Professors of Media and Communication Studies

We are looking for 1–2 professors of media and communication studies for permanent positions at the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.

The subject area for the positions is media and communication studies.

Background

The School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences offers education at the bachelor’s and master’s levels in a wide range of subjects and fields, both as freestanding courses and as study programmes. The school is also host to prominent research and doctoral programmes. Collaboration across subjects is characteristic for the school, as is the pursuit of continuous development of both education and research.

At Örebro University, media and communication studies integrates aspects of both social sciences and the humanities and has extensive research activities and a strong international profile. Currently, its academic staff include two professors, one professor emeritus, thirteen senior lecturers (of which four have been appointed docent), one postdoctoral research fellow, one researcher, three lecturers, five doctoral students and three teaching assistants.

More information

Two bachelor’s programmes are offered in the subject: Media, Communication and PR, and Film Studies. In addition, the range of courses offered includes a number of freestanding national and international courses. At the master’s level, a one-year international master’s programme in strategic communication is offered.

Duties and responsibilities

As a rule, a professor at Örebro University spends the bulk of their working hours on research. They are also expected to work actively to bring in external research grants to the subject, take overall responsibility for its research activities, and contribute to developments within the subject field internationally. A professor is expected to be involved at all three levels of higher education at the university and to communicate and collaborate around their own and the department’s research activities.

A professor is moreover expected, within the scope of their employment, to make themselves available for executive and administrative assignments at the university.

Qualifications

A person who has demonstrated both research and teaching expertise is qualified for employment as a professor.

A general eligibility criterion for permanent teaching positions at Örebro University is that the applicant has completed courses on teaching and learning in higher education corresponding to 10 weeks. For appointment as professor, the applicant must also have completed courses on doctoral supervision. Knowledge and skills equivalent to such courses may also be assessed to establish whether these provide eligibility. An applicant who at the time of appointment does not meet the criteria for courses on teaching and learning in higher education or doctoral supervision must complete the required courses no later than within two years of taking up the position.

Assessment criteria

When appointing a professor, both the applicant’s research expertise and their teaching expertise will be assessed, and as much attention is to be given to teaching expertise as to research expertise. The assessment is also to consider the applicant’s qualifications and experience from collaboration with the wider community, of which the university is a part, as well as national and international experience and mobility. In addition, the applicant’s suitability and their leadership skills will be assessed. Suitability refers to the applicant demonstrating the personal qualities required to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities at hand; to be able to cooperate with other members of staff; and to contribute to the development of university operations.

Research expertise

The applicant’s research expertise will be assessed based on their independent research contributions. These should to a substantial degree, quantitatively as well as qualitatively, exceed the qualifications required for appointment as a docent. In relation to an appointment as docent, the appointment as professor requires not only an ability to conduct research independently, but also considerable skills in leading research, which includes leading other researchers and research projects. Research output is expected to be at a continuous high level and published in channels of relevance to the subject using quality-assured processes. Research expertise also encompasses the ability to secure research grants in competition with others; experience of holding positions of trust in academia; and experience of doctoral supervision.

The applicant is expected to demonstrate extensive competence and to pursue/to have pursued research within at least one of the subject’s three profile areas.

Teaching expertise

Teaching expertise is expected to be considerable and should be demonstrated through teaching qualifications and experience, as well as through teaching contributions to varying degrees on courses and study programmes at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The applicant must be able to account for their teaching outlook and approach and have the ability to reflect on their own pedagogical development as well as on the teacher’s role. The applicant shall also have contributed to the development of educational activities.

The applicant must be able to show documented skills in doctoral supervision.

Other assessment criteria

When assessing the applicants, the distribution between the subject’s three research profiles will be considered. Should two professors be appointed, they should be distributed between at least two of the three research profiles.

The successful candidate must be able to teach and perform administrative duties in both Swedish and English. If the candidate lacks the ability to do so, they are expected to acquire such skills within two years of taking up the position.

A high degree of workplace presence is expected.

The general assessment criteria include the ability to communicate; to collaborate with the wider community; to pursue putting the university’s research into practical use for the benefit of society; as well as to collaborate with other members of staff and contribute to the development of university operations. Experience of leadership within education and research is considered an advantage, as is a demonstrated ability to lead organisations and staff, and to organise and lead research projects, research teams and/or study programmes.

Information

This is a permanent full-time position. At Örebro University, salary depends on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, and positions announced are, where appropriate, subject to a trial period.

For more information about the position, contact Professor Patrik Lundell, tel: +46 19 30 24 10, email: patrik.lundell@oru.se or Head of Division Annika Gardhorn, tel: +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 to contribute to development; as well as show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues an equal work environment and values the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application

The application is made online. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:

  • Covering letter, outlining how you believe you can contribute to the continued development of Örebro University
  • CV with a relevant description of your overall qualifications and experience
  • Teaching portfolio (as instructed in Örebro University’s guidelines)
  • Research portfolio
  • Publication list
  • Relevant scientific publications (maximum of 10 and in full-text format)
  • Copies of relevant course/degree certificates and references verifying eligibility and criteria met

Only documents written in Swedish, English, Norwegian and Danish can be reviewed.

The application deadline is 2021-03-14. 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.