PhD position ‘ affective and discursive governance of Teach ’ Kulak

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN

This doctoral project focuses on the growing transnational diffusion of policy ideas in teacher education. Using Teach for All as a case-study, the project aims to better understand how and why education polices travel across time and space. While policy mobility is driven by a wide range of factors, this project explicitly focusses on how Teach for All mobilizes affect (e.g., hopes, fears and aspirations) and particular orientations to teaching that encourage people to support, promote or resist specific policies.

The project combines theory development with qualitative fieldwork in the Belgian and French contexts.

The project requires a PhD candidate who combines theoretical curiosity with methodological rigor. You can build and sustain research relationships in an ethically sensitive and persistent manner and feel comfortable engaging in qualitative fieldwork with sometimes difficult-to-access actors. You are proficient in English (C1). A good working knowledge of Dutch and/or French (minimum B1) is a strong asset for the empirical work in this project.

You hold a Master’s degree in educational sciences or a related field (e.g., sociology) and are highly motivated to engage with this research topic.

Your main workplace will be KU Leuven Kulak in Kortrijk (Belgium). At Kulak, you will be part of a small-scale yet internationally oriented academic community. The international composition of the supervisory team (supervisors: Eline Vanassche from KU Leuven Kulak and Mathias Decuypere from PH Zurich) offers you the opportunity to engage with different research groups and academic cultures. You will be supported through their respective research environments, including seminars and doctoral guidance structures.

• You have a strong interest in the international and transnational dimensions of education and in researching educational practice beyond national borders.
• You have a clear affinity with qualitative research and are willing to further develop this.
• You hold a Master’s degree in educational sciences or a related discipline (e.g., sociology).
• You have a strong academic track record and have demonstrated academic excellence throughout your studies.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English (C1). A good working knowledge of Dutch and/or French (minimum B1) is a strong asset for the empirical work in this project.
• You take active responsibility for the doctoral project.
• You are intellectually curious and willing to explore new ideas, concepts, theoretical frameworks, and research methods.
• You can build trusting relationships with participants.
• You are proactive and persistent, and not deterred by the challenges of gaining access to field sites.
• A full-time appointment as a doctoral researcher, initially for a period of one year, with the possibility of extension up to a total of four years following a positive evaluation.
• The fellowship is a non-taxable scholarship.
• Your main workplace will be KU Leuven Kulak in Kortrijk.
• You will join an engaging, international, and collegial working environment that offers strong support to develop into an excellent researcher and critical academic professional.
• Supervision will be provided by Eline Vanassche (KU Leuven Kulak) and Mathias Decuypere (PH Zurich).
• KU Leuven offers a range of benefits to its employees, including flexible working arrangements, hospitalisation insurance, eco vouchers, reimbursement of commuting costs by public transport, affordable on-campus meals, access to a KU Leuven bicycle programme, and more.
• Starting date: as soon as possible.

Please submit your application online by 26 March 2026, including the following documents:

• A detailed CV (maximum 2 pages).
• Records of your completed and current study programmes.
• A motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you should be selected for this position and demonstrating your background, skills, and motivation for pursuing a PhD on this project. In your motivation letter, please write one paragraph on how you envisage conducting research in transnational and multilinguistic contexts, and which considerations you consider…