PhD in Inclusive Digital Learning for Frontline Health and Agriculture Extension
Design and evaluate low-bandwidth digital micro-certifications to empower health and agriculture extension workers in Ethiopia.
Best for:Best for interdisciplinary researchers with expertise in digital pedagogy, adult learning, and inclusive design, who are passionate about equitable education and mixed-method research.
Overview
This PhD position is part of the VLIRUOS TEAM project EQUIP, a collaborative initiative between KU Leuven, Arba Minch University (AMU), and Arba Minch College of Teacher Education. The successful candidate will lead an equity-adaptive design-based research project focused on developing and assessing blended micro-certifications for Health Extension Workers (HEWs) and Development Agents (DAs) in Southern Ethiopia. The research will address barriers to participation through iterative design, mixed-method evaluation, and learning analytics, ensuring accessibility in low-connectivity settings. The PhD candidate will work across health, agriculture, and education domains, translating findings into institutional standards and policy guidance. The project emphasizes gender-inclusive and location-adaptive approaches, aligning with the PROGRESS-Plus equity framework.
What you'll do
- Develop a rigorous doctoral proposal and equity-adaptive design-based research protocol aligned with project goals.
- Conduct literature reviews, stakeholder needs assessments, and baseline research in Ethiopia.
- Obtain and comply with ethics, informed consent, and data protection approvals for research activities.
- Coordinate iterative cycles of instructional design, pilot testing, evaluation, and redesign for health and agriculture micro-certifications.
- Evaluate access, usability, learning outcomes, and competency gains among frontline workers, with attention to gender and remote locations.
- Collaborate with Health Extension Workers, Development Agents, zonal supervisors, AMU/AMCTE staff, and technical teams.
- Integrate quantitative, qualitative, and learning analytics evidence to inform project outcomes.
- Contribute to behavioral-change, credential-value, cost, and sustainability analyses for the project.
- Coordinate research linkages with four MSc projects and support MSc researchers without replacing their supervisors.
- Produce timely progress reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, policy briefs, and open research outputs.
- Contribute to the Digital Learning Hub and project learning events at AMU.
- Adhere to AMU, KU Leuven, and VLIRUOS research integrity, safeguarding, financial, and scholarship requirements.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree in Computer Science, Educational Technology, Adult Education, or a related interdisciplinary field; must meet AMU’s NGAT admission requirements and KU Leuven’s doctoral/visiting doctoral route.
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; proficiency sufficient for doctoral research and international collaboration (formal evidence or training may be required).
Instruction: English
Publications: Timely progress reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference contributions, policy/practice briefs, and a doctoral thesis.
- Proven research readiness demonstrated through a strong master’s record and thesis/research experience.
- Aptitude and genuine interest in digital pedagogy, adult learning, and inclusive low-bandwidth design.
- Ability to conduct interdisciplinary mixed-method research and collaborate respectfully with non-academic stakeholders.
- Sufficient command of English for doctoral research and international collaboration (formal evidence or training may be required).
- Availability for the full doctoral trajectory, including approved research stays in Belgium (6 + 12 + 6 months).
- Verifiable permanent AMU academic staff membership with institutional commitment for study leave, continued employment, and reintegration.
- Passing AMU’s eligibility exam (CGPA, publication, interview, and/or written assessment).
- Eligibility for a VLIRUOS project scholarship, including institutional-affiliation and nationality requirements.
- Must be a permanent AMU academic staff member with verifiable appointment and institutional affiliation.
- Eligible for a VLIRUOS project scholarship, including nationality and institutional-affiliation requirements.
- Must pass AMU’s eligibility exam (CGPA, publication, interview, and/or written assessment).
- Availability for full doctoral trajectory and approved research stays in Belgium (6 + 12 + 6 months).
- Institutional commitment from AMU for study leave, continued employment/salary, and reintegration.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-16
Applicants must submit a complete application package via email to the designated contact. The package includes a cover page, motivation letter, CV, concept note (1,500-2,000 words), degree certificates, transcripts, master’s thesis abstracts, evidence of AMU employment, a signed faculty commitment letter, English proficiency evidence, and a declaration of accuracy. The application is reviewed by a joint selection panel, followed by a research/methods exercise and interview for shortlisted candidates.
- Cover page with name, AMU Faculty/department, Staff ID, contact details, and document checklist
- Motivation letter (maximum two pages)
- Curriculum vitae (including education, employment, research, publications, methods/software, teaching, service, languages, and two referees)
- Concept note (1,500-2,000 words) covering problem statement, research questions, conceptual approach, methods, equity considerations, ethics, expected outputs, and work plan
- Master’s and bachelor’s degree certificates and complete transcripts
- Master’s thesis abstracts plus one sample publication
- Evidence of current permanent AMU employment
- Signed faculty/department/unit head letter confirming study leave, continued employment/salary, and reintegration
- Available evidence of English proficiency
- Signed declaration of accuracy, availability, conflicts of interest, and consent to process application data
Contact
Mohammed Abebe· Project Contact (AMU)
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