Digital Transformation in Learning

We are in search of highly motivated and qualified candidates with a master’s degree to join our PhD program.  

Program description

Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are changing when, what, and how we learn in higher education and at the workplace. However, this transformation must not be one-sided or solely driven by technology. We focus on the learners and their learning process to ensure that they are not passive recipients, but are empowered to take responsibility for their own learning and solve the problems they face. 

In the PhD program for “Digital Transformation in Learning,” we develop intelligent technologies for active and project-based learning in collaboration with the PhD students, researchers, and professionals within our network. For example, we research technology-enhanced learning in terms of the social dynamics in interdisciplinary projects, the coordination of individual and collaborative learning, the integration of learning and regulation, the role of intelligent educational technologies on the learning process, and the role of emotions and well-being. Understanding these processes of active learning goes hand in hand with the design of effective learning practices within inclusive, transparent, and fair technology-enhanced learning environments. This way, we can transform how we learn and work to address societal and industrial challenges.  

The PhD program for “Digital Transformation in Learning” combines IT:U’s innovative interdisciplinary teaching approaches and emerging technologies-based learning labs with the well-established and proven concept of JKU’s Linz School of Education. Our structured PhD program  aims to equip students with skills in computational thinking, design-based research, and interdisciplinary research, such as developing and evaluating how emerging technologies could enhance and expand active learning. 

In our PhD program, we aim to explore new ways of learning from a wide range of disciplines including psychology, pedagogy, physics, and computer science and perspectives, including STEM education, instructional design, and professional learning. You will work with outstanding supervisors from our local and international ecosystem who will offer their perspectives to support your academic progress.  

This novel learning environment, combined with the wide range of perspectives, will demand interdisciplinary methods to effectively explore and create innovative solutions. The combination of subject-specific knowledge and interdisciplinary key competencies aims to prepare students for key roles in a future driven by digital transformation and provides a creative ecosystem to think beyond usual research approaches. 

More information on the structure of the doctoral school

More information on the Supervisory Committee

Responsibilities and tasks

You are up! We expect you to acquire new knowledge and skills (e.g. learning psychology, computational thinking, and programming) within our projects and learning labs to independently conduct interdisciplinary research. During the PhD, you will apply the acquired knowledge and skills to design and analyze digital solutions such as conversational agents and learning analytics, and to answer scientific research questions while addressing educational problems at the same time.  You will also gain valuable educational experience while having the opportunity to teach other students in your field of expertise. Over the course of four years, you will write and publish several research papers, culminating in writing and defending your PhD thesis. To achieve all of this, we expect you to work independently while also collaborating with your team and relevant stakeholders in the inspiring atmosphere of the JKU and IT:U university campuses in Linz, Austria. 

Skills and qualifications

To qualify for the PhD program, you must have completed a degree equivalent to a master’s degree in a field related to your desired project. Your academic background can vary – from psychology to computer science to medicine, for example – but a strong interest in active learning and technology-driven solutions is essential.  We are looking for curious minds eager to acquire skills in computational methods and intelligent learning systems. A willingness to engage with the intersection of learning and technology, along with fluent English communication and academic writing skills, is key to succeeding in this interdisciplinary research environment. 

What you can expect

We value your work! You will be employed at IT:U during your entire PhD. We offer a gross salary in line with the market rate of EUR 3.714,80 on a 40-hour full-time basis. Our employees also benefit from a free Austria Climate Ticket, which covers all modes of public transportation. And of course, your coffee and snacks are on us.