We are looking for an associate senior lecturer in Media and Communication Studies specialising in Moving Images and Screen Cultures. The position is for a fixed term of 4 years at the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
Subject area
The subject area for this position is Media and Communication Studies.
Background
Örebro University is currently investing in creating a number of career-developing positions. The aim is to strengthen its strategic talent management and the career paths available to junior researchers.
The School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (HumES) offers bachelor’s and master’s education within a wide range of subjects and fields, both in the form of freestanding courses and study programmes. In addition, the school is host to prominent research and doctoral study programmes. Its activities are characterised by cross-disciplinary cooperation and a desire to continuously develop both education and research.
As a subject, Media and Communication Studies is oriented towards social science and humanities. It has extensive research activities and a strong international profile. Currently, faculty consists of three professors, one professor emeritus, thirteen senior lecturers (of which five are docents), two researchers, three lecturers, and four doctoral students.
On the research side, media and communication studies at Örebro University has three specialisations: Discourse, Communication and Media; Moving Images and Screen Cultures; and Strategic Communication. Research spans a wide field but is united by an interdisciplinary and critical approach. The position announced aims at strengthening the profile area Moving Images and Screen Cultures, which at Örebro University includes but also transcends the traditional boundaries associated with the subject of film studies. For more information about the profile area, see: https://www.oru.se/english/research/research-teams/rt/?rdb=g214
Duties and responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities include research, education and collaboration. During your period of employment as an associate senior lecturer, you are to develop your autonomy as a researcher and acquire further qualifications in terms of both research and teaching skills to meet the criteria for appointment as senior lecturer. As an associate senior lecturer, you are also to contribute to the university’s development.
Duties consist of research corresponding to 70% of full-time working hours. Research is conducted independently within the position holder’s own research project in collaboration with researchers within the profile area Moving Images and Screen Cultures. Duties also include teaching corresponding to 30% of full-time working hours. Teaching is principally on the Film Studies Programme – a bachelor’s programme encompassing courses in film theory, film analysis, film history, as well as courses on theory and methods within the film studies research field. Teaching may also include supervision and examination of independent projects. Teaching on courses on commercial and short film production as well as on video essays may also be included.
Örebro University expects the position holder to have a high degree of workplace presence and to engage in various duties and responsibilities at division and school levels.
As an associate senior lecturer, you are viewed as a future research leader. You will therefore take part in a university-wide scheme for associate senior lecturers, where matters such as leadership, publication strategies and research funding will be discussed.
Qualifications
Those qualified for appointment as an associate senior lecturer are applicants who have been awarded a doctoral degree in a subject area relevant for the position or have the corresponding research competence. Preference should be given to those who were awarded a doctoral degree or attained equivalent research competence no more than five years prior to the application deadline. If special grounds exist, a person who has been awarded their doctoral degree prior to that should also be considered. Such grounds comprise leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, or other similar circumstances.
Assessment criteria
When appointing an associate senior lecturer in media and communication studies, the applicant’s research as well as teaching expertise will be assessed. The assessment is also to consider the applicant’s qualifications and experience from collaboration with the wider community, as well as national and international experience and mobility. Teaching staff is expected to have the ability to communicate, to collaborate with the surrounding community and to contribute to utilising the university’s research for the benefit of society. In addition, the applicant’s suitability for the position will be assessed. Suitability refers to the applicant demonstrating the personal qualities required to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities at hand, the ability to cooperate with other members of staff, and the ability to contribute to the development of the operations.
Research expertise
Research expertise is demonstrated through independent research contributions to the film studies field and continued scientific publications following the award of the doctoral degree. Of significance is also the applicant’s experience of planning their own research, as well as their ability to communicate research to the surrounding society. Research expertise is assessed based on their scientific production, completed projects, the scientific and societal impact of the projects and the role played by the applicant.
When assessing research expertise, significance is ascribed to documented research experience and demonstrated expertise within ”new cinema history”, film and philosophy, and transmedia storytelling, external research grants applied for and awarded, and quality of the attached research plan for the upcoming 4 years, as well as the links made in the research plan to the above-mentioned areas.
Teaching expertise
When defining teaching expertise at Örebro University, three categories are used: teaching approach, how the teaching approach is put into practice, and professional development as a teacher. Teaching expertise is to be assessed in terms of teaching qualifications and experience, which must be documented and accounted for in compliance with Örebro University’s template for teaching portfolios, relating clearly to the values set out in Örebro University’s educational philosophy.
Teaching expertise is demonstrated through the breadth and scope of various forms of teaching and supervision experience. Expertise is also demonstrated through the ability to draw on research in teaching, as well as the ability to develop students’ self-learning and interest in the subject. Leadership skills are assessed based on experience of assignments within education. The applicant is expected to have the ability to independently take responsibility for planning, implementing, examining, and evaluating courses and study programmes. The ability to collaborate with society at large is assessed based on the ability to develop and implement training courses for outside the higher education sector, to communicate courses and study programmes, and to prepare teaching materials for external use.
When assessing teaching expertise, significance is also ascribed to experience of supervision and examination of independent projects within the film studies field.
Other assessment criteria
Other assessment criteria of particular importance for the appointment are demonstrated ability to teach and perform administrative duties in both Swedish and English. If the successful candidate does not have any knowledge of Swedish, they are expected to acquire such skills within two years of taking up the position personal suitability for the position, such as power of initiative, collaboration skills, and a desire and ability to contribute to a good working environment, and demonstrated desire and ambition to pursue continued academic development and a career within academia.
Of significance for the position is also experience of leadership within research, teaching and administration, experience of collaboration with the wider community of which the university is a part, and experience of national and international mobility.
Promotion to senior lecturer
An associate senior lecturer is, on application and assessment, to be promoted to senior lecturer if they meet the criteria for the appointment.
A condition for promotion is that there is a need within the organisation in the subject area in question and that a separate assessment of the candidate’s qualifications is made. The basis for promotion from associate senior lecturer to senior lecturer is that the applicant meets (1) the criteria set out in the requirements profile at the time of appointment as associate senior lecturer, and (2) the qualifications and assessment criteria in place for appointment as senior lecturer at the time of promotion and based on the respective faculty board’s guidelines for appointment. On the examination of an application for promotion to senior lecturer, teaching and research expertise are to be given equal attention. In addition, on promotion, the applicant must have completed qualifying courses on teaching and learning in higher education. They must also demonstrate good oral and written communication skills in Swedish at the level required to perform common duties within research, education, and administration.
The application for promotion to a position as senior lecturer is to be submitted to the faculty no later than 6 months and no earlier than 12 months before the employment as an associate senior lecturer comes to an end. Such a promotion entails permanent employment as senior lecturer in the subject.
Information
This is a fixed-term full-time position for a period of 4 years. The appointment may be extended, but for no longer than two years, if because of the associate senior lecturer’s illness, parental leave or other special grounds additional time is needed to fulfil the purpose of the appointment. At Örebro University, salary depends on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.
For more information about the position, contact Head of Subject Göran Eriksson, +46 19 30 38 15, email: goran.eriksson@oru.se or Head of Division Annika Gardhorn, +46 19 30 39 56, email: annika.gardhorn@oru.se
At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change, take responsibility for their work and performance, demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development, as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.
Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterised by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.
Application
Apply for the position via Örebro University’s website. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.
For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:
- Covering letter
- CV with a relevant description of your overall qualifications and experience
- Teaching portfolio (as instructed in Örebro University’s guidelines)
- Research portfolio
- Research plan for the upcoming 4 years, describing one or more planned projects (no more than 7 pages in total)
- Relevant scientific publications (maximum of 10 and in full-text format)
- Copies of relevant course/degree certificates
Only documents written in Swedish, English, Norwegian or Danish can be reviewed. To facilitate appointment of international external experts, we encourage you to write your application in English.
More information for applicants can be found on our career site: https://www.oru.se/english/working-at-orebro-university/jobs-and-vacancies/applicants-and-external-experts/
The application deadline is 2022-10-28. We look forward to receiving your application!
After the application deadline, no supplements can be made electronically. If you have scientific publications that cannot be attached electronically to the application, you will, once the external experts have been appointed, receive instructions on how the missing publications can be submitted.
We decline any contact with advertisers or recruitment agencies in the recruitment process.
As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.