Assistant/Associate Professor of Educational Sciences

Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki
Application Deadline: 1 December 2025

Position Overview

The Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a position in Diversity in Education. The appointment may be:

• Assistant / Associate Professor (tenure track) – fixed term

• Full Professor – permanent

The appointment is planned to begin on 1 January 2026.

This position addresses diversity in education in a broad societal context, encompassing gender, sexuality, ethnicity, language, religion, disability, and social class. The role focuses on diversity as a feature of educational environments, teaching and learning, and as a political and ethical concern tied to equity, inclusion, worldviews, and social justice.

The position is part of the Diversity in Society and Life (DIVSOL) profiling area (PROFI 8), which unites research on diversity at the university, emphasizing inclusive social policies, democratic literacy, methodological innovation, and integration of artificial intelligence in educational research.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct high-quality, internationally recognized research

• Teach and supervise students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels

• Develop curricula and lead research initiatives in educational sciences

• Build national and international research collaborations

• Contribute to public discourse and Faculty administration

• Influence inclusive educational practices and policies both in Finland and internationally

Qualifications

Tenure Track (Assistant / Associate Professor):

• Doctoral degree in educational sciences or related field

• Ability to conduct independent scholarly research

• Demonstrated teaching competence and commitment to pedagogy

• Research relevant to the profile area is an asset

• Evidence of academic productivity and motivation for a long-term academic career

Full Professor:

• Doctoral degree in educational sciences or related field

• Top-level scholarly qualifications and international research experience

• Experience supervising theses and dissertations

• Evidence of external research funding and academic leadership

• Ability to provide top-level research-based teaching

Other Requirements:

• Fluency in English

• Moderate proficiency in Finnish and/or Swedish must be acquired after appointment if not already known

• Applicants are expected to reside in Finland

Application Materials

Applicants must submit a single PDF (named lastname_professor_divsol) including:

1. Motivation / cover letter (max 1 page)

2. University portfolio (per UH instructions)

3. Full, numbered list of publications (10 most relevant in bold)

4. Research and teaching plan with vision for the field (max 2 pages)

Additionally, applicants are requested to submit teaching qualifications report via:
Teaching Qualifications Form

Top candidates may be asked to submit up to 10 publications for external review, attend an interview, and give a teaching demonstration.

Doctoral degree and teacher qualification must be completed before the end of the application period.

Salary & Benefits

• Assistant / Associate Professor: €55,000–€69,000/year

• Full Professor: €66,000–€99,000/year

• Salary based on Finnish university pay scale and personal performance

• Probationary period: 6 months

• Support for relocation, family, and international integration

• Access to occupational health, fitness, and professional development services

Further Information

• Dean: Professor Johanna Mäkelä – johanna.m.makela@helsinki.fi

• Vice Dean: Professor Auli Toom – auli.toom@helsinki.fi

• HR / Recruitment Process: Laura Saarinen – hr-kasvatustieteellinen@helsinki.fi

• Technical Support: rekrytointi@helsinki.fi

More information:

• Faculty of Educational Sciences

• Working at the University of Helsinki

• Support for international staff

Why Finland

• High-quality childcare, free schooling, and tertiary education in English

• Excellent family benefits and healthcare

• Ranked among the top countries for expat families and repeatedly tops World Happiness Report

Application Submission

Submit your application through the University of Helsinki recruitment system by 1 December 2025.

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com