An Academic in Law of Obligations

Karlstad University; Louvain-la-Neuve; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Temps partiel

Résumé du poste

A leading Belgian university is seeking a part-time academic in Law of Obligations to deliver courses, engage in research, and supervise doctoral theses. Candidates must hold a PhD in Sciences juridiques and have proven university teaching experience. This role involves significant research activities and engagement with the academic community. The position offers tenure after a positive assessment and includes benefits like a public sector pension and a supportive work-life balance.

Prestations

Public sector pension

Integrated leadership training

Work-life balance

Qualifications

• PhD in Sciences juridiques with a dissertation in Law of Obligations.
• Significant experience abroad.
• Evidence of university teaching.
• International-level publications.

Responsabilités

• Deliver courses in the Law of Obligations.
• Engage in research at the IRIS-L Institute.
• Supervise doctoral theses.
• Seek external research funding.
• Contribute to university's international visibility.

Connaissances

Public speaking

High-quality teaching plan

Research management

Interdisciplinary approaches

French (C2)

Dutch (C1)

English (passive knowledge)

Formation

PhD in Sciences juridiques

Description du poste

Apart-time academic in Law of Obligations

About us

UCLouvain is in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Founded in the heart of Europe in 1425, the university brings together 40,000 students and 6,000 staff members on 9 campuses in Brussels and Wallonia. Research and education activities are organised in 20 faculties, 23 research institutes, 5 learning centres and 18 libraries. UCLouvain also has two university hospitals.

UCLouvain is a major player in the transition to a sustainable society. The challenges of the ecological crisis are integrated into courses and the university develops numerous local projects (such as a university farm and sustainable campuses). As a digital university, UCLouvain is involved in open science and education, and trains academics in innovative teaching practices through its Louvain Learning Lab. Thanks to two science parks, the university’s research benefits from interaction with 250 companies and 3 incubators, which is fuelled further by being at the centre of a region driven by technological innovation.

UCLouvain has a long tradition of international collaborations for teaching and research through partnerships across the world. As a member of the Circle U. European University alliance, the university offers a unique opportunity to work in an environment of interconnected campuses across Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Pisa, Belgrade, Aarhus and Oslo).

The Saint-Louis - Brussels campus (until recently Université Saint-Louis - Brussels) focuses on humanities and social sciences, multilingual initiatives, and the centre and research institute IRIS-L which influence cutting-edge sectors. This perspective cohere with promoting interdisciplinarity, proximity, diversity, and openness to the economic, social, cultural and religious diversity of the Brussels-Capital Region and the EU institutions.

Within the Faculté de droit Saint-Louis and the Institut de recherche interdisciplinaire Saint-Louis, Social Sciences and Humanities Sector, this position will include the following teaching, research and community service duties:

• Teaching

You will be responsible for delivering courses in the Law of Obligations, both in the Bachelor's programme in Law (daytime and/or evening and Saturday sessions) and in the Bachelor's programme in Droit-Rechten-Laws (a joint degree with KU Leuven).

• Research

You will be affiliated with the IRIS-L Institute (the umbrella institute for research entities on the Saint-Louis Brussels campus), and you will be actively involved in the Centre de droit privé (CePri – https://cepri.be ), where you will develop your research in the Law of Obligations.

You will take part in collective projects undertaken by the Centre and initiate new ones.

Over the course of your academic career, you will lead collective research projects and supervise doctoral theses.

You will also seek to obtain external research funding, particularly from the FRS-FNRS, Federal Science Policy Office, Brussels-Capital Region, and the European Union.

Once tenured, you will carry out various service activities and responsibilities within the institution, such as being a member of a programme committee or examination committee, or having management responsibilities within the faculty or research institute.

You will also contribute to serving society, particularly in the economic, social, cultural or development cooperation fields. Finally, you will ensure, through research and teaching activities, the university’s international visibility.

Who we’re looking for

• Education

You have a PhD in Sciences juridiques. You must have completed a doctoral dissertation in the Law of Obligations, whose excellence is confirmed by the defence report, among other indicators. You have supplemented this with an extended stay or significant experience abroad, outside the institution that awarded your doctorate.

• Experience

You have a proven track record in university teaching, with evidence where possible by formal evaluations. Your scientific experience is demonstrated by international-level publications.

• Skills

a. Teaching Skills:

You have proven experience in public speaking.

You will present a high-quality, innovative teaching plan that promotes inclusion, student success, engagement, and interaction with legal practice and, where appropriate, other disciplines.

b. Research Skills:

You must also have a significant number of peer-reviewed academic publications in the Law of Obligations, in Belgian or international journals and collective works.

You are comfortable working as part of a team of academics, supervising the research activities of teaching assistants linked to your courses, and integrate research results into your teaching.

You are capable of conducting high-level scientific research, from obtaining funding to team management (in line with CePri’s research priorities), and should be able to participate in national (and comparative law) research networks in the Law of Obligations.

You are expected to demonstrate creativity and openness to interdisciplinary approaches.

Additional valued assets:

• One or more advanced Master’s degrees;
• Publication of one or more monographs;
• Editorship of one or more collective works;
• Organisation of academic seminars and/or national or international conferences;
• Acquisition of external research funding;
• Collaboration with scholars from other disciplines;
• Close links with relevant academic journals and learned societies in the field of private law;
• Engagement in associations or community projects through previous academic and research activities;
• Ability to integrate into an existing faculty research team (especially CePri).

c. Language Skills :

You must have a perfect command of French (C2 level). If this is not evidenced by at least two years of university education in French, it must be certified by an external indicator.

You must also have a very good command of Dutch (C1 level).

You must have at least a passive knowledge of English, or commit to acquiring it before tenure. A very good command of English (C1 level) is considered an asset

What we offer

Tenure after positive assessment of the probationary period – typically four years. This type of career entitles you to a public sector pension.

Appointment as lecturer or professor according to your previous academic experience, as determined by the Rectoral Council.

Teaching load capped at 60 hours for tenure-track position, and 90 hours once tenured.

An attractive and progressive salary according to seniority and the promotion process.

A start date of 1 September 2026 at the earliest.

An integrated leadership and management training programme, including a range of pedagogical, linguistic and other training courses.

Benefits including transport, family, culture, commercial, etc.

Official policy that supports equal opportunities and promotes diversity within academic and all other categories of staff.

Specific emphasis on a work-life balance.

Practical Information

Application deadline:Wednesday 12, November 2025 at noon (UTC+1 Time Zone)

Apply only via the online application (applications submitted via any other channel will not be considered).

To be considered, your application must contain within a single PDF:

• motivation letter (to be included in the single PDF as well as in your candidate profile);
• current curriculum vitae (to be included in the single PDF as well as in your candidate profile);
• copy of your official PhD diploma;
• full publication list and summary of 3 most significant recent publications;
• research strategy, i.e. your future 5-year research programme;
• teaching programme, i.e. your vision and teaching methods;
• If you are shortlisted and invited to an audition, you will be asked to submit:
  • a Ph. D. project, with a view to taking on a doctoral student in the first year of your appointment;
  • 3 to 5 letters of recommendation must be uploaded by your referees in accordance with the instructions you will be given.

Closing on: 2025-11-12 (Europe/Brussels)

The Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) is internationally recognized for research and teaching quality in many different fields of expert...