Two Professors of Public Law (German/French, 80–100%, open rank) FernUni Schweiz

About 

UniDistance Suisse offers fully online university degree programmes and is accredited under the Swiss Higher Education Act (HEdA). It combines flexible, location‑independent part‑time distance learning with an active, interdisciplinary research culture on its campus in Brig. Across five faculties – Law, Psychology, Business & Economics, History, and Mathematics & Computer Science – we have been shaping modern teaching, learning and research for more than 30 years. Today, UniDistance Suisse counts over 2,700 students and around 550 staff members.

Your tasks

Conduct research at the highest level of excellence in Swiss public law, specialising in current and future areas of transformation, notably new technologies, sustainable development or digital learning, and/or applying innovative research methods
Support early-career researchers
Supervise Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral theses
Secure third-party funding
Teach public law at Bachelor's and Master's level
Develop and implement innovative teaching methods in distance education
Establish and maintain collaborations within UniDistance Suisse as well as with other universities in Switzerland and abroad
Actively contribute to the further development of the faculty and its degree programmes
Assume responsibilities in academic self-governance
Contribute to continuing education
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion as well as good research practice

Your profile

An outstanding doctoral thesis in Swiss public law
A completed or well-advanced habilitation thesis or an equivalent academic track record (for applications for a full or associate professorship), or a commenced habilitation or postdoctoral project (for applications for an assistant professorship)
A research focus on current and future areas of transformation in public law, such as new technologies, sustainable development or digital learning, and/or the application of innovative legal research methods
National and international visibility and a proven ability to collaborate nationally and internationally
Experience in securing third-party funding
Leadership and management experience in research and teaching is an advantage
University-level teaching experience in the professorship's areas of specialisation
Experience in distance education is an advantage
Ability to teach in the professorship's areas of specialisation in German, French or both languages
Good command of English, as well as native-level proficiency in German or French and at least passive knowledge of the other language; willingness to acquire active proficiency in the other language
Willingness and ability to contribute to academic self-governance

Your application

We offer
The positions will be appointed at the level of full professor, associate professor or tenure-track assistant professor, depending on the qualifications of the respective successful candidates
Support and funding to establish a research and teaching team
Comprehensive training and support in distance education
Attractive employment conditions
The opportunity to work in a dynamic and evolving academic environment on a modern university campus
Timeline
The appointment lectures will take place on Thursday, 11 March 2027 and Friday, 12 March 2027 at the university campus in Brig. The online trial lectures will take place on Wednesday, 24 March 2027.
Application and contact
We look forward to receiving your application by 01 December 2026 at the latest by email to jobs@unidistance.ch.

Please indicate in your application whether you are applying for a full professorship, associate professorship or tenure-track assistant professorship. Please also specify whether your application is for the German-speaking professorship, the French-speaking professorship or both positions.

Please submit the following documents:

Cover letter
Current CV, including an explanation of your academic career and your three most important research achievements
List of publications, presentations and teaching activities (including supervision activities)
Three academic publications in PDF format demonstrating your suitability for the position
List of third-party funding secured
Teaching evaluations
Research and teaching statement (max. 2 pages in total)
Overview of contributions to equality, diversity and inclusion, good research practice (e.g. Open Science), and academic self-governance
UniDistance Suisse promotes diversity and equal opportunities and strives for balanced representation in research and teaching. Applications from women and members of other underrepresented groups are expressly encouraged.

For any questions, please contact both of the following persons:

Prof. Dr Bruno Pasquier (bruno.pasquier@unidistance.ch), Dean of the Faculty of Law, and
Dr Harry Kulczynski (harry.kulczynski@fernuni.ch), Deputy Head of HR and HR Business Partner
Applications will be considered from candidates residing in Switzerland or planning to relocate to Switzerland.