The academic career path at KTH

Qualification requirements

An associate professor at KTH must be able to independently lead, conduct and develop education and research of a high international quality.
A person qualified to be employed as an associate professor within a field other than an artistic enterprise is a person who has

• Received a Doctor of Philosophy degree or has the corresponding academic competence or has some other professional skill that is of significance with respect to the subject content of the position and the job tasks that will be included in the employment
• Completed the course in teaching and learning in higher education or in some other manner acquired corresponding knowledge, and
• Demonstrated teaching skills (Higher Education Ordinance (HEO), Chap. 4,. section 7, points 1-3)

As special qualification requirements:

• The ability to seek, obtain funds for and conduct research projects
• The ability to lead education and research activities.

An associate professor shall be hired for a time-limited position of at most one year if he or she does not fulfil the qualification requirements with respect to issues concerning an education in teaching and learning in higher education. Such a position may be renewed, however for at most one year. If the associate professor acquires the qualification requirements during the term of the employment, the position shall, at the request of the associate professor, be altered to permanent employment. (HEO, Chap. 4, section 30).

Persons who do not have the required qualifications with respect to education in teaching and learning in higher education shall also be deemed to be qualified if the content of the position gives rise to such or if there otherwise are special reasons. (HEO, Chap. 4, section 7)

Analogous or equivalent competence

By ”analogous or equivalent academic competence” what is meant is, for example, completed and reputably certified research education or scholarly skills defined as per the below.

Scholarly skills

The scholarly skills must be demonstrated through publishing in internationally recognised publications, and through seminars or through tasks such as scholarly reviews.

The applicant's scientific publications must be of a high quality.

The applicant's independence as a researcher must be documented.

The applicant must present documented relevant research activities.

Other professional skills

At KTH, the following interpretation applies for ”other professional skills”: Professional skills must be well-documented. Long industrial experience or other relevant professional experience of at least three years in a qualified position with a connection to a relevant subject area for the associate professorship, for which skills concerning research and development should especially be taken into consideration. With respect to employment as an associate professor at KTH's School of Architecture, it must especially be taken into account whether the applicant has delivered significant and independent contributions to the development of the subject within the field of architecture.

Teaching skills

The teaching skills must be demonstrated through instruction of high quality and in significant extent at the university level. The instructional efforts must have been evaluated and analysed.

The applicant must be quite well versed in the current scientific developments as well as with the use of modern methodologies within the subject area for the employment.

Applicants must present documented experience of arranging courses or course elements at the university level.

Applicants must present documented experience of individual supervision, for example of degree projects or within third-cycle education.

The applicant's experience in organising education should especially be taken into consideration and must be documented.

The qualification requirements for teaching skills also apply for applicants from enterprises outside the university world, but may be satisfied here in ways other than what is stated above.

Teaching and learning in higher education

The applicant must have completed the course teaching and learning in higher education for 15 credits or have acquired the equivalent knowledge in another manner. By equivalent knowledge in teaching and learning in higher education, what is meant is well-documented knowledge of types of instruction, methodical efforts and forms of examination and assessments

Basis of assessment

Assessment for the appointment of teachers shall be based on the degree in which a candidate possesses the skill required to qualify for appointment. Furthermore, regard shall be paid to the degree in which a candidate possesses administrative and other skills of importance, taking into account the subject matter determined by the institution of higher education for the position and the duties that the position will involve. Moreover, regard shall be paid to the degree in which a candidate possesses skills in developing and managing activities and staff at the higher education institution and aptitude in interacting with the surrounding community and informing people about research and development projects." (HEO, Chap. 4, section 15).

The ability to co-operate with the surrounding society and to report on research and development work.

The applicant must be able to demonstrate insight into equal opportunity issues.

As a special basis of assessment for an associate professorship at KTH, among other things, the ability to work together with the surrounding society as well as to report on research and development work are applicable.

Basis of assessment for promotion from assistant professor (tenure) to associate professor see the document "Appendix 3 – Employment as an assistant professor (tenure) at KTH”

Promotion to professor

A person who applies for a position as an associate professor may at the same time request to have their qualifications to be a professor examined. See HEO, Chap 4, sections 12 and 23.

An associate professor who is permanently employed at a higher education institution shall, after applying, be promoted to a permanent position as a professor at that institution if the associate professor is qualified for such a position. The subject area for the position of professor shall be the same as for the position of associate professor. (HEO, Chapt. 4, section 11)

An application for a promotion to professor must be prepared by the employment committee and processed by the central academic appointments board. An application for a promotion to professor is connection with an application for an advertised associate professorship will be processed by the employment committee and the academic appointments board that is handling the advertised associate professorship.

The same qualifications requirements that apply for advertised professor positions apply upon promotion to professor, see appendix 1.1.