Professor in Learning Technologies & Distance Education (100%, open rank) at FernUni
Brig-Glis, VS, Switzerland -
Full Time


Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 May, 25

Salary

0.0

Posted On

11 Feb, 25

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

No

Telecommute

No

Sponsor Visa

No

Skills

Teaching, Distance Learning, Learning, Technology, Interdisciplinary Research, Collaboration, Digital Learning, Artificial Intelligence

Industry

Education Management

Description

Based on a modern campus in Brig, UniDistance Suisse is a university institute accredited under the HEdA, which for over 30 years has been offering Bachelor’s, Master’s and continuing education programmes in the fields of law, psychology, mathematics, IT, economics and history. These programmes are designed to be taken in parallel with family life, a professional or sporting career, thanks to a flexible distance learning model.
UniDistance Suisse maintains high quality standards in both university teaching and research. The institute is aiming for university reaccreditation in 2027 to become the University of Valais, marking a historic step for the institution and the canton.
With almost 2,400 students, UniDistance Suisse is the leader in distance education in Switzerland. The institute employs more than 550 staff from all over Switzerland and abroad, nearly 450 of whom are involved in teaching and research, and are recognised experts in their respective fields.
To strengthen and further develop our competencies in digital teaching and learning, we are opening a position for a:

PROFESSOR IN LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES & DISTANCE EDUCATION (100%, OPEN RANK)

Place of work: Brig (partly home office possible)
Begin of work: 1st December 2025 or upon agreement
UniDistance Suisse invites applications for the position of Professor in Learning Technologies & Distance Education. The new professor will lead innovative disciplinary and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of education, technology, and society. Candidates are expected to establish a research agenda that strengthens UniDistance’s position as a leader in digital learning and contribute to advancing distance education through innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence and data-driven methods. Teaching obligations will consist of 2 modules per year for an assistant professor and 4 modules per year for an associate or full professor. Assistant professors will have 125% of assistant positions, and associate and full professors will have 200%. Professors will also supervise PhD students in the field of digital distance teaching and learning. The new professor will play a key role in establishing a center for digital learning and teaching and will collaborate with the Educational Development Unit in Distance Learning of UniDistance Suisse to ensure innovative and effective approaches to digital distance education. Collaboration with colleagues across faculties will also be crucial. We seek a professor who will contribute to the overall development of UniDistance Suisse beyond the boundaries of the discipline.

Responsibilities
  • Conduct innovative research in digital distance teaching and learning within higher education.
  • Establish and lead an interdisciplinary competence center for digital distance teaching and learning and network with other national and international competence centers in this field.
  • Play a strategic role in advancing UniDistance Suisse’s position as a leader in distance education and innovative learning methodologies.
  • Supervise doctoral and master students conducting research in digital distance teaching and learning.
  • Publish research findings in reputable, peer-reviewed journals focusing on digital teaching, learning, and educational technologies.
  • Acquire competitive third-party funding (e.g., from the Swiss National Science Foundation and other Swiss or international research funding organizations).
  • Explore and implement emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and/or data-driven approaches to enhance digital teaching and learning).
  • Collaborate with professors across UniDistance Suisse to conduct interdisciplinary research and develop and improve study programs and modules, integrating research-based approaches and innovative tools focusing on distance education.
  • Transfer knowledge to broader audiences through translational activities.
  • Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in digital teaching and learning by designing tools and methods that support learners of all backgrounds and abilities.
  • Actively engage in academic self-administration and governance of UniDistance Suisse.
Loading...