Professorship / Associate Professorship of German, Stellenbosch University (South Africa)

Stellenbosch University (South Africa) is inviting applications from a dynamic, competent and adaptable academic to join the German Section of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages.

All foreign language programmes in our Department are based on an intercultural and communicative approach and are designed to provide a thorough competence in the spoken and written form of the target language. German is mainly taught as a foreign or second language, but the Department also makes provision for a number of mother-tongue students.

Our Department maintains a strong emphasis on research in a number of focus areas of literary and cultural studies.

Only one post is available. Candidates should apply only for the post-level that corresponds most accurately to the level at which they currently function and should clearly indicate for which level they are applying.

Professor of German

Duties:

• Initiating and conducting research projects and maintaining a commitment to the publication of research in recognised journals and books;
• Strengthening and supporting existing research projects in the Department, also beyond the German section;
• Providing academic leadership and mentoring younger colleagues;
• Cultivating national and international collaborative networks;
• Teaching at all undergraduate and postgraduate levels, both in language and literary modules, if necessary, with the use of contemporary technology;
• Undertaking postgraduate supervision at all levels (academic guidance and research methodology);
• Providing leadership and administrative coordination in the German section;
• A willingness to take on the duties of departmental chairperson on a rotational basis;
• Taking on administrative and management responsibilities at departmental, Faculty and University level;
• Initiating and maintaining active academic interaction with the wider (German studies) community.

Requirements:

• A doctorate in German or a suitable, related field;
• A native German speaker, or have native language proficiency;
• The ability to provide academic leadership in the wider field of German as a discipline;
• A substantial research record (including single-authored publications in journals or books as well as a monograph) that bears witness to international recognition of their academic status;
• Demonstrate past or current activity in initiating and maintaining successful collaborative research or student exchange networks;
• Experience in postgraduate teaching and should have successfully completed supervision at Master’s and also at Doctoral level;
• Experience as an external examiner of postgraduate research;
• A proven record of excellence in teaching at tertiary level (including undergraduate levels), in German Literature and/or language, with experience of teaching German in a foreign language context;
• A demonstrated ability to provide leadership in academic administration, international collaborative research projects, editing and publication projects, local or international associations, departmental and University committees and structures and/or research grant applications;
• The proven ability to work well within a team, as illustrated by collaborative projects and academic references;
• The proven excellent administrative and managerial skills in an official capacity;
• The ability to communicate fluently in English.

Recommendations:

• For South African candidates, a NRF rating;
• Given the composition of the Department, a knowledge of French or (Mandarin) Chinese would be a valuable additional skill;
• Given the regional context of the University and the composition of our student corps, a knowledge of Afrikaans;
• A lively interest in the interdisciplinary areas of the Department, such as comparative literature or translation.
• Associate Professor of German

General guidelines for applicants:

Applicants are requested to submit a CV, a motivation letter containing a concise exposition of their expertise, their view of the future of German language and literature teaching at Stellenbosch University, and in South Africa in general, and their envisaged role and contribution to such a future.

Teaching:

The motivational letter should also include a statement with regard to the candidate’s philosophy of teaching, whereas the CV should include a brief summary of the candidate’s teaching experience (modules conceptualised, modules presented, levels, etc.)

A list of five contactable referees is also required, which may be included in the CV.

Selection process:

Candidates that are selected for the shortlist will be invited for an interview. The selection process will include a teaching demonstration. Details in this regard will be communicated to the shortlisted candidates.

Commencement of duties: 1 January 2022

Closing date: 10 September 2021

Enquiries regarding this post: Catherine du Toit on 021 808 2063, or at cdt@sun.ac.za Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on 021 808 2753, or at sun-e-hr@sun.ac.za

The University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as Stellenbosch University’s institutional EE Plan.

The University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and e-mail address of at least five referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.

Apply online at www.sun.ac.za/english/careers

The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

Should no feedback be received from the University within six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.