor's and master's degrees in original language and in translation
• Other documents which the applicant wishes to invoke

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier. If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

Approved written languages regarding papers, diplomas, grades and other relevant documents are the Scandinavian languages and English, or translations into those languages. Attach the original when submitting translated documents.

Documents that cannot be sent digitally, should be marked with ref.no R 2024/204 sent to:

University West
HR
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden

The application should reach University West no later than 2024-12-30. Mark the application with ref.no: R 2024/204

The Department of Health Sciences strives for equality and diversity in all professions. We welcome applicants with different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. For us, it is natural with an inclusive working environment and that our employees can combine work with active parenthood.

Welcome with your application!

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