Högskolan Väst, School of Business, Economics and IT
University West is driven by a commitment to making a difference. Through education and research, we contribute to innovation, positive societal development, and a sustainable world. We are a modern higher education institution undergoing strong development and growth. Our distinctive profile, Work Integrated Learning (WIL), is embedded in everything we do, and collaboration with the wider society is a key priority.
University West has one of the highest application rates in Sweden, and a high proportion of our graduates successfully establish themselves in the labour market. The University has approximately 13,000 students and more than 700 employees. Our attractive campus is centrally located in Trollhättan and provides a vibrant meeting place for knowledge, ideas, cultures, and people.
We actively promote an inclusive working environment based on equal terms and gender equality, and we value the qualities that diversity brings to our organisation.
Those of us who work at University West make a difference every day.
Would you like to do the same?
University West is recruiting a Senior Lecturer in Sustainability!
The School of Business, Economics and IT is currently welcoming new staff to an environment in which new programmes, courses, research initiatives, and academic contexts are being developed. The School consists of three growing research and education clusters within the social sciences Politics and Society, Economics, and Informatics and Media. These clusters are under development, and new staff will have opportunity to shape their content and make a lasting contribution to these academic environments. Organizationally, staff are placed in one of the following divisions according to their field: The Division of Business Administration and Economics, The Division of Media and Design, The Division of Informatics, and the Division of Politics, Law and Statistics. This position will be based at The Division of Politics, Law and Statistics.
The Politics and Society cluster conducts research and education in political science, law, statistics, work-integrated learning, sustainability, and security studies. This includes, for example, research on diplomacy, urban planning, forest governance, environmental ethics, security and warfare, democracy, political parties, citizenship, international norms, and decision-making. The department currently offers a three-year international bachelor’s programme in Political Science, International Affairs, with specialization in Sustainability and Security, as well as an international master’s programme in Work-Integrated Learning with a specialization in Politics, and a master’s programme in Work-Integrated Learning with a specialization in Sustainable Development. You can read more about the programmes here: University West - Politics and Society.
Job description:
We seek a colleague within the humanities or social sciences with expertise in the sustainability field. The position primarily involves research and teaching at both undergraduate and advanced levels. Teaching in the department's programmes is conducted in English. It is expected, however, that you are willing to acquire proficiency in Swedish over time.
As a Senior Lecturer in Sustainability, you are expected, based on your qualifications and expertise, to contribute to the development of the academic environment, primarily within the Politics and Society cluster. In terms of research, this includes, for example, applying for research funding, publishing in international journals, mentoring junior researchers, and participating in seminar activities. In terms of teaching, in addition to teaching and related duties, you are also expected, based on your experience and qualifications, to take on pedagogical leadership in developing courses, programmes, and teaching teams.
There are strong opportunities to take on roles and assignments at the department, school, and university level, with the possibility to contribute to leadership, quality assurance, and development work aimed at creating high-quality research-based education and education-informed research.
The school offers an open and collaborative environment with strong links to industry, the public sector, and international research networks.
In addition to teaching and research, administrative duties are also included in the position.
Qualification requirements:
- Demonstrated pedagogical competence (Chapter 4, Section 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance). Applicants who lack pedagogical qualifications from an academic environment must demonstrate equivalent competence, which may have been acquired outside academia.
- Completed higher education pedagogical training equivalent to at least ten weeks, or equivalent competence. If such training has not been completed, employment may still be offered provided that the appointee completes the training within the first two years of employment.
- A PhD in in the humanities or social sciences or equivalent scientific competence or other professional expertise of relevance to the subject area and duties of the position (Chapter 4, Section 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance).
Additional qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality teaching, primarily within the field of Sustainablity.
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to or build academic environments, for example through external research funding, publications in international journals, and the general development of research environments. Assessment of competence will take into account academic merits and time elapsed since completion of the PhD.
- Documented or demonstrated ability to contribute to or build academic environments through pedagogical leadership, for example through course or programme development, leadership of teaching teams, or similar group activities. Assessment of competence will take into account academic merits, publication traditions within the field, and time elapsed since completion of the PhD.
- Documented ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, students, and external partners.
Other relevant, but not mandatory qualifications:
- Experience of international and multicultural environments.
Personal abilities:
The most important personal qualities are a strong sense of responsibility, commitment, curiosity, responsiveness, pragmatism, and the ability to engage in constructive critical analysis, both within the organization and in teaching and research. Great importance will be placed on your ability to contribute to a positive work environment within the division, the cluster, and the department.
Assessment criteria:
Assessment criteria for appointment include teaching expertise, scholarly expertise, collaborative skills, administrative skills, leadership skills, and other relevant professional expertise.
For this position, teaching and scholarly expertise will be given equal weight and prioritized first. Collaborative and leadership skills will be given equal weight and prioritized second. Administrative skills and other professional expertise will be given equal weight and prioritized third.
When appointing a Senior Lecturer, teaching expertise shall be given the same level of consideration as other qualification criteria. Assessment will take into account the subject area, subject description, and duties of the position.
Application:
This is a permanent, full-time position. A six-month probationary period may be applied.
The selection process will, in addition to external peer review, include interviews, work samples (such as trial lectures), and reference checks.
Applications must be submitted digitally via the university’s recruitment system. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application is complete and submitted by the application deadline. Materials that cannot be submitted digitally, such as books or publications, should be clearly marked with reference number R 2026/100 and submitted in one copy. For information on how to structure your application, please see: University West - Job opportunities.
The application is made to:
University West
HR Department
SE-461 86 Trollhättan
Sweden
Closing date for applications: 2026-06-16.
If you want to learn more about the Swedish Academia please visit:
A Beginner's Guide to Swedish Academia - Young Academy of Sweden
We decline all direct contact from staffing and recruitment agencies, as well as advertisers of recruitment services.
Type of employment Permanent position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to agreement
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Trollhättan
County Västra Götalands län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2026/100
Contact
Union representative
Published 26.May.2026
Last application date 16.Jun.2026
