For the Centre for Literature and Education of the Arts Faculty at KU Leuven, we are looking for a doctoral fellow. You contribute to the work of the research team and the activities of the research group, especially the Centre for Literature and Education. The CLO aims to promote the importance of literature and literary reading in education. It aims to bring together, further develop and make widely available knowledge on quality literary education.
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Project
A fully-funded PhD position for 3 years is offered as part of the research project BLIS: Belgian literature in secondary education: developing citizenship, intercultural competencies and critical literacy.
Recent research, including PISA 2023, shows the sharp decline in critical literacy among Flemish students. This project aims to develop didactic methods and modules for teaching critical literacy, intercultural competencies and citizenship formation in the last two years of Flemish secondary education, for both French and Dutch. It is based on previous research that has shown the effectiveness of literary texts and literature education in achieving these educational goals. The concrete teaching modules will be developed around Belgian literature, but the research-based didactic methods will be valid for other contexts as well. The project you apply for (P1) investigates the possibility and methods of cross-linguistic collaboration (Dutch-French) to promote critical literacy and intercultural competencies through the use of Belgian literature. The second project (P2), that is already being carried out, focuses on the use of literary texts in civic education, again with a specific focus on Belgian literature.
As a doctoral researcher, you design didactic methods, elaborate concrete teaching material, and conduct a pilot study in secondary schools in Flanders. To do so, you work together with partners from the field. You make your results practical and communicate them so that teachers can use them. You will work on a dissertation, write scientific articles and present your research at conferences. You work under the supervision of professors Elke Brems, Elke D'hoker and Reine Meylaerts.
Profile
- You have a master's degree in literature, translation, or another relevant discipline (specialisation in Dutch or French literature is a plus)
- You have some didactic experience and, preferably, a degree in Teaching languages (Educational MA or equivalent degree).
- You have obtained excellent results at BA and MA level, especially for your BA paper and MA thesis.
- You are independent, motivated, sociable and eager to learn
- You have excellent organisational, communication and research skills
- You have C2-level for Dutch and C1-level for French
- You have a good knowledge of English
- You have a passion for literature
Offer
We offer a fully-funded, full-time PhD scholarship at the Faculty of Arts of KU Leuven. Your project runs for three years and starts on 1 October 2025.
- You follow a doctoral programme in which you develop academic and non-academic skills
- You have a budget to participate in international conferences, summer schools, workshops, etc.
- You will be part of a dynamic group of researchers
- Your research is socially oriented: you will visit schools and consult with teachers and pupils. Your research can make a difference in Flemish education.
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Elke Brems, tel.: +32 2 609 37 49, mail:
[email protected] We expect your application to be accompanied by a cover letter and a CV.
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.
