PhD studentship in Work-integrated Learning – informatics

The School of Business, Economy, and IT at University West is announcing a PhD position in Work-Integrated Learning within the interdisciplinary field of Informatics, focusing on a project about immersive (augmented, enhanced, deepened) civic orientation in Virtual Reality for third-country nationals. The research is conducted in close collaboration with the civic orientation unit at the City of Gothenburg. The project follows a design- and development-driven approach that aims not only to support the development of an immersive learning platform for civic orientation in Virtual Reality but also to contribute to the development of innovative methods for Work-Integrated Learning that promote meaning and sense-making in relation to immersive technologies.

The scientific part of the project

The PhD project involves developing and integrating an immersive learning platform in Virtual Reality to create an enhanced, augmented, and deepened form of civic orientation for third-country nationals, in collaboration with the civic orientation unit at the City of Gothenburg. Based on insights from a completed and linked pilot study on civic orientation in Virtual Reality, the project will focus on two aspects related to key civic orientation themes: "Protection against Discrimination" and "Freedom of Expression."

A central aspect of this research is to analyze how immersive learning in Virtual Reality contributes to the social integration of third-country nationals and how real-life scenarios, situations, and moments related to these themes can be interactively simulated in Virtual Reality. The PhD project will involve studying technology, learning, and practice, as well as developing design theory for immersive learning platforms that enable Work-Integrated Learning in virtual environments.

Additionally, the PhD student will collaborate with users at the City of Gothenburg and work closely with researchers at University West. The project will also be supported by University West's Open Lab (https://openlab.hv.se), where the PhD student will have access to expertise and technical resources (e.g., immersive technologies, computers, Virtual Reality headsets).

Doctoral degree program: Work-integrated Learning

Research center:

The research in which the PhD student will participate is conducted within the subject area of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). The PhD student will be part of the WIL doctoral education program, which includes approximately 55 PhD students. They will also have the opportunity to be part of the KAM-WiL research environment and the research cluster within Informatics and Media, at the School of Business, Economics, and IT.

Responsibilities:

Doctoral education includes, in addition to participation in PhD courses and activities, conducting independent dissertation research. The employment as a PhD student primarily involves doctoral studies. However, a PhD student may engage in teaching and administrative tasks to a limited extent. Such work must not exceed 20% of full-time employment before the doctoral degree is awarded (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 2). Any departmental duties (20%) will primarily involve teaching in Work-Integrated Learning, with a focus on social development and political science.

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:

• Proficiency in Swedish, both spoken and written
• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written
• Experience in research and development projects

Other relevant but not mandatory qualifications:

• Knowledge of Virtual Reality, visualization, design, and development in Unreal Engine
• Knowledge in Informatics/Information Systems
• Documented experience in research work and scientific writing
• A valid driver’s license (Category B)

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 2025/35 sent to:

University West
HR
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden

The application should reach University West no later than 2025-04-07. Mark the application with ref.no: R 2025/35

The Department of Economic and IT 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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