University of South Africa: Senior Researcher

The purpose of the position is to:

• Initiate, stimulate and participate in individual and collaborative ODL research and research projects.
• Conduct ODL research in order to produce at least four accredited research outputs in a period of three years, thereby enhancing the University’s standing as a research institute of international repute.
• Organise conferences, seminars and research colloquia in ODL.
• Assist and where appropriate supervise postgraduate students.
• Provide support and contribute to ODL capacity development.
• Be involved in community engagement and academic citizenship.
• Contribute to achieving the department’s strategic and operational objectives through the above-mentioned endeavours.

 Requirements:

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in Education, E-learning, distance education or related fields and an intention to register for a PhD/Doctorate (in ODL education or e-learning).
• Must have at least three years teaching or research experience in a higher education institution, preparing learning resources and using a range of technologies.
• Demonstrated potential to do and publish research and present papers.
• Knowledge of ODL, e-learning and distance education theories and praxis.
  • Ability to participate in collaborative research activities.
  • Skills needed: presentation, conduct data analysis and use data analysis software e.g. Atlas.ti or SPSS.
  • Minimum of two accredited research outputs over the preceding five years.

Recommendations:

• Identifies, develops research proposals and conducts individual and collaborative multi-, inter- and trans- disciplinary (MIT) reflexive research on the impact of teaching and learning in an ODL context.
• Develops proposals for funding purposes to support ODL research projects
• Organises and participates in departmental, institutional, national and international conferences, seminars and research colloquia.
• Presents papers at institutional, national and international conferences.
• Publishes at least four accredited research outputs in a period of three years.
• Participates in, serves and occasionally leads project teams that conduct ODL research.
• Reviews academic outputs and research reports.

• Participates in ODL research capacity development.
• Assists in the supervision of postgraduate students where appropriate.

Salary: Remuneration is commensurate with the seniority of the position

Closing date:             16 November 2012