AssociateP6 /Professor P5 : Data Science
Sol Plaatje University
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Permanent
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Posted 24 January 2025 - Closing Date 25 November 2025

Job Details

Job Description

Purpose
Responsible for teaching and learning, research and community engagement and to provide support to the department/Faculty in pursuit of its academic objectives. Responsibilities may also include curriculum development, student academic development, administration, quality assurance, academic management and the development of research capacity within the department/Faculty in order to contribute to the academic initiatives undertaken by the department/Faculty.

Minimum Requirements 

Associate Professor
  • At least eight years of relevant higher education experience.
  • Demonstrate evidence of continuous research output in the form of: publications in DHET accredited journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings; research papers presented at national and/or international conferences; contribution to scholarly books published by a recognized publishing house; citation record (e.g Scopus h-index);
  • Evidence of research leadership in publication/grant application; external research funds raised; national and/or international research publications.
  • NRF rating is strongly recommended.
  • Experience in leadership contributions to curriculum development, design of learning materials, and innovative pedagogy and/or scholarship of teaching and learning; student and junior staff mentoring,
  • Successful supervision of postgraduate students including PhD students,
  • Formal participation in teaching and learning development courses; student and/or peer evaluations of own teaching,
  • Demonstrate evidence of: significant involvement in discipline, departmental and/or institutional official activities and processes which includes active academic participation in workshops/forums in higher education as well as community engagement activities and CE as a scholarly activity; external examining/moderating of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Professor
  • Ten years relevant higher education experience.
  • Demonstrate evidence of continuous research output in the form of continual and sustained research outputs in high impact DHET -accredited journals in a mix of local and international journals; scholarly contributions to books published by recognized publishers,
  • Evidence of external research funds raised; productive research linkages and networks with leading scholars at national and international level; presentations of research papers as invited or keynote speaker at scholarly local and international conferences,
  • Must be NRF ratedIn the case of international application, the CV must demonstrate a research profile and outputs that are conducive to a successful rating upon evaluation.
  • Have a notable citation track record (evident through a Scopus H-index commensurate to period as active research), research leadership demonstrated through authorship position on publications,
  • Experience in leadership contributions to curriculum development, design of learning materials and innovative pedagogy; student and staff mentoring,
  • Successful supervision of postgraduate students including PhD students,
  • Formal participation in teaching and learning development courses; contributions to presenting teaching and learning courses; scholarly contributions to teaching and learning development; student and/or peer evaluations of own teaching.
  • Demonstrate evidence of leadership and contribute positively towards the discipline, department, faculty and the institution; active involvement in professional and/or discipline societies; playing an active role in leading of academic citizenship activities in the broader community; acknowledgement and referred to as respected leader in the field by the broader scientific community; frequently evaluate articles for good journals and/or serve on editorial board for such journals;
  • Contribute to scientific and organising committees of significant conferences; external examining/moderating at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Recommendations 
  • Involvement in societies/organisations that promote the science of business management.

Duties and Responsibilities 

Teaching and Learning
  • Compile work schemes in col­labo­ration with colleagues.
  • Research and utilize new and emerging approaches and technology in teaching.
  • The professional preparation of teaching media.
  • The professional preparation of notes to supplement or substi­tute prescribed textbooks.
  • Research and selection of sui­table reference material to supple­ment textbooks.
  • The facilitation of an effective teaching situation in which the learning experience can take place successfully.
  • The upgrading of course content/ development of new courses and/or modules in order to keep up with the latest require­ments of the discipline.
  • Student and peer evaluations of teaching performance.
  • Apply appropriate assessment methods.
  • External examining and invitations to teach externally.
Research

Research projects

  • Develop research projects.
  • Apply for research grants.
  • Identify suitable candidates to participate in research projects.
  • Draw up performance plans for research teams.
  • Manage projects to achieve objectives.
  • Commercialisation of research output.
  • Provide guidance and assistance on research matters.
  • Act as study leader of student/lecturer study groups.
  • Publish research results.
  • Membership of professional bodies in order to keep abreast of new developments.

Fundraising and stewardship to donors

  • Explore fundraising opportunities for research projects.
  • Work with advancement/grants department (including own team), as well as school and interdisciplinary teams to continually identify prospects (corporates, trusts, foundations, individuals) as well as high-profile ‘door-openers’ for SPU’s, as well as school research priority projects.
  • Compile funding appeals/ proposals.
  • Conduct regular evaluation of fundraising activities.

Post-graduate supervision

  • Recruit prospective students.
  • Supervise postgraduate students studying towards obtaining a qualification.
  • Ensure that researchers keep abreast with the current research standards
Community Engagement
  • Contribute to community engagement initiatives.
  • Integrate community engagement interventions into curriculum.
  • Report on own involvement in professional, industry and/or community activities.
Curriculum Development and Accreditation
  • Contributes to curriculum development.
  • Participate in curriculum review and the development of new courses/modules to ensure alignment with sector/discipline norms and requirements.
  • Review assessment methods for self and others.
  • Revise and submit programmes for accreditation by relevant accreditation bodies.
Student Academic Development
  • Identify students at risk timeously.
  • Develop intervention strategies.
  • Provide counseling to students.
  • Monitor student progress.
  • Make necessary referrals for students, where needed.
Administration
  • Keep attendance registers.
  • Record student results.
  • Assist with the registration of students.
  • Supervise tests and examinations.
  • Implement policies and procedures applicable to the teaching and learning, community engagement, research, SHE and academic administration functions.
Quality Assurance
  • Contribute to Quality Assurance through committee meetings and submission of relevant documents.
  • Identify QA feedback mechanism within the school/department.
  • Monitor the impact of QA recommendations within the school/department.
  • Implement appropriate interventions.
Academic Management
  • Contributes to policy making.
  • Set annual objectives pertaining to academic programmes.
  • Participate in the review of teaching, research, community engagement and academic administration objectives.
  • Contribute to the development of academic related decision-making.
  • Acts as programme leader, mentor and coach.
  • Management of tutor activities.
Personal/ Professional Development
  • Register as a member of professional bodies to keep abreast of all developments (where appropriate)
  • Engage in current professional development activities.
    • Prepare development plan for promotion to the next level, within stipulated time frame.
    • Ongoing development required by professional body.
  • Attend conferences, seminars and workshops.
  • Present research study papers at conferences.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting
  • Develop relevant reports as and when required.
  • Communicate and consult with relevant stakeholders.

Enquiries can be made via email at [email protected]

Assumption of duties: As mutually agreed to upon acceptance of the appointment. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. This position may be subjected to assessments.

Women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Note: Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is dedicated to meeting its Employment Equity targets.