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KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.
Visit the employer pageKU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.
Visit the employer pageThe KU Leuven Public Governance Institute conducts research into different aspects of public governance from a public administration and political science perspective. The results of our research are of value in higher and continuing education, in public organizations, and for society in general.
Are you a social scientist with a profound interest in environmental and marine governance? Then we might be looking for you to join us in the Blue Green Governance project! This project is part of a large European research consortium in which several other European universities participate. It is funded through the Horizon Europe programme by the European Union. The Public Governance Institute at KU Leuven (Faculty of Social Sciences) is responsible for a part of this project.
The ambition of this research project is to promote reforms in marine governance across Europe to address major global environmental challenges (i.e. biodiversity loss, water availability and quality, plastic pollution and climate change). The project will develop and apply strategic foresight analysis, develop and implement a multi-actor perspective and a co-creation approach on marine governance, draw on deliberative planning processes, and rely on digital tools for e-governance to shape an integrated use of the governance of the land and the sea. The Blue Green Governance project will thereby focus on eight case studies across the European regions and sea basins. It will draw lessons on how to trigger and facilitate effective institutional change via capacity building among practitioners and stakeholders in those cases.
The successful PhD candidate will work in particular on the development and assessment of innovative blue green governance approaches, and will have the opportunity to collaborate with an international team of social scientists and researchers in the natural sciences, as well as various societal partners.
Your tasks in this project :
• Identifying obstacles and enablers of institutional change in the context of marine and coastal governance.
• Developing a framework for innovative governance schemes that draws on co-creation, engagement and participation of stakeholders.
• Developing and applying an evaluation and monitoring approach of the policy experiments and assessing their impact on institutional change.
• Formulating guidelines for policy reforms, and integrating these in policy reports and policy briefs with recommendations on the science-policy-society interface, on fostering governance capacity for the development of an integrated blue-green governance and on the evaluation of policy experiments.
• Contributing to the dissemination of the research findings of the project.
We encourage candidates with a Master (or near completion) in public administration, public policies, political science, environmental sciences including environmental governance, marine governance, or a related topic. In addition to an understanding of the latest developments in the fields of marine governance, the candidate must possess good social science research skills. Having distinguished oneself during the studies (equivalent of ‘cum laude’ in the Belgian system) is essential.
Proven affinity for empirical research is required and can be evidenced, for instance, by your master’s thesis, publications, research plans and other project experience. You should be able to demonstrate good research and project management skills, and should be able to communicate your research findings to a range of different actors, preferably in different languages.
• Master in related fields.
• Sufficiently versed in the environmental social sciences, its theories and concepts, and its methods of research.
• Proven qualitative research skills, affinity with applied research and participatory methods.
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills
• Relevant collaborative and social skills to engage with national and international partners in an interdisciplinary research team.
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English.
• Lives in Belgium or is willing to move there.
A full-time position as PhD researcher (doctoraatsbursaal) for one year, which, upon positive evaluation, will be extended up to four years. More information on scholarship and benefits for KU Leuven PhD students can be found under the rubric ‘doctoral scholarship holder’ at: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/phd/phd-information.
An inspiring and challenging international and academic environment at one of the leading departments in the field.
Starting date is 1 April 2024 (negotiable).
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Marleen Brans, tel.: +32 16 32 32 88, mail: marleen.brans@kuleuven.be.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.
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