PhD candidate in the area of learning leadership, learning climate and workplace learning

Job Description
The Department of Educational Research and Development (ERD) at the School of Business and Economics (SBE) of Maastricht University offers a 4-year PhD position for a candidate with a (Research) Master of Science degree or equivalent, starting in September 2025.

At SBE, we offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally oriented organisation where students receive advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to carry out research within the ERD department, in the context of the topic described below, and within the PhD programme of the Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE). As such, the PhD candidate will contribute to the development and outreach of our research. Working at SBE enables the candidate to be part of an (inter)national network of top universities and renowned scholars.

Within SBE, the ERD department is a leading, international, and dynamic scientific unit with a pleasant and constructive working atmosphere. The quality of the department, as well as the School, is, among other things, reflected by the Triple Crown accreditation by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA and the high-quality publications of our scholars. Candidates are expected to enter the doctoral program of GSBE and to deliver a doctoral dissertation within four years.

The selected PhD candidate will work on a project aimed at studying ‘the role of learning leadership in fostering a learning climate within organisations’. The current project analyses how organisations that operate in a competitive environment can create work conditions that foster and support employee development, continuous learning, and innovation. It will focus on how leaders play a decisive role in creating such an environment at different organisational levels: individual, team, and organisation. The primary goal of this PhD project is therefore to advance knowledge on the concept of learning leadership, its defining behaviours, and its impact on learning climate and workplace learning. This PhD project will primarily draw on the scholarly fields of Human Resource Development, Learning Sciences, and Organizational Psychology. Additionally, it will integrate insights from Coaching Research and Leadership Studies to develop a more comprehensive understanding of learning leadership and its role in shaping organisational learning climates. Through a combination of systematic literature review, qualitative and quantitative studies, this PhD project aims to contribute to both theory and practice by defining, measuring, and testing the effects of learning leadership within organizations.

Requirements

Are you a motivated and curious researcher with a passion for leadership, learning climate, and workplace learning? Do you have the ambition, critical mindset, and research skills to contribute to an emerging field of study? If so, this PhD position at ERD (Maastricht University) could be the perfect opportunity for you!

You hold a 1-year master’s degree or a 2-year research master’s degree and have a background in a relevant field, such as Human Resource Management/Development, Organizational Psychology, Educational Sciences, Business Administration, or a related discipline. You should have a strong academic background with demonstrated research skills, including experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods. Additionally, candidates should possess analytical and critical thinking abilities and be fluent in spoken and written English. Prior experience in academic writing, data analysis (e.g., SPSS/R, or Atlas.ti/NVivo), or working in interdisciplinary research environments is an advantage. The candidate should be highly motivated, proactive, capable of working both independently and collaboratively within a research team and share our ambition to conduct high-quality research with scientific and practical/societal impact.
 

What we offer
As a PhD candidate at the School of Business and Economics, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from €2901,00 in the first year and €3707,00 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 18 months with a scope of 1.0  FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 2.5 years will follow. 
• This PhD position involves a division of research tasks (80%) and teaching/educational tasks (20%), for example serving as a tutor, supervisor, coach or course (co-)coordinator at SBE and/or the faculty of Law. In these tasks, you will be supervised by a multidisciplinary team based at SBE and the faculty of Law.
• You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing.

• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 

• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 
   

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

The School of Business and Economics
The School of Business and Economics (SBE) is one of Maastricht University’s six faculties. Our mission is to contribute to a better world by addressing societal problems, by co-creating knowledge and developing team players and leaders for the future.

By joining SBE, you will be part of the 1% of business schools worldwide to be Triple Crown accredited (EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA). You will join an inspiring and international environment, where learning and development is priority. 

 
Department
The Department of Educational Research and Development is a vibrant international group of academics dedicated to examining fundamental and practical issues in professional education. We are particularly interested in (under)graduate business and economics education, training, and design of management learning practices. Our staff members probe the ways education influences student learning. Special attention is paid to problem-based learning and other innovative ways of organising learning in (under)graduate education. We conduct research on various aspects of innovative education and learning, develop courses and provide training and consultancy to educators in higher education. For more information see: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/department-educational-research-and-development-erd

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. Wendy Nuis, Assistant Professor at the ERD department at w.nuis@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate? Apply now, no later than 11 May 2025, for this position.

Applicants are requested to submit the following:

• Motivation letter;
• CV;
• Writing sample;
• Two reference letters;
• Transcripts of the bachelor's and master's (incl. grades).

The first interviews preferably take place on 15 and 20 May 2025. 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.