PhD student in work-integrated learning, digitalization and sustainable development

The School of Business Economics and IT at University West announces a doctoral position in work-integrated learning (WIL) with a focus on digitization and sustainable development. This is a transdisciplinary research area focused on the integration of learning and knowledge about sustainable development in organizational processes and the role of digital technologies in this. Theories related to co-created knowledge development, data, digitization, and sustainable development permeate the research area.

The scientific part of the project

The project that the PhD student will work on aims to study how data and digital technologies can be integrated into organizational processes and professional practices to support knowledge development for a sustainable leather industry. These processes and practices can, for example, involve improving working conditions for those who work with the manufacture of leather and textile products or reducing environmental toxins in production. By analyzing and visualizing quantitative and qualitative data, the project is expected to support learning between actors in the leather industry's supply chain with a focus on sustainable development. More specifically, the project is about exploring how data and digital technologies can function as a "boundary object" between actors in the leather industry to co-create knowledge around sustainability issues in the supply chain.

The PhD student will be closely involved in the design and implementation of digital technologies and collaborative practices, such as an app for self-assessment of working conditions and a product passport that will visualize social and environmental conditions in the supply chain. This work involves, among other things, ethnographically inspired field studies with suppliers in the Global South as well as developing innovative methods and approaches for digitization and collaboration between actors in industry and academia.

The project will be carried out in close collaboration with actors from the industry. The PhD student is not expected to have knowledge of the production industry's supply chain, but it is important that the candidate has an interest in conducting empirical studies in this environment and contributing to knowledge development about the role of digital technologies for a sustainable production industry.

Doctoral degree program: Work-integrated Learning

Research environment:

The PhD student will be part of the university's PhD program in work-integrated learning (WIL) with approximately 55 PhD students. The PhD student has the opportunity to be part of the research environment Complete Academic Environment (KAM-AIL) as well as the research cluster Informatics and Media at the Division of Informatics.

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:

• Knowledge of the Swedish language, both spoken and written.
• Excellent knowledge of the English language, both spoken and written.

Other relevant but not mandatory qualifications:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in information systems/informatics or related field
• Knowledge of work-integrated learning, sustainable development, and the textile/leather industry.
• Experience with qualitative research work and scientific writing

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 2025/47 sent to:

University West
HR
461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden

The application should reach University West no later than 2025-04-24. Mark the application with ref.no: R 2025/47.

The Department of Business economics 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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