Assistant Professor of Educational Sciences (University of Helsinki Faculty )

The appointee may be appointed to a fixed-term tenure-track assistant or associate professorship or permanent full professorship, depending on their qualifications and career stage. Further information on the University of Helsinki's tenure track system is available on the University website. The appointment is to begin on 1 January 2027. Job Overview The Faculty of Educational Sciences invites applications for the position of professor specialised in research on teacher education. In this context, the field is broadly defined and covers the societal dimensions of teacher education, education systems, education policy and structural aspects. The focus is on curricula and pedagogical practices in teacher education, encompassing themes associated with learning as a teacher, professional development and the ethics of the teaching profession. The appointee will examine teacher education as a central element of teaching and learning across a range of educational settings and contexts, as well as in relation to equity, inclusion and social justice. The appointee is expected to conduct internationally recognised research on teacher education at different educational levels and in different contexts. The appointee will examine how teacher education is linked not only to learning and teaching in various contexts, but also to education systems and societal questions. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to effectively and thoroughly structure and manage research in teacher education. In-depth understanding of the central role of teacher education in the educational system and society is of utmost importance. Applicants are expected to have advanced and versatile methodological expertise. Primary Duties High-quality research Teaching, student guidance and supervision on the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels Curriculum design for teacher education and management of educational scientific research initiatives in teacher education Establishment of domestic and international research collaboration projects and networks Research-based development of teacher education as well as development and experimentation collaboration with other faculties, the University’s teacher training schools and the field school network Participation in public discussion and Faculty administration The position offers a unique opportunity to influence teacher education as well as its research-based development and societal dimensions. The position is located at one of the nine research communities of the Faculty of Educational Sciences. The Faculty educates a wide range of teachers, and developing the pedagogical studies for teachers is one of the appointee's key duties. Changes in Finnish society, including increasing diversity and inequality, require teacher education research to adopt perspectives through which solutions to current challenges can be identified. In the past decades, the goals set for teacher education have expanded. Teachers graduating from the Faculty must be able to apply the results of research in the educational sciences to their work and use such research in professional development. Qualification Requirements and Appointment Criteria Associate and Assistant Professors Must hold an applicable doctoral degree and be capable of conducting independent scholarly work, alongside the requisite teaching skills Research relevant to the professorship’s field is considered an asset Must be capable and willing to promote their academic career through publications and other means, and develop teaching, learning and research in the field Assessment of qualifications considers research and teaching merits, success in securing external research funding, and experience in domestic and international research projects Full Professors Must hold an applicable doctoral degree and possess advanced academic qualifications, experience in leading scholarly research, and evidence of success in securing external research funding and international collaboration in their research field Must be able to deliver teaching based on top-level research and supervise theses Requires academic leadership skills Assessment of qualifications considers both scholarly and teaching-related qualifications Additional Considerations Pedagogical studies for teachers (60 cr) or comparable studies outside Finland will be considered an advantage Scholarly qualifications include relevant publications, success in securing research funding, international research experience, academic responsibilities, elected positions, and international relations Teaching qualifications include teaching experience, pedagogical training, ability to produce learning material, other teaching merits, demonstration of teaching skills, and participation in training doctoral researchers Leadership and interaction skills, contribution to academic community and public engagement, and vision for development of research and teaching will be considered The University of Helsinki applies DORA Declaration principles in the assessment of academic merits. Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Finnish or Swedish is expected to be acquired within a reasonable time with employer support Residence in Finland is expected, with relocation assistance provided What We Offer Dynamic, inspiring, and international working and studying environment State-of-the-art research and teaching infrastructure Encouragement for bold and creative decisions with high ethical standards Salary based on level 7 (assistant/associate professor) or levels 8-10 (full professor) plus personal work performance componentProbationary period of six months Assistant/Associate Professor: €55,000–€69,000 gross/year Full Professor: €66,000–€99,000 gross/year Administrative and technical support, occupational health services, professional development opportunities, and conditions for international cooperation Relocation services, training, UniBuddy-program, and support for spouses for international applicants Application Instructions Applications must be submitted through the University of Helsinki recruitment system. Current employees use the SAP Fiori portal. All documents must be in English and submitted as a single PDF file named: `llastname_professor_teachered`. Required attachments: Motivation letter or written application Researcher’s CV (max. 10 pages) Numbered list of publications (10 most relevant in bold) Plan for advancing research and teaching, vision for the field (max. 2 pages) Report on research activities (1–3 pages, including academic community involvement, funding, international research) Separate e-form report on teaching qualifications Applicants may be asked to submit up to 10 publications for review, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and teaching demonstration. All necessary qualifications must be attained by the end of the application period. Application deadline: 11 May 2026 Further Information Dean: Professor Markku Jahnukainen (markku.jahnukainen@helsinki.fi) Vice Dean: Professor Auli Toom (auli.toom@helsinki.fi) Recruitment process support: Hector Nystedt (hector.nystedt@helsinki.fi) Technical support for recruitment system: rekrytointi@helsinki.fi Additional Resources: Careers and tenure track information: University website Working at the University of Helsinki: University website Support for international employees: University website Information about Finland: EU member, high-quality public services, family benefits, healthcare, top-ranked for expats About the Faculty of Educational Sciences The Faculty is Finland’s leading unit for research and teaching in Educational Sciences and Teacher Education. Research covers human growth, development, learning, educational policies, professional life, and social justice. The Faculty provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education, including pedagogical studies required to qualify as a teacher for various disciplines. Employee Login: For those with a helsinki.fi username and valid employment, grant researcher, visiting researcher, or visiting professor contract, applications can be submitted here. Open Position ID: 4852 Application Deadline: 11 May 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki time) Work for the world: Join an international community at one of the best research universities, with over 30,000 students and 8,000 employees, united by values of truth, bildung, freedom, inclusivity, and impactful work. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Educaloxy

The appointee may be appointed to a fixed-term tenure-track assistant or associate professorship or permanent full professorship, depending on their qualifications and career stage. Further information on the University of Helsinki's tenure track system is available on the University website. The appointment is to begin on 1 January 2027.

Job Overview

The Faculty of Educational Sciences invites applications for the position of professor specialised in research on teacher education. In this context, the field is broadly defined and covers the societal dimensions of teacher education, education systems, education policy and structural aspects. The focus is on curricula and pedagogical practices in teacher education, encompassing themes associated with learning as a teacher, professional development and the ethics of the teaching profession. The appointee will examine teacher education as a central element of teaching and learning across a range of educational settings and contexts, as well as in relation to equity, inclusion and social justice.

The appointee is expected to conduct internationally recognised research on teacher education at different educational levels and in different contexts. The appointee will examine how teacher education is linked not only to learning and teaching in various contexts, but also to education systems and societal questions.

Applicants must demonstrate their ability to effectively and thoroughly structure and manage research in teacher education. In-depth understanding of the central role of teacher education in the educational system and society is of utmost importance. Applicants are expected to have advanced and versatile methodological expertise.

Primary Duties

High-quality research
Teaching, student guidance and supervision on the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels
Curriculum design for teacher education and management of educational scientific research initiatives in teacher education
Establishment of domestic and international research collaboration projects and networks
Research-based development of teacher education as well as development and experimentation collaboration with other faculties, the University’s teacher training schools and the field school network
Participation in public discussion and Faculty administration

The position offers a unique opportunity to influence teacher education as well as its research-based development and societal dimensions.

The position is located at one of the nine research communities of the Faculty of Educational Sciences. The Faculty educates a wide range of teachers, and developing the pedagogical studies for teachers is one of the appointee's key duties. Changes in Finnish society, including increasing diversity and inequality, require teacher education research to adopt perspectives through which solutions to current challenges can be identified. In the past decades, the goals set for teacher education have expanded. Teachers graduating from the Faculty must be able to apply the results of research in the educational sciences to their work and use such research in professional development.

Qualification Requirements and Appointment Criteria

Associate and Assistant Professors

Must hold an applicable doctoral degree and be capable of conducting independent scholarly work, alongside the requisite teaching skills
Research relevant to the professorship’s field is considered an asset
Must be capable and willing to promote their academic career through publications and other means, and develop teaching, learning and research in the field
Assessment of qualifications considers research and teaching merits, success in securing external research funding, and experience in domestic and international research projects

Full Professors

Must hold an applicable doctoral degree and possess advanced academic qualifications, experience in leading scholarly research, and evidence of success in securing external research funding and international collaboration in their research field
Must be able to deliver teaching based on top-level research and supervise theses
Requires academic leadership skills
Assessment of qualifications considers both scholarly and teaching-related qualifications

Additional Considerations

Pedagogical studies for teachers (60 cr) or comparable studies outside Finland will be considered an advantage
Scholarly qualifications include relevant publications, success in securing research funding, international research experience, academic responsibilities, elected positions, and international relations
Teaching qualifications include teaching experience, pedagogical training, ability to produce learning material, other teaching merits, demonstration of teaching skills, and participation in training doctoral researchers
Leadership and interaction skills, contribution to academic community and public engagement, and vision for development of research and teaching will be considered

The University of Helsinki applies DORA Declaration principles in the assessment of academic merits.

Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Finnish or Swedish is expected to be acquired within a reasonable time with employer support
Residence in Finland is expected, with relocation assistance provided

What We Offer

Dynamic, inspiring, and international working and studying environment
State-of-the-art research and teaching infrastructure
Encouragement for bold and creative decisions with high ethical standards
Salary based on level 7 (assistant/associate professor) or levels 8-10 (full professor) plus personal work performance componentProbationary period of six months
- Assistant/Associate Professor: €55,000–€69,000 gross/year
- Full Professor: €66,000–€99,000 gross/year
Administrative and technical support, occupational health services, professional development opportunities, and conditions for international cooperation
Relocation services, training, UniBuddy-program, and support for spouses for international applicants

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted through the University of Helsinki recruitment system. Current employees use the SAP Fiori portal.

All documents must be in English and submitted as a single PDF file named: llastname_professor_teachered.

Required attachments:

Motivation letter or written application
Researcher’s CV (max. 10 pages)
Numbered list of publications (10 most relevant in bold)
Plan for advancing research and teaching, vision for the field (max. 2 pages)
Report on research activities (1–3 pages, including academic community involvement, funding, international research)
Separate e-form report on teaching qualifications

Applicants may be asked to submit up to 10 publications for review, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and teaching demonstration.

All necessary qualifications must be attained by the end of the application period.
Application deadline: 11 May 2026

Further Information

Dean: Professor Markku Jahnukainen (markku.jahnukainen@helsinki.fi)
Vice Dean: Professor Auli Toom (auli.toom@helsinki.fi)
Recruitment process support: Hector Nystedt (hector.nystedt@helsinki.fi)
Technical support for recruitment system: rekrytointi@helsinki.fi

Additional Resources:

Careers and tenure track information: University website
Working at the University of Helsinki: University website
Support for international employees: University website
Information about Finland: EU member, high-quality public services, family benefits, healthcare, top-ranked for expats

About the Faculty of Educational Sciences

The Faculty is Finland’s leading unit for research and teaching in Educational Sciences and Teacher Education. Research covers human growth, development, learning, educational policies, professional life, and social justice. The Faculty provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education, including pedagogical studies required to qualify as a teacher for various disciplines.

Employee Login: For those with a helsinki.fi username and valid employment, grant researcher, visiting researcher, or visiting professor contract, applications can be submitted here.

Open Position ID: 4852

Application Deadline: 11 May 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki time)

Work for the world: Join an international community at one of the best research universities, with over 30,000 students and 8,000 employees, united by values of truth, bildung, freedom, inclusivity, and impactful work.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Educaloxy

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