Professorship in Danish Political History

The Saxo Institute, Faculty of Humanities, Copenhagen University (UCPH), Denmark, invites applications for a professorship in Danish political history since 1945 to be filled by the 1st of September 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Position description

The Saxo Institute seeks an outstanding candidate to fill a position in Danish political history at professorial level. Political history should be understood in the broadest terms, incorporating problems, themes and theories that have shaped the contours of Danish society since 1945. The successful applicant will be a leading practitioner in the field, with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of Danish political processes, institutions, actors, ideologies and networks in a European and global context. Particular emphasis will be placed on an impressive and extensive profile of research publications, with an ambition to enhance the profile of the subject area in relation to wider international research agendas. The position thus presents a unique opportunity for a highly accomplished and experienced research leader, with a proven track record of research innovation and public engagement. Our aim is to appoint a distinguished historian who can not only consolidate the Saxo Institute’s standing in the field, but also present a compelling vison for political history in the decades head.

The Saxo Institute is dedicated to the study of human societies past and present, with degree programs ranging from History to Archeology, Ethnology, Classical Languages and Migration Studies. With some 1400 students and a staff of 100 employees, the Institute offers a variety of research and library facilities, servicing a vibrant community of tenured scholars, graduate students, visiting researchers and externally funded projects. The institute also hosts a range of leading research centres and externally funded research projects.

Qualification requirements

The professor is expected to be able to take part in all the activities of the Department, including examinations and administration and also manage research projects, provide pedagogic supervision, supervise assistant professors and sit on academic assessment panels.

The duties of the position are evenly distributed on tasks related to teaching and tasks related to research (including relevant administration and knowledge-sharing). Hence the assessment of applicants’ qualifications will assign equal weight to documented competences in the field of teaching, pedagogy and didactics as in the field of research, research collaboration and research organization. Applicants with documentation of excellent teaching skills including experience with development of teaching and with experiences and reflections on how most effectively to integrate research and teaching activities will be given priority.

Applicants are encouraged to read the University guidelines for teaching portfolio when appointing staff at the UCPH https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio/

Six overall criteria apply for associate professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Furthermore, each candidate must be assessed according to the specific requirements stated in the job advertisement.

You can read more about the criteria UCPH criteria here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit/

Find more information for recognising merit for professors here:  https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/kriterier-for-videnskabeligestillinger/

dokumenter-til-meritering/5c_Criteria_for_recognising_merit_-professors.pdf

Within a reasonable period of time (max. 2 years), non-Danish-speaking appointees are expected to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to be able to interact with colleagues and students.

Further details about the qualification requirements for assistant professor can be found in the ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2019 here: https://ufm.dk/uddannelse/videregaende-uddannelse/personaleforhold-pa-de-videregaende-uddannelsesinstitutioner/overenskomster-aftaler-og-stillingsstrukturer/MinisterialOrderno.1443of11December2019onJobStructureforAcademicStaffatUniversities.pdf

For further information about the position, please contact Head of Department David Bloch, e-mail: bloch@hum.ku.dk.

Application

Submit the application online in Adobe PDF or Word format.

Please click on the “Apply now” icon at the bottom of the page.

The application must be written in English and must include the following:

Application letter/cover letter

• Application letter/cover letter
• Curriculum vitae (with applicant’s e-mail & telephone number)
• Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.).
• Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with star*
• Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of involvement in organising research, establishment of research seminars, symposia and congresses, etc.
• Teaching portfolio. Documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination (organisation of classes, materials, courses and other forms of teaching) (https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio/)
• Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of seven publications for assessment, of which at least three must have been published within the five years immediately preceding the deadline for applications. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and named from 1 to 7.
• References

Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly stipulated. The Faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.

Only material in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, German and French will be assessed.

Appointment procedure

After the application deadline, the Dean selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee.  All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Dean subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.

Further information about the application procedure is available from academic officer Rikke Dall, HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number 211-0095/20-2K.  

Salary and conditions of employment

Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). The salary range starts at DKK 52,633 (EUR 7,074) + a 17,1 % contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis.

A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad, https://ism.ku.dk/onarrival/

If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH. Find more information at: http://ism.ku.dk, http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/frontpage.htm and https://www.workindenmark.dk/

UCPH wishes to encourage everyone interested in this post to apply, regardless of personal background.

The closing date for applications is the 1st of March 2021 23:59 [CET]

Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.