International Chairs

Rennes 2 University has a number of guest professor positions open to international academics. These positions facilitate the strengthening of international scientific and pedagogical collaborations for the Rennes 2 community and provide our students with direct access to the cutting edge of international research and training in the humanities, arts and social sciences. 

They include : 

• the International Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences,
• the Americas Chair,
• the CAPS Chair, 
• and the Research-Action Chair Doctor Denis Mukwege.

Each position has been developed within a specific framework, history and for particular target audiences. Rennes 2 funds the International Chair in Humanities and Social Sciences (12 months) and the Chair of the Americas (12 months). The Doctor Denis Mukwege Research-Action Chair does not have its own fixed funding: applications for this Chair are submitted and examined from among the applications for the International and Americas Chairs, and when a Mukwege-focused application is selected, the title of the Chair is changed. The CAPS Chair, funded by the ANR (the French National Research Agency), has its own specific framework, but CAPS applications can also be submitted to the International Chair in Humanities and Social Sciences and to the Americas Chair. 

Presentation

These positions offer academics from around the world the opportunity to spend one to two months on our campus, located in Brittany (north-west France). While here, guest professors will have the opportunity to build meaningful scientific and teaching and learning collaborations with our research units and academic departments, and will be able to present their scientific projects - through seminars or conferences - to our students and permanent research staff. We ask that their activities be spread out throughout their stay, so as to make their presence visible on campus. The selected candidates will also have full access to the university’s libraries and archives. All applications should be developed in coordination with a member of Rennes 2's teaching or research staff. 

The International Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences

The International Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences position is open to academics from all countries and associated disciplines. 

The Americas Chair

The Americas Chair position is open to all researchers residing in North, Central or South America and whose application is supported by one of the research partners of the Rennes Institut des Amériques, who are responsible for overseeing this position. All academic fields of study undertaken by the university are eligible ; priority will be given to research units affiliated with the University. More information is available here.

The CAPS Chair

The CAPS international team welcomes applications by academics whose research or practice focuses on public space and addresses questions of interdisciplinarity. Teaching activities may include :  taking part in graduate or postgraduate courses, masterclasses or talks for a wider audience. CAPS is a partnership between the Rennes 2 University (arts and humanities) ENSAB (Ecole nationale supérieure d'architecteure de Bretagne)  and EESAB (Ecole européenne supérieure des arts de Bretagne). Prior to applying, candidates must contact a research unit in order to establish up a teaching / seminars schedule. For more information, please go here. Any questions should be sent to: creativepublicspace [at] univ-rennes.fr (creativepublicspace[at]univ-rennes[dot]fr).

The Research and Action Chair Doctor Denis Mukwege

As part of our collaboration with Professor Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize (and Doctor Honoris Causa of Université Rennes 2), a new International Chair is being inaugurated in November 2024. The Chair is intended to host international teachers and researchers working in the field of gendered, sexist and sexual violence against women and girls. The Chair's scientific objectives reflect the theme of the “Mémoires de guerre et construction pérenne de la paix ” research program, coordinated by Renée Dickason of the Anglophonie: Communities, Ecritures (ACE) research unit. The teachers and researchers taking part will provide valuable insights into gendered, sexual and sexist violence in times of war, conflict, crisis and peace. They will also help to challenge stereotypes and the trivialization of the acts committed, drawing on the necessary work of memory and memorialization to be carried out in parallel with the development of transitional justice mechanisms. Any questions related to the Chair should be addressed to: Renée Dickason (renee.dickason [at] univ-rennes2.fr (renee[dot]dickason[at]univ-rennes2[dot]fr)).

How to Apply

Each request to hold a Chair position must be submitted by a member of the faculty from Rennes 2, who will be the contact person for the application and the coordinator for the duration of the stay. This person will help to coordinate various aspects of the visit, including: putting the invitee in contact with the International Relations Office, coordinating relevant support with our research units for the organization of seminars, study days, as well as other helpful formalities. 

The minimum stay for visiting professors is 30 days. 

During their stay, these academics will receive salaries based on that of the University’s professorial staff. This salary is meant to cover housing and transport costs. Visiting professors will have the option of staying at the Cité Internationale Paul Ricœur de Rennes, managed by the CMI.

The Application Process

As recruitment procedures are relatively long, it is recommended that the Rennes 2 contact person begin the process 2 years before the ideal arrival date of reception of the guest. There are 2 selection committees per year: in June and December. 

More information and Application Forms

More detailed information for each specific Chair is available on our website here: https://www.univ-rennes2.fr/recherche/professeures-invitees

You can also find the application form, more precise information on the program of activities to be conceived, periods for applying and remuneration on the same page.