The IT University of Copenhagen (ITU) invites applications for a three-year PhD position in Constructive Alignment for Software Engineering Education + AI. The position is expected to start on 1 March 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The position is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and is part of PREPARE – Pedagogical Alignment for Responsible AI in Software Engineering Education, a joint project between ITU and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).

The PhD student will be based at ITU and affiliated with the Center for Computing Education Research (CCER). The project will be supervised by Professor Claus Brabrand and conducted in close collaboration with researchers and educators at ITU and SDU.

Job description
Generative AI challenges established approaches to teaching/learning and assessment in Software Engineering Education. Students can increasingly use AI to perform activities that were previously central to developing and demonstrating competence. This creates a need to reconsider how courses are designed so that students continue to achieve their intended learning outcomes while learning to use AI responsibly.

The ITU stream of PREPARE focuses on AI Pedagogical Alignment, grounded in Constructive Alignment: ensuring consistency between Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs), Teaching/Learning Activities (TLAs), and Assessment Tasks (ATs) in the presence of AI.

The PhD project will investigate how this can be operationalized in authentic Software Development/Engineering courses. The work will involve designing and redesigning courses, teaching/learning activities, teaching/learning materials, and assessment approaches, and empirically evaluating the resulting educational interventions.

The project is closely connected to the parallel PREPARE stream at SDU, which investigates Agency-First practices for responsible student use of AI. Insights from this work will inform the pedagogical designs developed and evaluated in the ITU stream.

Responsibilities and opportunities
The PhD student is expected to:

• Analyze and redesign selected Software Development/Engineering courses through constructively aligned ILOs, TLAs, and ATs.
• Design teaching/learning activities, teaching/learning materials, and assessment approaches for responsible integration of AI.
• Develop empirical studies and evaluation instruments, including surveys and other quantitative and qualitative measures.
• Implement and evaluate educational interventions in collaboration with instructors at SDU and/or ITU.
• Analyze student performance, practices, and intended learning outcomes and use the results to iteratively refine the interventions.
• Collaborate closely with the SDU stream of the PREPARE project.
• Publish and present the research internationally.

This follows the project's design-based, mixed-methods approach, with iterative pilot studies and evaluation in selected courses.

Research environment
The PhD student will join the Center for Computing Education Research (CCER) at ITU and become part of the joint ITU–SDU PREPARE project. The project will redesign and evaluate selected BSc and MSc Software Engineering courses, with the broader aim of developing scalable, evidence-based approaches for responsible AI integration in university education.

General information
The IT University of Copenhagen (ITU) is a teaching and research-based university specializing in information technology (IT) and the opportunities it offers. The IT University has more than 160 full-time Faculty members. Research and teaching in information technology span all academic activities which involve computers including computer science, information and media sciences, humanities and social sciences, business impact and the commercialization of IT.

Research at the IT University of Copenhagen
Our research is organized through dynamic research groups, centers, hubs, and labs that promote collaboration across disciplines. These units explore complex challenges at the intersection of people, technology, and society, contributing both to fundamental insights and practical solutions. At ITU, we see research as a shared endeavor – open, critically engaged, and rooted in dialogue with academic communities, industry, and the public sector. We actively pursue international partnerships and networks, and our interdisciplinary approach ensures that our research not only advances knowledge but also generates impact beyond academia.

Teaching at the IT University of Copenhagen
ITU currently offers four BSc degrees, six MSc degrees and one professional master’s degree, spanning across these disciplines. ITU's educations are extremely sought after and produces qualified graduates who are in high demand from the job market.

Working at the IT University
Located in modern architecture, a 6-minute metro ride from the center of Copenhagen, the IT University offers an informal working environment, a varied everyday life, and a highly motivated, innovative, skilled, and diverse international faculty, with PhD degrees from more than 20 different countries. The IT University is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself in actively pursuing an improved gender balance among students and among faculty.

Working in Copenhagen
Copenhagen has a solid educational system, a rich cultural life, universal healthcare, good childcare, and well-functioning infrastructure. Copenhagen is consistently ranked among the world’s most livable cities according to the Economist Global Liveability Index. Living and working in Copenhagen will typically be a great experience for you and your family.

Salary and terms of employment
Appointment and salary will be in accordance with the Ministry of Taxation’s agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) and job structure for academic staff at universities.

Qualification Requirements
The following qualifications are required:

• 3-year programme: candidates should have an MSc (or equivalent)

The applicants will be employed and enrolled at the ITU University for a period of 3 years.

Applicants should have a master’s degree in a relevant field, such as education, computing education, computer science, software development/engineering, or a related field, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree and completed before the starting date.

We are particularly interested in applicants with:

• A keen interest in teaching/learning and educational research at university level.
• Experience with empirical research methods, including quantitative and/or qualitative methods.
• Interest or experience in educational design, teaching/learning activities, assessment, or curriculum development.
• Ability to collaborate with instructors and disciplinary experts in authentic educational settings.
• Proficiency in both written and spoken english.

Experience with Constructive Alignment, design-based research, educational interventions, survey design, Computing Education Research, or generative AI in education is an advantage.

The candidate is not expected to provide the project's primary Software Engineering expertise; this expertise is provided through the broader PREPARE collaboration. However, an interest in Software Development/Engineering Education and willingness to work closely with disciplinary experts is important.

Application
The application and all other documents ought to be in English and must include:

• A motivated application (cover letter), including a detailed description of your qualifications
• A full CV, including name, address, phone number, e-mail, previous and present employment and academic background
• Documentation of academic degrees (copy of degree certificates etc.)
• A statement of purpose, which provides evidence of independent thinking, novelty and originality, of the targeted research field matching the project description
• Documentation of English proficiency (see link below to the PhD Admission Requirements)
• Relevant scientific publications or/and master thesis written by the applicant (Not required but optional)

Applications without the above-mentioned required documents will not be assessed.

Please read the guidelines for applicants carefully before filling in the application form. You can see the guidelines through this link.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Appointment Order from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of 13 March 2012.

The IT University may use shortlisting in connection to the recruitment process. In case of shortlisting, the Chair of the hiring committee selects applicants for assessment in consultation with the hiring committee after the application deadline. All applicants are notified whether their application has been passed for assessment. The shortlisting of candidates for assessment is based on the criteria in the job posting.

Further information
Questions about the positions can be directed to Professor, Claus Brabrand, IT University of Copenhagen, [email protected]. Early contact with our faculty staff is encouraged.
Questions related to the application procedure may be directed to HR, [email protected].

Application procedure
You can only apply for this position through our e-recruitment system. Apply by pressing the button "Apply for position" in the job announcement on our website.

The IT University might upon request in the interview process contact 1-2 references.

Application deadline: 27 November, at 23:59 CET.
Applications/enclosures received at ITU after the application deadline will not be taken into consideration. If you submit an application, it is your responsibility to ensure that it arrives before the deadline so please allow sufficient time for the upload of publications and other documents.

At The IT University of Copenhagen, we have an international environment and view diversity as a valuable resource. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive working environment for all our employees and encourage all qualified applicants, regardless of age, gender, religious affiliation, or ethnic background to apply for the position.
As ITU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

Application deadline: Apply no later than 27. November 2026

Department: Rued Langgaards Vej 7 2300 København S