Professor of Media and Communication Studies

Description

Media and Communication Studies is part of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with an inviting learning and research environment. Interdisciplinary cooperation and global perspectives are essential to our work. The department offers several bachelor’s programmes, as well as a master’s program. Bachelor studies are primarily conducted in our two major study programmes, Public Relations and Media and Communication. The latter features the two specialisations Visual Communication and Design and Digital Media and Analysis. Our master’s programme is the international two-year programme Geomedia Studies: Media, Mobility and Spatial Planning. The subject also conducts research education.

Research in Media and Communication Studies is conducted in two profiled research environments connected to the department: the interdisciplinary research centre Geomedia (Centre for Geomedia Studies) http://www.kau.se/geomedia/ and NODE (The Ander Centre for Research on News and Opinion in the Digital Era) https://www.kau.se/media/node. Geomedia examines the importance of media in organising and providing meaning to spaces and places—and vice versa—with an emphasis on tourism, personal life, working life and popular culture. NODE’s research examines the practices, social functions and audiences of journalism in a digital and fragmented age. Together, Geomedia and NODE form a strong, dynamic and well-integrated foundation for the research conducted within Media and Communication Studies. In later years, our research has been very successful, receiving several international awards and rankings. The research environment has an international approach, in combination with a strong sense of collegiality.

Read about the university at: https://www.kau.se/en/ and more about the subject at: www.kau.se/en/media-and-communication-studies.

Why choose Karlstad University?

Karlstad University’s ambition to keep moving forward is evident in everything we do. Here, your ideas and commitment will be embraced. We provide reputable education and research, characterised by close ties to the wider community. Our organisation is characterised by internationalisation, and you will interact with colleagues, students, and visitors from all over the world. The university works systematically to promote socially, financially and environmentally sustainable development. A position at Karlstad University comes with many benefits, such as lunch workouts at a gym located on the university premises. Find out more about these benefits here: Benefits If you are looking for an exciting, young and forward-thinking academic environment, Karlstad University is the right place for you!

Duties

As professor of Media and Communication Studies, you have a leading role in developing the subject’s research and doctoral programme. In addition to conducting your own research, you are responsible for initiating new research projects and applying for external funds, as well as provide the right conditions for inexperienced researchers and doctoral students to grow and improve. Duties also include teaching and administration of the department’s degree programmes.

You are expected to collaborate with the wider community for a mutual exchange, as well as work towards ensuring that the knowledge and expertise available at the university is of benefit to society.

To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, you are expected to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

We are looking for candidates with research profiles compatible with Geomedia’s research areas (see https://www.kau.se/en/geomedia/centre-geomediastudies/geomedia) and who are focused on the current, increasingly digital, media landscape. You are expected to have a leading role in the continued development of Geomedia, which in turn will contribute to reinforcing Media and Communication Studies and create networks with adjacent disciplines and fields.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for the position of professor in Media and Communication Studies, applicants are required to hold a PhD or equivalent in Media and Communication Studies and have demonstrated research and teaching expertise.

Pursuant to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure, teachers must have the personal qualities required to perform the duties involved. A professor must also have completed a course in higher education pedagogy. An applicant without these qualifications may be appointed on the condition that he or she commits to completing the course within two years of employment, or applies for validation of equivalent qualifications. For other eligibility requirements, refer to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure https://www.kau.se/files/2022-02/Anstallningsordning201126.pdf

Assessment criteria

Equal weight will be given to research and teaching expertise.

In the assessment of research expertise, priority is given to (1) research connected to Geomedia’s research areas—which is to say research that uses critical social perspectives to analyse the interactions between communication, media and spatiality in various current contexts—and (2) current research output with both range and depth.

Special weight will be given to a high potential regarding future academic activities, based on documented quality (rather than quantity) in previous research output (peer-review) and the ability to successfully apply for external funding.

Special weight will be given to broad and in-depth experience of teaching and course development within media and communication studies or other subjects relevant to Geomedia’s research areas.

Special weight will also be given to documented ability and experience in developing and heading research projects in this field.

Additionally, considerable weight will be given to involvement in national and international academic networks of relevance to the position. International work experience is a valuable qualification.

Weight is given to a good command of Swedish and considerable weight is given to a good command of English. If the applicant lacks proficiency in either language, the ability to acquire these skills is required.

Considerable weight will also be given to the ability to cooperate, sound judgement, taking responsibility, commitment and a positive attitude towards colleagues and students.

Furthermore, weight will be given to documented ability to initiate, lead and complete activities which develop and/or integrate research and education (such as conferences, networks and training courses) within the particular field.

Current experience in collaborating with the wider community and communicating research and development work are considered valuable qualifications.

Documented skills and experience in leading the development of education and examination within your subject or subject area, as well as communicating these efforts to colleagues and students, are also considered valuable qualifications.

Teaching awards are valuable qualifications.

Terms

 This is a permanent full-time position (100%). Start date: As agreed by both parties.

Application

Submit the application via the university’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. For advice on how to draft your application, refer to “What should be included with my application?”

Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

  • CV
  • cover letter
  • an in-depth account of teaching experience
  • verification of a completed course in higher education pedagogy or an account of equivalent skills
  • an in-depth account of research experience
  • documented and successful experience as a doctoral supervisor
  • an account of other experiences
  • an account of managerial and administrative experience
  • plans for future work
  • an account of collaborations, experience in international networks, employment, etc.
  • a list of publications (in multi-authored publications, the role of the applicant must be specified)
  • language proficiency certificates copies of relevant course transcripts, degree certificates, and other certificates
  • no more than 10 scientific publications and no more than 5 materials intended to convey knowledge, such as textbooks, computer programs for teaching, or popular science articles
  • two references, at least one of which is a current or former supervisor.

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent in triplicate to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
Josefin Rönnqvist
651 88 KARLSTAD

Application deadline: 1 September 2022

State the reference no: REK2022/105

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.