Post Details
Grade 10 – Competitive salary and benefits
Closing date for applications are midnight on Sunday 22 April 2018
Interviews are expected to take place on Friday 18 May 2018
The Post
The Division of Communication, Media and Culture (CMC) wishes to recruit a leading researcher of international standing in Communication, Media and Culture to the post of Professor. Applications from specialists in the field of Cultural Studies and Gender are particularly encouraged. The post will enhance research leadership and income generation within the subject area, and the successful candidate will be expected to teach across undergraduate and postgraduate modules as well as supervise doctoral students and undertake administrative duties as appropriate.
The Division boasts a long-standing strategic commitment to interdisciplinary and engagement with a range of external stakeholders in government, the creative industries and the third sector. While we would welcome applicants from across the field of communication, media and culture, and particularly in cultural studies and gender, we would be particularly interested in attracting leadership and developing capacity in applied and practice-based research. It is anticipated the appointee will lead and grow Stirling’s Institute of Gender Studies, contribute to the MSc in Gender Studies (Applied) and the MLitt in Gender Studies (Applied) and position the University to take advantage of funding opportunities such as the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) or United Nations sustainability goal grants.
The successful candidate will evidence the capacity to sustain and enhance the considerable research profile of CMC at Stirling, generate significant research grant support, lead further development generally, and to pursue opportunities for collaborative activities across the School. The Division forms part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Stirling along with a number of other divisions including Literature and Languages, English Studies, Religion, Philosophy, Law, History and Politics. Applications will be welcome from researchers with a sustained record of publication at the highest level and who will pursue an ambitious programme of internationally excellent research appropriate for consideration under the Research Excellence Framework (REF), including research outputs and funding applications.
The post will:
Provide essential capacity at senior level to support both Divisional needs around mentoring and leadership, and involvement in strategic planning and decision-making at Faculty and University levels.
Generate significant research grant income.
Increase the percentage of REF returns at 3* (or above) and enhance the interna-tional reputation and standing of CMC. Both of these aims are consistent with and further the University’s REF strategy.
Provide research leadership and increase the capacity for research collaborations – internally and externally, and both with academic and non-academic partners – in key strategic areas of Cultural studies and Gender.
Provide expertise and leadership in core and popular areas of Cultural Studies and Gender provision for undergraduate and Masters programmes as well as supervision of PhD candidates.
Secure the coherence and enhance the international standing and recruitment ap-peal of CMC across all areas of activity.
The University
The University of Stirling is a leading UK teaching and research-intensive university, created by Royal Charter in 1967. Since its foundation, the University has embraced its role as an innovative, intellectual and cultural institution with a pioneering spirit and a passion for excellence in all that it does.
In 2016, the University launched its current Strategic Plan http://www.stir.ac.uk/about/our-strategy/ (2016-2021), with targets to: be one of the top 25 universities in the UK; increase income by £50 million; enhance its research profile by 100 per cent; and ensure internationalisation is at the heart of everything it does.
With three-quarters of its research ranked world-leading and internationally-excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2014), the University’s groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research makes a difference to society and has a positive impact on communities worldwide. With key strengths in the fields of health and behaviour, global security and resilience – and cultures, communities and society – the University collaborates with international governments and policymakers, businesses, industry, and charitable organisations, to tackle and provide solutions to some of the toughest global societal challenges.
The essence of the University is its great people: its graduates, staff (1,500+), students (14,000+) and alumni (82,000+) are helping to shape the world. Stirling is a truly global institution, and was ranked in the top 150 most international universities, in the 2016 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. In 2017, the University also reached 46th place in the world – and 2nd in the UK – in THE’s international list of top universities under the age of 50. With more than 120 nationalities represented on campus, Stirling is a university of distinction and an employer of choice.
Stirling’s leading researchers, scholars and global student population are attracted by the University’s unique learning environment, exceptional facilities, beautiful campus and student-centred approach, where ability, not background, is recognised and valued.
Equality and diversity, and treating everyone with respect, are central to the University’s ethos and activities. Stirling promotes equality and celebrate diversity through a variety of initiatives. The University is proud to hold an Athena SWAN Bronze award http://www.stir.ac.uk/equalityanddiversity/athenaswan/ – the national charter recognising best practice in advancing women’s careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine.
The University is located in the city of Stirling; the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. The 330-acre campus encompasses a loch, a golf course and the 18th-century Airthrey Castle. It is undoubtedly one of the most attractive campuses in Europe: the virtual campus tour provides a flavour of what to expect.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
The University’s Strategic Plan 2016-21 sets out our ambitions to grow in terms of postgraduate numbers and research income generation, to increase partnerships and external engagement, and to further develop internationalisation across all our operations. In accordance with that strategic ambition, the appointee will make a significant contribution to our taught programmes, developing international recruitment and forging new international partnerships. Furthermore, the appointee will be expected to pursue an ambitious programme of research, including large funding applications and research outputs to a standard appropriate for consideration under the Research Excellence Framework (REF), to recruit and supervise postgraduate research students in their field of expertise, and to assume administrative duties as prescribed by the Head of Division.
The Faculty encompasses four multidisciplinary divisions: Communications, Media and Culture; History and Politics; Literature and Languages and Law and Philosophy.
Communications, Media and Culture
Since its foundation in 1978, the Division of Communications, Media and Culture (CMC) at Stirling has developed into an internationally renowned centre for research and teaching. Ranked Top in Scotland for 2018 (Good University Guide) and 6th in UK (The Guardian 2017), the Division consistently draws high ratings for its teaching at all levels. Our students frequently win awards at major national competitions and many go on to become successful practitioners, entrepreneurs and executives nationally and globally.
CMC has built a broad spectrum of research expertise in recent years, encompassing re-search output in the humanities, social sciences and management, and has continued to give due priority to long-existing strengths in screen studies, while also retaining the focus on media sociology and political communications which were a particular feature of Stirling during the 1990s. The Division continues to emphasise impact activities and public engagement (having been ranked Top in Scotland for Impact in UoA36 in REF2014).
On the back of its continuing success and achievements, recent growth has seen the arrival of a group of talented new colleagues with diverse interests ranging from data journalism and sound to digital publishing. The Division now offers a wide choice of options in taught graduate and undergraduate programmes, and in doctoral research, including theoretical study in the field of media and culture, as well as vocational work on the media, communications and journalism industries, and is developing a reputation for supporting doctoral practice-based work in film studies, as well as supporting developments in creative writing.
Our commitment to applied research is additionally demonstrated in new developments at taught postgraduate level, in particular the success of our Research Placement schemes in the Gender Studies programme. Through these initiatives, we are growing a cohort of skilled postgraduate researchers at all levels, and have significantly increased our numbers of fully-funded PhD students.
The Division offers a range of Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses from Honours degrees in Film and Media, Journalism and Digital Media through to shared programmes with the local Forth Valley College. We also offer online Masters programmes in Public Relations, taught and research masters programmes and have joint programmes with a number of international partners including in Spain and in Vietnam. Opportunities exist for the candidate to participate in these through onsite teaching and through collaborative research.
Description of Duties
The successful candidate will:
Enhance research capacity, generate research funding and provide leadership in the field of Cultural Studies and Gender.
Produce high-quality publications of a world-leading or internationally excellent standard in light of the strategic planning for REF2021.
Provide strategic leadership in programme development, student recruitment and curriculum innovation.
Contribute to the delivery of the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in CMC.
Take on other administrative functions within the Division and the Faculty as prescribed by the Head of Division or Dean of the Faculty.
Essential Criteria
Applications are sought from suitable candidates who have:
Qualifications
- A PhD in a relevant area.
Research
- An established internationally recognised academic research profile.
- A strong track record of securing external funding for research and knowledge transfer.
- Significant experience of successfully leading large research projects and teams.
- A track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals to levels of world-leading international excellence and a strong REF profile.
- A proven ability to develop research links with stakeholders in the UK and overseas.
- A track record of applied research.
- Significant experience of successful postgraduate research supervision and supervision of taught postgraduate and undergraduate research student projects.
- Experience of research-led teaching.
- Demonstrably advanced skills in relevant research methods.
Leadership and academic management
- Excellent proven leadership skills in academic administrative roles.
- Strong links with industry or have policy or third sector linkages.
Teaching
- Experience of, and commitment to, providing high quality teaching within higher education.
- Ability and willingness to teach across the curriculum.
- Experience of curriculum development and management.
Skills, attitudes and behaviour
- Effective interpersonal skills including communication (written and verbal), presentation and team working skills.
- Enthusiasm, flexibility, reliability and ability to meet deadlines.
- A self-reliance and ability to cope with pressure and conflicting demands.
- An ability to work collaboratively and effectively with academic and administrative colleagues, and with colleagues outside the University.
Personal qualities
- Ability to instigate and chair research and collaborative partnerships with other educational institutions or other bodies.
- Positive attitude and self motivation.
- Ability to promote a collegiate approach and develop team spirit and team coherence and to foster inter-disciplinary team working. To develop and communicate a clear vision of the strategic direction.
- Willingness to support international activities.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of managing an academic department/division, with a creative and innovative approach to teaching and research.
- Experience of Chairing committees and participating in Institutional decision making and governance.
Additional Information
Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Head of Division, Adrian Hadland adrian.hadland@stir.ac.uk, 01786 467524, or the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Professor Richard Oram r.d.oram@stir.ac.uk, 01786 467584.
The University offers great benefits such as generous annual leave and membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme with employer contributions of 18%. Additionally staff can benefit from a reduced membership rate at the University’s excellent Sport Centre facilities and the option of childcare vouchers through a salary sacrifice scheme.
A full list of FAQs can be found here, we recommend you read these before making your application.
Please ensure that you check your email account junk folder as your email provider may flag emails sent to you as suspected spam.
Terms and conditions of this post can be found at http://www.stir.ac.uk/hr-od/workingatstirling/yourcontract
After the closing date, this job advert will no longer be available on the University of Stirling website therefore please keep a copy for your records.
