The section Sociology and Anthropology of Development (SADE) – composed of the Sociology of Development and Change (SDC) and Rural Sociology (RSO) Groups – is looking for a highly motivated person to teach (and coordinate) courses, to supervise BSc and MSc and internships and to plan and coordinate educational activities within SADE, with a view to promote high-quality educational processes. In terms of time allocation it will be a 50/50 division between lecturer and education coordinator.

As lecturer you will co-develop and teach courses in the Bachelor and Master programme in International Development Studies. These courses focus on the sociology of agrarian and rural development, food sociology and sociology of development . The lecturer will give lectures to smaller as well as bigger audiences, lead discussion lectures, and tutor group work. The lecturer should be able to teach in both English and Dutch. Furthermore the lecturer will supervise BSc and MSc thesis students and internship students, which may also include students from other programmes than International Development Studies.

The role of coordinator is a diverse one, in between operational and strategic levels. The preferred candidate will be able to quickly switch between working with the secretariat on executing a range of practical tasks and with the education managers and chairs of SADE as well as broader Wageningen University bodies such as the Educational Institute (OWI) and the programme committees to provide input on strategic and policy levels. A sense of the importance of the smooth functioning of educational processes is expected as well as the ability to set up communication activities (information, public relations, marketing) around educational and other SADE activities. More specifically, the role of education coordinator includes the following main tasks:

• guidance to students seeking to do an internship, Bachelor or Master at SDC/RSO;
• inform students about thesis-preparatory tracks;
• monitor peer review of courses;
• organization of informational activities for (future) students;
• help develop and keep up SADE’s communication strategy;
• coordination of the Bachelor and Master ‘thesis-rings’;
• arrange and monitor SADE’s educational database;
• provide overview of theses and internships;
• instruct secretariat in matters concerning the administration of educational activities;
• coordination of PhD-student participation in educational curricula of SDC/RSO;
• continuous monitoring and updating of educational activities of SDC/RSO staff;
• contact point for students and staff concerning educational matters;
• contact point for the Education Board (OWI) and the Examination Committee;
• keep abreast of and respond to educational developments;
• inform staff at meetings and propose agenda points;
• develop and initiate education innovation and help seek funding for these;
• maintain and improve a system to guarantee the quality of SADE’s educational activities;
• report to the Chair Holders and education managers of SDC and RSO.

Requirements

As a Lecturer and Education Coordinator you are an ambitious and enthusiastic social scientist and a team player, devoted to the domain of Sociology and Anthropology of Development, with specific expertise in the fields of agrarian and rural development, food provisioning and international development.

You also have:

• a MSc and preferably a PhD in sociology or a related social science discipline (anthropology, geography, political science)
• good didactic qualities and experience with international academic education and enthusiasm for teaching and working with students from an international background;
• good management and administrative skills.
• research experience and preferably internationally refereed publications in the mentioned domain;
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) with (future) students and faculty staff of all ages and cultures
• good knowledge of Dutch and English (in writing and speaking);
• broad understanding of the Wageningen University system of education (or the ability to get to understand the system in a short amount of time)
• ability to support and energize Bachelor and Master students in choosing their individual education trajectory
• creativity in organising informational activities for students
• ability to participate in various committees
• good skills in and experience with “mastering” websites
• good working skills of (Access) databases

We offer

SADE provides a dynamic work environment made up of a professional, enthusiastic and motivated team. We offer a temporary contract of 0.8 fte for 2 years initially and a salary between € 2532 and € 4654 (full time) depending on qualifications and experience.

More information

For further information, please contact Prof.dr. Han Wiskerke (han.wiskerke@wur.nl; +31 317 482679), chair of Rural Sociology. To apply, please upload your CV and letter of motivation online before 20 June 2016.

About SADE

The section Sociology and Anthropology of Development (SADE) is composed of the Sociology of Development and Change (SDC) and Rural Sociology (RSO) Groups. Together they provide education for a number of Bachelor and Master programs, the most salient ones being International Development Studies (abbreviated as BIN and MID), Development and Rural Innovation (MDR), Health and Society (BGM and MCS/Health and Society) and Organic Agriculture (MOA). Both SDC and RSO are involved in education that aims to provide students with appropriate theoretical understanding, empirical research skills and enables them to undertake a cutting-edge scientific analysis in the domains of food, agriculture, environment and development.