International PhD Studentship: Education 4.0: Design of Cyber-Physical Social Systems for Advancing Personalized Learning

SUPERVISORS: Prof. Dirk Schaefer, Dr Sepher Maleki (School of Engineering) 

BACKGROUND: To prepare future graduates for work, universities must align their teaching and processes with technological advancements. Education 4.0 is an approach to learning that aligns itself with the fourth industrial revolution. As part of Education 4.0, we are likely to see a more profound fusion of technology into the teaching process. The ultimate purpose of utilizing this technology and adopting new methods is to place students at the centre of the education process, shifting the focus from teaching to learning. HEIs are moving towards a more personalized way of learning. Personalized learning refers to instruction in which the pace of learning and the instructional approach are optimized for the needs of each learner. Learning objectives, instructional practices, instructional content and assessment vehicles may vary based on learner needs. Education 4.0 embraces digitalisation and data analytics to treat each student as an individual, understanding that everyone's learning needs and desired outcomes will be different. 

AIM and SCOPE:  The aim of this project is to explore Cyber-Physical Social Systems as educational platforms for advancing personalized learning. The project consists of five phases: (1) Background research and literature review on Education 4.0, personalized learning, cyber-physical technical and social systems. (2) Identification of requirements for the design and realization of future CPSSs for personalized learning from the perspectives of learners, educators, and learning technologists. (3) Design of a theoretical framework for CPSSs for personalized learning in the context of Engineering Education. (4) Development of a basic prototype system and demonstrator in the context of a suitable Engineering class. (5) Implementation, test znd validation of the proof-of-concept system. 

RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT: You will work within a vibrant and rapidly growing community of PhD students in the School of Engineering and have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from Education, Psychology, Computer Science, and other units across the College of Science. 

FUNDING: This is a fully-funded studentship for three years, applicable to Home/EU/International applicants. It covers all fees and provides an annual stipend of £16,062 paid in monthly instalments. 

REQUIRED SKILLS: Applicants must have a First or Upper Second Class honours degree in a relevant area. Candidates with background in Engineering Education, Engineering Design and Systems Engineering, or Computer Science are strongly encouraged to apply. Excellent English language communication skills (IELTS score of 6.5 or above for non-native speakers) and the ability to work to deadlines are essential.

HOW TO APPLY:  Please apply through the University of Lincoln's online system apply here with a CV, covering letter, certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts, and a personal statement outlining your approach to the project and how your qualifications meet the requirements, and contact details for at least two academic references. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly to arrange a suitable time for an interview. Applications are reviewed continuously until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is 1^st October 2022 or earlier. Closing date: Monday 29^th August 2022.

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