New call: Circle U. is looking for Academic Chairs

Call for Applications – Circle U. Academic Chairs

ABOUT CIRCLE U.

Aarhus Universitet (Denmark), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany), King’s College London (United Kingdom), Università di Pisa (Italy), Universität Wien (Austria), Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium), Université Paris Cité (France), Universitetet i Oslo (Norway) and Univerzitet u Beogradu (Serbia) are Circle U.: an inclusive, research-intensive, and interdisciplinary European university alliance working to provide outstanding education, research, and innovation to contribute to more sustainable, democratic, and healthier societies. With its initial pilot project now transitioning into a new phase, Circle U. is testing out new concepts in higher education and research cooperation, while also scaling up and offering a range of flexible learning opportunities, intensifying our collaborations and maximizing our impacts through our joint ecosystem.

For additional information on Circle U., please visit our website: www.circle-u.eu.

ABOUT ACADEMIC CHAIRS

Since the launch of Circle U., the Academic Chair Programme has been the backbone of our alliance’s ecosystem, ensuring strong, sustainable and concrete connections between academics, researchers, students, and associated and global partners. The Academic Chair Programme ensures strong and sustainable connections across our universities, between education, research and service, between students and staff, and between our universities and the society.

The academic chairs are the enablers of our vision and mission. They drive bottom-up initiatives and collaborations across the alliance to ensure that the alliance reaches its full potential, as well as helping embed Circle U. in our communities and involving other stakeholders. Through the programme, the academic chairs have the opportunity to test new and innovative ideas, to establish strong links to leading education and research environments at the most prestigious European universities, and to be at the forefront of new developments in socially engaged education and research and education.

The academic chairs also contribute to the realisation of the EU-funded projects and the corresponding work programme by developing activities linked to specific deliverables and milestones. In this perspective, the academic chairs will work in partnership – and be supported by – the respective Work Package coordinators and leads, comprising an interdisciplinary and intersectoral team of academics, administrative staff and student representatives.

The academic chairs dedicate 20% of their working time to the development of activities and are located at their home university. But they are expected to spend time at other Circle U. partner universities and to attend meetings to facilitate collaboration, communication, and dissemination.

Beyond the strong academic and scientific profile, expertise and experience in fields directly related to the platform the candidate is applying, we are looking for people who can bring exciting and innovative ideas, an interdisciplinary profile, and a strong commitment to linking education and research to foster transformative impacts on society.

The academic chairs are also expected to have excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written. Proficiency in other European languages used by the Circle U. partners will be an advantage.

The main role and missions of the academic chairs are to:

• Develop and lead challenge-based as well as trans- and inter-disciplinary teaching, learning and research initiatives;

• Link education and research within and across disciplines;

• Engage students to take an active role in knowledge creation and socially engaged research and innovation;

• Stimulate new models of academic and research collaboration and partnership, and share them across the alliance;

• Contribute to the realisation of the EU-funded projects and the corresponding work programme;

• Represent and champion Circle U. internally, nationally, and internationally, as well as with external stakeholders.

APPLICATION

Please send your completed application form (see the detailed Call for Applications here) to berlin@circle-u.eu by 30th August 2023.

VIRTUAL INFO EVENT

Have questions about Circle U., the Academic Chair Programme or the application process? Join our virtual info event on 1 August at 2pm! There is no need to register in advance, just join by clicking this link.