Marianne Moyaert

The Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at KU Leuven invites applications for a PhD position focused on the emancipatory potential of interreligious dialogical learning (ILD) in worldview education in Flanders. This innovative research project, conducted in collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, offers a joint doctoral trajectory leading to a double PhD degree. The faculty is internationally recognized for its research and education on religion from historical, systematic, and societal perspectives, and is committed to academic excellence, critical reflection, and societal engagement. The project aims to shift the focus of ILD from individual attitudes and harmony to a critical pedagogical approach, emphasizing power dynamics, hegemonies, and privileges within educational practices. The research begins with the development of a theoretical framework connecting ILD with critical theories on religion, race, and secularism, as well as insights from critical pedagogy. Empirical fieldwork will be conducted in worldview education classrooms in Flanders, where ILD is now a mandatory part of the curriculum and teachers face significant challenges in its implementation. As a PhD candidate, you will design, test, and iteratively refine pedagogical interventions in collaboration with teachers and the societal partner Axcent vzw. You will collect data using qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus groups, document analysis, and participant observations. Your analysis will pay particular attention to power, hegemony, privilege, and mechanisms of exclusion. The project aims not only to analyze but also to develop and implement pedagogical alternatives for critical ILD, bridging theoretical insights and educational practice to address structural inequalities. Applicants must hold a master’s degree in religious studies, theology, educational sciences, pedagogical sciences, or a related discipline. Experience with qualitative empirical research is required, preferably including design-based or practice-oriented research. Excellent command of Dutch (for fieldwork) and English is mandatory. Candidates should have a substantive interest in critical pedagogy and/or critical approaches to religion, race, gender, and secularism, and possess (inter)worldview sensitivity. Familiarity with the Flemish educational context, especially Catholic and Community Education, is preferred. Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills are essential, and experience with curriculum development or pedagogical material design is an asset. Candidates must meet the requirements for admission to the doctoral program in Theology or Religious Studies at KU Leuven. The position offers a full-time doctoral scholarship for one year, renewable up to four years in total, with salary according to KU Leuven scales. A budget is provided for conference participation, and there are extensive opportunities for training, professional development, and international networking. The research environment is stimulating, collegial, and interdisciplinary, with a strong emphasis on critical reflection and societal engagement. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, and strives to create an environment where all talents can fully develop. To apply, submit a motivation letter (maximum two pages) and a curriculum vitae via the KU Leuven job portal. For further information about the project, including the state-of-the-art document, contact Prof. Dr. Marianne Moyaert at [email protected]. Questions regarding accessibility or support options can be directed to [email protected]. The application deadline is May 3, 2026.

KU Leuven’s Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies is offering a three-year postdoctoral position at 0.75 FTE on Interreligious Dialogue, Power and Global Discourses . The project asks how interreligious dialogue (IRD) became a global response to religious diversity, conflict, and social cohesion, and how religious, secular, and colonial assumptions continue to shape it. The successful candidate will lead the research package on the global genealogies and discourses of interreligious dialogue. The role involves building and analyzing an international corpus of policy documents, ecclesiastical texts, and statements from international religious organizations, especially in relation to the post-9/11 security shift and debates around violence, extremism, citizenship, and social cohesion. The research uses Discourse-Historical Analysis, qualitative methods, and NVivo, and will contribute to publications in international peer-reviewed journals. The postdoctoral researcher will also play a key role in the project’s comparative synthesis, helping develop a power-sensitive theoretical framework that links discursive research with ethnographic studies in Flanders and Morocco. The position is embedded in an interdisciplinary environment spanning theology, anthropology, and religious studies, with close collaboration with Prof. Marianne Moyaert and Prof. Nadia Fadil. Applicants should hold, or be near completion of, a PhD in religious studies, theology, social sciences, or social and cultural anthropology with a focus on religion, or a related discipline. Experience in qualitative research is expected; expertise in discourse analysis, ethnography, and tools such as NVivo is a strong asset. The post is aimed at researchers with a strong international publication profile, independent project leadership skills, and an interest in critical approaches to religion, secularism, coloniality, and power. The appointment includes competitive compensation according to KU Leuven scales and a research budget for conferences, workshops, and training. Applications must be submitted via the online system by 2026-10-16. Required materials are a cover letter (max. two pages), CV, and two writing samples.

KU Leuven is recruiting a doctoral researcher for a fully funded PhD project on anthropological research into interreligious dialogue in Morocco. The project is based in the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology and the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, and is part of the larger comparative project Interreligious Dialogue between Promise and Power: A Comparative Study of Belgium/Flanders and Morocco . The position combines anthropology, theology, religious studies, and education in an interdisciplinary team of two PhD researchers and one postdoc. The research focuses on ethnographic and qualitative study of interreligious dialogue, Jewish-Muslim heritage, religious diversity, and education in Southern Morocco. The successful candidate will examine how coexistence is experienced and negotiated in schools, heritage sites, pilgrimage contexts, and community initiatives, with particular attention to Islamic ethical traditions, shared Amazigh heritage, and contemporary efforts to promote pluralism and dialogue. Supervision is provided by Prof. Nadia Fadil and Prof. Marianne Moyaert at KU Leuven, with external supervision from Professor Farid El Asri of the Université Internationale de Rabat. The researcher will be affiliated with the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology and also with the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, while conducting extended fieldwork in Morocco. The post offers a fully funded full-time PhD scholarship for one year, renewable up to four years after positive evaluation at the first doctoral committee meeting in month 9. A competitive salary follows KU Leuven regulations, and a research budget is available for conferences, training, and fieldwork. Eligibility highlights include a master’s degree in Anthropology, Middle Eastern Studies, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, Qualitative Sociology, or a related discipline; strong qualitative and ethnographic research experience; familiarity with the Moroccan context; excellent English; and competence in French and/or Moroccan Arabic (Darija) or Standard Arabic. Knowledge of Amazigh (Tashelhit) is an advantage. Applications require a motivation letter, CV, and writing sample. The deadline is 2026-10-16.