LUCA School of Arts is a creative hub for almost 5,000 people: more than 4,000 students and 800 colleagues. LUCA offers them an educational and research environment to further develop their creative talent. We do this through higher education courses in the broad domain of the arts, and through artistic research. LUCA has campuses in four cities: Ghent, Brussels, Leuven and Genk. For LUCA, KU Leuven is the research environment in which artistic research is embedded. An associated Faculty of Arts was established within the Human Sciences group, of which researchers in the arts are members. Nearly 150 lecturers, postdocs, PhD students and project staff have been appointed with an artistic research assignment in audiovisual arts, visual arts, design, music, drama...
Developing, implementing and coordinating practice-oriented artistic research and educational tasks are among the responsibilities of this position. You work in a changing design context where art education must be nourished with innovative views. Sustainability, technology and diversity are the basis for education that trains groundbreaking individuals. This requires a new position for the education program and research within design.
Within the Product Design course of LUCA School of Arts, Campus C-Mine and the research Unit Inter-Actions, we recognize the crucial role of design in tackling global challenges such as climate change, ecological issues, social inequality, and economic sustainability. We oppose linear production methods, methods of extraction and exploitation and actively look for alternatives that take into account the different actors within existing ecosystems and contexts. Participatory design and research methods play an important role within the Inter-Actons research group and the Product Design course, as does the exploratory research of innovative materials and production methods.
We are therefore looking for a socially committed assistant professor to strengthen our team and contribute to our pursuit of resilient, sustainable 'futures'. The assistant professor has expertise and demonstrable relevance in circular or regenerative methods and practices to shape sustainable products and redesign existing production flows to the needs of existing ecosystems and contexts. We are looking for a strong profile that meets the needs of these ecosystems and contexts can analyze, connect actors and build a strong network with relevant partners in the field.
Various terms are used in both literature and practice to reinforce the emphasis on an ecological approach in design. Each term has its own focus and characteristics. However, within the field of design there are several movements that often show significant overlap. The person who takes on the role of assistant professor will therefore have to find his/her/their place within one or more (or other, not mentioned here) domains of this ecological approach. For example, in the research at LUCA we currently see a strong focus on sustainable design, design that is sustainable and argues against design that is exchangeable and replaceable too quickly due to a limited lifespan. In addition, the campus also uses the term 'circular design', which focuses on re-examining existing systems (of design and production).
Website unit
Duties
Research
The candidate will be expected to foster transdisciplinary collaborations, both within and beyond academia, to redefine the role of product design in advancing sustainability. This includes: developing courses that equip students with the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively about sustainability, leading research projects that address both local and global sustainability challenges, and actively participating in and contributing to sustainability dialogues and movements at grassroots level.
As an assistant professor, you lead research within a specific research cluster.
• You build and supervise a team of doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers and you coordinate the joint activities of the cluster.
• You actively look for external research funding.
• You publish in relevant academic-artistic channels.
• You will create, display and exhibit material relevant to your research and teaching focus.
Teaching
Teaching tasks comprise 50% of the assignment:
• Designing educational activities, study guidance and educational concepts to offer education tailored to the student audience within the field of design.
• Developing educational activities in accordance with LUCA's vision on activating and research-based education and making use of the opportunities for educational professionalization that LUCA offers.
• Guiding students in conceiving both the artistic and reflective parts of final tests and interim research assignments.
• Being the holder of a course unit and coordinator of a group of course units.
• Managing assistants within a course unit or a cluster of course units.
• Providing high-quality education within the field of design, with a clear commitment to the quality of the training as a whole.
• Scientific, social and internal services are also part of your assignment.
Service
You are prepared to provide scientific, social and internal services.
Profile
• You have a PhD in an area relevant to design and ecological thinking. You have a strong vision on value-based transitions regarding design, technology and sustainability.
• You have a solid background in Design with strong expertise in design, material knowledge and sustainable or circular production processes.
• You have experience in artistic research within a design context, and can develop an innovative line of research within this domain.
• You have a strong practice-oriented research file, supported by demonstrable academic and professional valorization.
• You have a relevant and demonstrable (inter)national network, including (knowledge) organizations within and outside the context of design and education.
• You are a team player and an experienced leader who can support various groups of teachers/researchers.
• You will work closely with the other Inter-Actions researchers, the coordinator, and the teachers from Design and other education departments. You actively participate in linking education, research and curriculum development, daily operational activities, developing and disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge, and helping students acquire research skills.
• You are communicative and can express yourself fluently in Dutch and English in accordance with the language requirements that apply in Flemish higher education. At the start of the teaching assignment you must master the language of instruction at CEFR level B1. The administrative language in LUCA is Dutch. If you do not know Dutch or do not know enough Dutch upon recruitment, LUCA provides an integration process with the aim of mastering Dutch at CEFR level B2 within 5 years of appointment.
• You have a loyal attitude and endorse the assignment, mission, vision and policy of LUCA.
Offer
At LUCA you will find yourself in an environment where respect and integrity define our basic attitude, we see sustainability and diversity as an asset and quality is our driving force. In the coming years, we want to give LUCA an identity as an actor in society, make our training institute part of a laboratory, supplement our offering with demand-driven initiatives, and open up our multi-campus reality into a network. You will therefore find yourself in a stimulating environment in which we offer numerous opportunities to give your own interpretation on your main campus in Genk or on one of the other campuses of LUCA School of Arts.
LUCA School of Arts wants to create an environment in which all talents can develop to their maximum potential, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and want to help shape an inclusive organization.
LUCA offers a full-time appointment (100%) of indefinite duration in the vacant position of lecturer (scale 528), tenure is possible at a later stage in accordance with the existing rules and procedures. You will also acquire the status of Special Guest Lecturer in the Arts. With this status you can be a promoter of doctorates in the arts and as a promoter you can submit projects to internal funds of the KU Leuven. More information about the salary scales can be found on the website of the Flemish government (www.ond.vlaanderen.be). The expected start date is September 2025.
In addition, we offer a full refund for commuting by public transport and/or bicycle. We offer the option of teleworking, discounts through joint purchasing, a teacher card and the option to take out hospitalization insurance at a favorable rate.
Interested?
More information is available from research head Niels Hendriks (niels.hendriks@luca-arts.be) and senior researcher Kristof Vrancken (kristof.vrancken@luca-arts.be).
Interested parties can apply for several positions.
The nomination contains a file consisting of:
1. a motivation letter
2. a curriculum vitae
3. a portfolio
4. a certificate of diploma (if applicable, a declaration of equivalence)
5. a biosketch: an open text of a maximum of two pages in which you provide a synthesis of the essence of your past career and your future plans:
· a first part with the crucial elements from your past career, with attention to their importance and impact
· a second part with the main points of your future activities (with an emphasis on the first 5 years)
· a third part about your added value and opportunities for collaboration with the existing entities within LUCA School of Arts and KULeuven.
Only complete files are accepted.
An initial job interview takes place with candidates who are selected after a pre-selection on file. The conversation is preceded by an interactive workshop of maximum 30 minutes, which is open to LUCA staff members.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
