Research Fellow in Civic and Citizenship Education

About the Role

The University of Bath hosts the International Study Centre (ISC) for the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS), a major comparative research programme exploring how young people in 27 countries are prepared for citizenship. Funded by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), ICCS informs educational policy and practice worldwide.

We are seeking a Research Fellow to join this internationally recognised centre and contribute to research shaping global education systems.

This role focuses on developing and implementing the Grade 11 module of ICCS, examining civic learning among older adolescents, particularly in vocational education pathways. You will engage in international comparative research, applying advanced quantitative methods to analyse large-scale datasets and generate insights that influence policy globally.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading international research: Conducting high-quality studies with a particular focus on how vocational education across Europe shapes young people’s civic knowledge, attitudes, and engagement.
• Advanced data analysis: Applying methods such as IRT, SEM, and MG-CFA, using R, Python, or Mplus.
• Global collaboration: Coordinating expert meetings and maintaining partnerships with international collaborators, governments, and academic institutions.
• Research leadership: Developing conceptual frameworks, assessment instruments, and analytical strategies, supporting funding applications, and contributing to ISC’s research agenda.

This is an excellent opportunity to make a global impact in civic and citizenship education while advancing your career in a supportive, internationally connected environment.

About you

We seek a motivated Research Fellow with expertise in civic and citizenship education and experience with international large-scale assessment datasets such as ICCS. You should be proactive, collaborative, and committed to academic excellence.

You will have:

• Qualifications: A doctorate in education, social sciences, applied statistics or policy analysis, with expertise in civic and citizenship education or related fields.
• Research expertise: Strong conceptual knowledge of civic and citizenship education, a solid understanding of vocational education systems (particularly in Europe), and proficiency in advanced quantitative methods.
• Communication and leadership: Excellent written and presentation skills, along with strong organisational skills to manage complex projects.
• Collaborative and innovative mindset: Commitment to teamwork, ethical research, and innovation, with a record of building networks and securing funding.

Further information

This is a full time position fixed until June 2029.

For an informal discussion relating to this vacancy, please contact Professor Andres Sandoval Hernandez (ash22@bath.ac.uk) or Dr Maria Magdalena Isac (mmi49@bath.ac.uk).

About the University

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

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