The University of Cambridge is accepting applications for the coveted role of Lego Professor of Play, Development and Learning. The new, permanent position will head the University’s newly established Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (Pedal). The closing date for applications is January 20th, and the position offers an average salary of £83,981. The Lego Foundation, which owns 25% of the Lego business, has already invested £4m in the project: £2.5m for the professorship and £1.5m for Pedal. The Foundation has no role in selecting the successful candidate, but funds for the position are “committed to in perpetuity”. The position is intended for an academic specialising in educational psychology. Candidates must demonstrate a childlike mindset, and be “playful, extremely curious, open-minded, imaginative and creative.” The Foundation believes play is crucial for children’s education, and has urged the UK government to encourage it rather than testing.
Stjerne Thomsen asserts that the establishment of the world’s first play professorship was crucial given the high expectations placed on the research agenda. The objective was to find a distinguished individual with the capacity to lead a team that would define studies in this realm and earn worldwide recognition in the field of play.
Regarding prospective candidates for the position, Vignoles asserts that holding a current professorship is not a prerequisite for applications. The selection criteria primarily focus on the value of an applicant’s research. January 20th marks the closing date for applications.
