PhD Stipend: Futures Literacy and Action Competence in PBL-based STEM Education (FutureSTEM Project)
The Technical Faculty of IT and Design at Aalborg University, in collaboration with the Department of Sustainability and Planning and the Aalborg Centre for Problem Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability under UNESCO (UCPBL), offers a PhD stipend focused on 'Futures Literacy and Action Competence in PBL-based STEM Education.' This position is part of the FutureSTEM project, funded by Region Nordjylland through Teknologipagtspuljen, aiming to increase young people's interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) across the region.
The FutureSTEM project seeks to advance students' futures literacy and action competence in STEM education by integrating futures-oriented teaching with societal challenges. UNESCO defines Futures Literacy as the ability to imagine diverse futures and use these perspectives to reinterpret the present. The project will develop research-based principles, tools, and methods for teachers to incorporate futures thinking into problem-based learning (PBL) STEM teaching, enhancing students' capacity to prepare for and act within complex societal systems. Through hopeful scenarios and practice-oriented problem-solving, the project aims to empower students towards sustainable futures, both locally and globally.
This design-based research initiative involves partners from all educational levels, including primary, high school, vocational, and higher education. The PhD candidate will contribute to the development and evaluation of futures literacy principles, tools, and methods in teaching practice, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Applicants are encouraged to shape and adapt the project's methods in line with their research questions and objectives.
Applicants should have experience and interest in design-based research in STEM education, preferably across various educational levels. Competencies in futures literacy and action competence in STEM are highly valued. Proficiency in Danish or another Scandinavian language is required due to close collaboration with local teachers. Prior experience in research dissemination and publication is preferred.
The PhD candidate will join an active research environment at UCPBL and the Institute of Advanced Study in PBL (IAS PBL). Supervisors for this position are Associate Professor Stine Ejsing-Duun (principal supervisor) and Associate Professor Søren Hansen (co-supervisor). The PhD programme is a three-year, full-time study within the regular PhD framework, requiring completion of PhD courses (30 ECTS), teaching or knowledge dissemination activities, and an external research stay (preferably 3-6 months abroad).
Applicants must submit a motivated letter, a project proposal (maximum six pages), CV, diplomas and transcripts, and a publication list (if relevant). Applications are accepted in Danish or English and must be submitted electronically via Aalborg University's recruitment system. The university values diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds.
Funding is provided through a PhD stipend, with salary and terms governed by the AC collective agreement. The start date is expected to be 1 July 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The assessment process includes shortlisting and evaluation by qualified experts. For questions about the project, contact Lykke Brogaard Bertel. For stipend and practical application queries, contact Lisbeth Diinhoff.
Aalborg University is an international institution with campuses in Aalborg, Esbjerg, and Copenhagen, offering real-world-oriented education and world-class research. The university is committed to diversity, safety, and integrity in its hiring process.
For further details and to apply, visit the application link provided.
