PhD in Art-Science-Action Integration & Challenge-Based Sustainability Education

The Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University invites applications for a PhD position on the role of art-science-action integration and challenge-based learning towards transformative sustainability education.

Your job
The PhD candidate will investigate how higher education can prepare students to have meaningful contributions in complex sustainability challenges. Specifically, the PhD candidate will study how the integration of academic knowledge, the skills to make academic knowledge actionable in these complex challenges, and the use of artistic expressions can strengthen students’ professional impact.

A specific focus in the research lies on challenge-based learning environments, in which students from different disciplinary backgrounds work with educators, artists and societal partners on real-world sustainability issues. Situated at the intersection of sustainability education, transformative learning, challenge-based learning and arts-based interventions, the project combines scientific ambitions with the wish of the research having impact within Utrecht University and beyond. It aims to advance knowledge on transformative sustainability education while contributing to the development of effective and inclusive educational practices.

Your role and research
As a PhD candidate, you will develop and carry out an independent research programme within a broader project. Together with an interdisciplinary supervisory team and a range of academic and societal partners, you will explore how knowledge, skills and artistic expression can be combined to support sustainability learning and help students engage with complex sustainability challenges. Your research may address questions such as:

• How can artistic practices contribute to cognitive, affective and action-oriented sustainability learning?
• How can challenge-based education connect disciplinary knowledge with the experiences and priorities of societal partners?
• What opportunities and tensions arise when artists, scientists, educators and societal actors collaborate?
• How can skills be taught so that they enable action in practice?
• What are the (educational or institutional) conditions that enable art-science collaborations that can have a real impact on student learning?

Your work will include designing and conducting empirical research in higher-education settings, analysing qualitative and/or quantitative data, and translating findings into both academic and practical outputs. Possible methods include interviews, surveys, observations, focus groups and the analysis of student work. The precise research questions and methodological approach will be developed together with the supervisory team.

You will also contribute to the evaluation and further development of sustainability skills and challenge-based courses, and help strengthen collaboration between educators, students, artists and societal partners. You will have opportunities to share your findings at conferences and workshops and to publish in international peer-reviewed journals. As part of the Copernicus Institute research community, you will also participate in relevant doctoral training activities.