Lecturer: History

CORE PURPOSE OF JOB

The Department of History and Political Studies in the Faculty of Humanities seeks to appoint a self-motivated, dynamic, and aspiring academic in History to contribute to the teaching and research responsibilities of the department. The successful candidate will be expected to teach History at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and contribute meaningfully to the broader academic project of the department particularly in the growing area of vernacular archives and vernacular historical literatures in the South African context. The candidate must be competent in debates on the transformation of historical studies and historiography within the South African context and be able to contribute towards this growing area in Faculty scholarship and curriculum renewal. The preferred candidate must have a proven track record in carrying out learning and teaching demands in a high-pressure public higher education institution with the ability to handle large classes, and a demanding teaching load and enable the learning success of a diverse student body. The preferred candidate must be able to handle the administrative and scholarly demands of the post. The successful candidate will contribute towards the faculty strategy of Revitalisation of the Humanities as part of the transformation and intellectual repositioning of a dynamic and growing department.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Facilitate transformation of curriculum content at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Supervise Honours students independently and co-supervise master’s candidates (Depending on experience).
• Conduct research, attend academic conferences, and publish to improve the research profile of the department.
• Active membership in and service to departmental and faculty standing committees.
• Undertake academic administrative duties within the History programme
• Facilitation of workshops, seminars, public lectures, and attend conferences.
• Collaborate towards the Faculty’s revitalization strategy

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of historiography and associated debates
• Knowledge of relevant disciplinary research methods
• Ability to teach in South African and general African history
• Teaching and research capability towards a transformed History and Humanities curriculum, particularly in light of debates on the Africanisation of scholarship
• Demonstrable ability to teach, manage, and conduct assessments for large undergraduate classes (classes of 500 or more students).
• Strong academic and course administration skills
• Ability to supervise postgraduate studies at the honours and master’s level.
• Ability to teach on new electronic learning platforms
• Professional self-management and the ability to operate collegially and competently within the complexities and challenges of the South African higher education environment.
• Ability to work well as part of a team and conduct themselves with excellence and professionalism in dynamic and high-pressure higher education environment
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REQUIREMENTS

• MA in History/ History and Heritage Studies
• Experience of at least 2-3 years in facilitating teaching, research, and supervision at a higher education institution.
• Experience in teaching and managing large classes. 
• Demonstrable potential to conduct high-level research that can produce publications in accredited scholarly journals, evidenced by at least two accredited publications.
• Shortlisted candidates may be requested to undergo some form of competency assessment.
• Candidates may be required to furnish three references.