The School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for the position of associate professor of cultural and creative industries based at the dramaturgy section within the Department of Dramaturgy and Musicology.
The associate professorship is a permanent, full-time position. The appointment begins on 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.
The positionStudies of cultural and creative industries (CCI) are central to several departments at the School of Communication and Culture, including the interdisciplinary milieu behind the supplementary BA subject in CCI, which is based at the Department of Dramaturgy and Musicology. To strengthen both research and teaching in this area, we are looking for an applicant with a strong profile in CCI studies. Applicants must be able to document broad knowledge of key topics in CCI, including what characterises CCI as a sector – for example, in relation to other sectors, areas of society and private or public institutions – and/or as shaped by social, cultural, political, financial, legal and media conditions.
Applicants must demonstrate a comparative interest in businesses across the cultural and creative industries – for example, the screen industry, publishing, podcasting and gaming – along with competences especially in qualitative methods and in critical, innovative, problem-based and/or solution-oriented research perspectives in relation to or in collaboration with CCI partners. As many CCI businesses operate within media or are related to media, experience with theories and practices from media studies as applied to CCI will be considered an advantage.
In sum, we are looking for an innovative and dedicated applicant who will enhance the department’s research and teaching profiles nationally and internationally, while also contributing to Aarhus University’s core activities in the areas of research, teaching and supervision, talent development and knowledge exchange.
ResearchThe successful applicant will have a solid publication record in the subject areas outlined above and will, through future research activities, contribute to developing the research profile and academic environment surrounding the supplementary subject in CCI, along with existing agendas in the involved departments and sections (Dramaturgy and Musicology,
Aesthetics and Culture and
Media Studies), including the
Center for Cultural Evaluation. In their applications, applicants are expected to outline how current and planned research projects will contribute to fulfilling this expectation.
The successful applicant will be expected to publish original peer-reviewed research internationally, and to make scholarly contributions to developments within this field. The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to research initiatives related to both the field of CCI and the wider research community at the school, in terms of new collaborative research projects with internal and external partners and in connection with securing external research funding.
Teaching and supervisionWe are looking for applicants with teaching and supervision experience in the field of CCI at university level.
The successful applicant will be expected to teach and supervise on the supplementary BA subject in CCI (see disciplines and academic regulations here) and to engage in other teaching and supervision activities related to this subject area. The successful applicant will also be expected to supervise PhD students affiliated with the section and to teach interdisciplinary courses, such as internationalisation electives. Finally, the successful applicant will be expected to apply innovative teaching methods.
As the successful applicant will also be expected to contribute to the ongoing development of curricula, including the supplementary subject in CCI and related disciplines in other programmes, experience in degree programme and curriculum development at universities or similar institutions will be an advantage.
The successful applicant will be expected to teach in English and, within a three-year period, acquire proficiency in Danish.
Talent developmentWe are looking for applicants with experience supervising students at both BA and MA levels. The successful applicant will be expected to supervise students at both levels and to help develop the careers of early-career researchers. Additionally, the successful applicant will be expected to recruit and supervise PhD students and to participate in the development and implementation of PhD courses within the field.
Knowledge exchangeThe successful applicant will be expected to engage in knowledge exchange, particularly in terms of research collaborations with CCI enterprises, but also through government consultancy, collaboration with civil society and the public dissemination of knowledge.
The successful applicant will have excellent opportunities to engage in relevant collaborative initiatives with partners both inside and outside Aarhus University. This includes the Center for Cultural Evaluation, where the successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to its activities and further develop both its applied research and network.
QualificationsApplicants must have a PhD degree or be able to document equivalent qualifications in CCI studies, as well as teaching and research experience commensurate with that attained through an assistant professorship. Applicants must be able to document the following, relevant to the position:
- an internationally oriented research profile, as documented by a strong international peer-reviewed research publication record within CCI
- competences within qualitative methods and/or critical, innovative, problem-based and/or solution-oriented research perspectives in relation to or in collaboration with CCI partners
- participation in international research projects as well as in national and international research networks
- experience in knowledge exchange
- teaching and supervision competences and experience at BA and MA levels, including curriculum development, documented through a teaching portfolio
- completion of a teacher-training programme designed for university teaching or an equivalent qualification
- a teaching statement in the form of a short personal essay describing the applicant’s approach to teaching, with practical examples illustrating their philosophy.
Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document:
- time spent abroad working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions
- experience applying for external research funding.
Finally, applicants are asked to provide a research plan for the next three years, outlining how they envision contributing to future research developments within the field of CCI, including plans for publication, funding applications and collaborations with external partners.
Please note that although the application process can technically be completed via the Aarhus University system without uploading publications or a teaching portfolio, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five) and a
teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) will not be considered.
Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.
Work environmentActive participation in the daily life of the department is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. In order to support and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.
We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about
family and work-life balance in Denmark.
International applicantsInternational applicants are encouraged to read about the
attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a
relocation service and an
AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the
taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.
An appointee who does not speak Danish will be required to acquire sufficient proficiency in the language to carry out tasks, including administrative and managerial responsibilities, and to participate fully in the activities of the School of Communication and Culture within approximately three years of commencing the appointment. These include, but are not limited to, teaching, reading work-related texts and participating in meetings and collegial gatherings in Danish.
The departmentThe
Department of Dramaturgy and Musicology is one of the nine departments within the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University. There are approximately 30 researchers, teachers and PhD students affiliated with the department, 16 of whom are tenured. They teach and supervise more than 400 students of musicology and dramaturgy.
The researchers at the department collaborate with colleagues from other departments in cross-disciplinary research programmes such as
Cultural Transformations and
Historical Studies of Arts and Culture as well as in research centres such as the
Danish Centre for Popular Music Culture, the
Center for Sound Studies and the
Centre for Historical Performance Practice.
The department’s teachers and researchers are deeply involved in cultural activities and maintain strong relationships and partnerships with cultural institutions such as
ILT,
Nordisk Teaterlaboratorium,
Aarhus Vocal Festival and
SPOT Festival.
School of Communication and CultureThe school is a part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its
research programmes,
departments and diverse activities on its
website.
ContactFor further information about the position, please contact Head of Department Steen Kaargaard Nielsen by email:
musskn@cc.au.dkIf you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email:
hsi@au.dk.
Qualification requirementsApplicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.Deadline2 June 2025
Please read the full job description and apply at the university homepage