Postdoctoral Fellow in Education

Title:  Postdoctoral Fellow in Education

Location: Kepler College, Kigali

Reports To: DVC for Academic and Research Affairs

Position Type: Full-time (2 years, possibility to transition to full-time faculty, subject to performance and funding)

JOB DESCRIPTION  

Postdoctoral Fellow in Education

About Kepler College

Kepler College was established in Rwanda to offer affordable, scalable, competency-based higher education programs with the best job prospects for graduates; ensuring graduates have jobs drives everything the College does.

Kepler College's pedagogy centers on learning by doing, with a primary focus on equipping students with 21st-century transferable skills that help them stand out in the labor market. In this program, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today's global economy.

Vision: To become a leading competency-based higher education institution in Sub-Saharan Africa with outstanding graduate employment outcomes that lead to economic mobility.

Mission: To offer competency-based, accessible, employment-driven tertiary education; conduct applicable research; and provide innovative, scalable community service to support Rwanda's development.

Motto: Educating Africa's youth for tomorrow's opportunities

Core Values: We work with Purpose · We drive Innovation · We embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion · We practice Transparency · We seek Balance

At Kepler College, we value diversity as a paramount aspect of growth; therefore, we do not discriminate against applicants based on gender, race, religion, physical abilities, social status, beliefs, culture, and values.

About the Position

Over the years, Kepler College has built a distinctive model of higher education and a rich body of institutional data on how students learn, progress, and move into work. The College now seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow in Education to study this model rigorously, turn practice into evidence, and share what we learn with the wider higher education community in Rwanda, across Africa and globally.

The Fellow will be engaged in research on any of five connected areas of Kepler College’s approach:

• Leveraging AI: how artificial intelligence tools in teaching, learning, feedback, assessment and student support affect learning outcomes, engagement, equity and academic integrity.
• Competency-based curriculum: how competency-based programs are designed and delivered, and how their outcomes compare with those of traditional models.
• Learning by doing: the effect of project-based, experiential and work-integrated learning on mastery, motivation and employability.
• Competency assessment: the validity, reliability and fairness of competency-based assessments, rubrics and evidence of mastery.
• Transferable (foundational) skills: how skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and digital literacy develop, and how they relate to graduate employment outcomes.

The Fellow will work closely with faculty, academic leaders, and students, engage students in research, and seek resources to grow Kepler College’s research portfolio. This role directly supports the College’s mission to conduct applicable research.

Objectives

The objectives of the role include:

1. Develop and lead a rigorous research agenda on Kepler College’s higher education approach, including AI, competency-based curriculum, learning by doing, competency assessment, and transferable skills.
2. Analyze institutional and newly collected data to generate credible evidence on what works, for whom, and why.
3. Publish findings in peer-reviewed (refereed) journals and share insights with practitioners, policymakers and the wider public.
4. Mobilize resources for research by writing competitive proposals and building research partnerships.
5. Advise and engage students in research, building their research, analytical and writing skills.
6. Feed research findings back into Kepler College’s practice to continuously improve teaching, learning and graduate outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research design and data analysis

• Design and conduct quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies on the five research areas above.
• Analyze institutional data, such as admissions, learning management system, assessment and competency-mastery records, student surveys, and graduate employment and alumni outcomes.
• Develop research instruments (surveys, interview and focus-group guides, observation tools) and collect new data where needed.
• Design and evaluate pilots of new teaching, assessment and AI-enabled approaches, using experimental or quasi-experimental designs where appropriate.
• Ensure all research follows high ethical standards, including informed consent, data protection and confidentiality, and obtain the required ethics approvals.

2. Publication and dissemination

• Write and publish research articles in peer-reviewed (refereed) journals in education, higher education, educational technology and assessment, with a target of at least two journal submissions per year.
• Present findings at national, regional and international conferences, seminars and workshops.
• Turn research into accessible outputs for wider audiences, such as policy briefs, practice notes, case studies, blog posts, webinars and social media.
• Document Kepler College’s model and lessons learned so that other institutions can adapt what works.

3. Proposal writing and resource mobilization

• Identify research funding opportunities from foundations, development partners, research councils, government and industry.
• Lead or co-lead the writing of competitive research proposals and grant applications, including research design, work plans, budgets and evaluation plans.
• Build research partnerships with universities, research institutes, education technology organizations, employers and policymakers.
• Manage funded research projects, ensuring timely delivery and reporting to funders.

4. Student advising and engagement

• Advise and mentor students on research projects, capstone projects and other research-based work.
• Engage students as research assistants, data collectors and, where appropriate, co-authors.
• Run short workshops for students and faculty on research methods, data analysis, academic writing and the responsible use of AI in research.
• Include students’ voices and experiences in the design and interpretation of research.

5. Practice improvement and collaboration

• Work with faculty and academic leaders to turn research findings into improvements in curriculum, teaching, assessment and the use of AI.
• Support faculty to build their own research and scholarship of teaching and learning.
• Contribute to a strong research culture at Kepler College through research seminars, reading groups and input to research policies and procedures.

6. Planning, performance and reporting

• Agree an annual research plan with the DVC for Academic and Research Affairs, with clear targets.
• Track key performance indicators, such as studies completed, journal articles submitted and published, proposals submitted, funding secured, students engaged, and insights adopted in practice.
• Report progress regularly to leadership and adjust plans based on results and feedback.

Qualifications

• A PhD in Education, Higher Education, STEM Education, Educational Psychology, Learning Sciences, Educational Technology, Educational Measurement and Assessment, or a closely related field, awarded within the last five years. Candidates who will complete their PhD before the start date may be considered.
• Strong training in research methods, including quantitative analysis (e.g., R, Stata, Python, or SPSS), qualitative research, and mixed methods.
• A record of peer-reviewed publications (published or under review) appropriate to career stage.
• Research interest or experience in one or more of the following: AI in education, competency-based education, experiential learning, assessment, transferable skills, or graduate employability.
• Experience writing research proposals or grant applications; a record of securing research funding is a strong advantage.
• Experience advising, mentoring, or supervising students in research.
• Knowledge of higher education in Rwanda or Sub-Saharan Africa is an advantage.
• Commitment to ethical research practice and responsible data management.
• Excellent academic writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills in English; Kinyarwanda is an advantage.
• Curious, self-driven and collaborative, with the ability to manage several projects and meet deadlines.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to study an innovative, competency-based higher education model with access to rich institutional data.
• Mentorship from senior academic leaders and support for publishing, conference participation and proposal writing.
• A collaborative environment where research directly shapes teaching and learning practice.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following:

1. A cover letter describing their research interests and how they relate to the research areas above.
2. A curriculum vitae (CV), including a list of publications.
3. A research statement (maximum two pages) proposing one study the candidate would carry out at Kepler College.
4. One writing sample (a published article or manuscript).
5. Names and contact details of three referees.