University Teacher in International Law, especially international environmental law

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a University Teacher in International Law, especially international environmental law, position on the Joensuu campus. The position will be filled for a fixed term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 15 August 2025.

Description of the post

University Teacher in International Law, especially international environmental law, is a position at the University of Eastern Finland (hereafter UEF). The position will be hosted by the UEF Law School at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. The position is located in Joensuu, Finland.

The UEF Law School hosts the Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law (CCEEL) . Established in 2013, CCEEL has rapidly grown into a leading international hub for research and education in climate change, energy, sustainability, water, and environmental law. Bringing together over 100 global experts, it fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and high-quality research to tackle urgent environmental challenges.

The UEF Law School runs two international Master’s degree programmes and a PhD programme. The international Master’s degree programmes, entitled The Nordic Master Programme in Environmental Law and The Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change: Master's Degree Programme in Environmental Policy and Law, admit a total of 45 students every year. Since 2004, UEF has, in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, organised an annual capacity building course providing training in international environmental law and diplomacy for experts participating in multilateral environmental negotiations.

As our new University Teacher in International Law, especially international environmental law, your main responsibilities will include:

• Teaching at least two and up to four Master’s level courses in international environmental and climate change law, with a total annual teaching load of up to 394 hours;
• Teaching duties will include contributing to courses on public international law and climate change law and policy, co-leading the Master’s thesis seminar in international environmental law, and contributing, in a limited capacity, to the Specialisation Programme in Climate Expertise (Ilmastoasiantuntijan erikoistumiskoulutus) coordinated by the University of Helsinki;
• Contributing to research and gradually developing an independent research agenda in international environmental and climate change law, in line with your qualifications and career stage;
• Collaborating closely with colleagues at the UEF Law School and the Center for Climate, Energy and Environmental Law (CCEEL), particularly within the CCEEL Research Group on Climate Change Law, and contributing to research projects, academic development, and administrative tasks within the school.

The position will be filled for a fixed term from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2028. The position is filled for a fixed term due to task reorganisation, time-bound curriculum development, and support for doctoral education. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the UEF staff.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. In this position, the job-related salary element is based on level 5 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element can be a minimum of 6% and a maximum of 50% of the job-related salary element. Depending on the personal salary element, the salary will be approximately €3,550–4,050 /month at the beginning of the employment relationship.

Our Requirements 

• A relevant higher university degree, along with solid practical knowledge of the subject area and strong teaching skills.
• Good working knowledge of English.

Considered as an Advantage

• The ability to teach in Finnish.
• Experience in university-level teaching, supervision and/or formal pedagogical training; research experience in the field of the position.

Our Expectations

• A genuine motivation to teach and to actively contribute to the development of our international and multidisciplinary teaching programmes in a collaborative and collegial manner.
• A research orientation that supports and enriches teaching, including the ability to integrate current research into course content and student supervision.

The evaluation of teaching skills follows the instructions of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, according to which the good teaching skills required for the post are primarily sought to be verified on the basis of the merits described in the teaching portfolio. Applicants must submit a teaching portfolio compiled in accordance with the instructions in addition to other application documents.

Your benefits

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including

• The opportunity for flexible multi-location work.
• Staff benefits of the University of Eastern Finland, including comprehensive occupational health care, versatile staff training opportunities, affordable campus restaurant lunches, Sykettä sports services and tax-free bike benefit.

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting/meaningful/diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

How to apply?

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 15 August 2025. by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+3).

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application: 

• a resume or a curriculum vitae compiled in accordance with the template for researcher’s curriculum vitae of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (Template for CV, TENK web page);
• a complete list of publications compiled in accordance with the publication classification of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Instructions, Research Council of Finland web page);
• a portfolio of teaching merits (Portfolio of teaching merits YHKA.pdf );
• a free-form application letter outlining your motivation, qualifications relevant to the position, and interest in contributing to the teaching and research activities of the UEF Law School; 
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas;
• copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates / diplomas.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Prof. Seita Vesa (tel. +358 50 442 3430, [email protected]) or Dr. Kimmo Malin (tel. +358 40 839 2248, [email protected]). 

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Airi Leppänen, [email protected] (on summer vacation from 7th July to 8th August 2025).

Yliopisto-opettaja, kansainvälinen oikeus, erityisesti kansainvälinen ympäristöoikeus

Haemme yliopisto-opettajaa, kansainvälinen oikeus, erityisesti kansainvälinen ympäristöoikeus, oikeustieteiden laitoksen ilmasto-, energia- ja ympäristöoikeuden keskukseen (CCEEL) Joensuun kampukselle. Tehtävät sijoittuvat yhteiskuntatieteiden ja kauppatieteiden tiedekuntaan.  Yliopisto-opettajan tehtävä täytetään kolmen vuoden määräajaksi 1.1.2026 alkaen.

Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasolla 5. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6–50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Henkilökohtaisesta palkanosasta riippuen palkka työsuhteen alkaessa on noin 3550–4050 €/kk.

Tehtävässä edellytetään hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 15.8.2025.  

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies operates on two campuses of the University of Eastern Finland – in Joensuu and Kuopio. The faculty trains experts in the fields of history, geography, economics and business administration, law, social sciences, and social and health management. The faculty's research is closely linked to the research areas identified in the university's strategy. The faculty has 4,480 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and approximately 500 postgraduate students actively pursuing their studies. The faculty has 550 staff members.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.