The University of KwaZulu-Natal is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representativity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan
Applications are invited from permanent UKZN academic staff members within the School of Arts
college of Humanities
HEAD OF DISCIPLINE (7 posts)
(THREE-YEAR APPOINTMENT, 50% FRACTIONAL)
HOWARD COLLEGE/PIETERMARITZBURG CAMPUS
REFERENCE NUMBER: 04/2025
The School of Arts seeks to appoint a senior scholar as Head of Discipline in the following areas:
· African Languages and Literature (sub-disciplines of isiZulu and kiSwahili)
· History (sub-discipline of Cultural and Heritage Tourism)
· Music, Drama and Performance
· Cultural Studies, Media and Fine Art (both UG and PG, sub disciplines of Art History, Digital Arts)
· Philosophy (sub-discipline of Ethics Studies)
· Theology and Religion (sub-disciplines of Religion, Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology and other Theology modules)
· Language and Literature (sub-disciplines of English, French, Classics, Latin, Greek, Linguistics).
The Head will be responsible for academic leadership in one of the above disciplines, including line management of academic members of the discipline.
The Head of Discipline will be a member of the School Management Committee.
The incumbent will liaise with internal (Structures, Leadership, Academics and Professional Services staff) and external stakeholders (industry, accreditation bodies, community, academic).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
· Provide strategic Teaching and Learning, Research and Higher Degrees leadership for the discipline.
· Direct and improve the academic contribution of the discipline through its modules and curricula to the qualifications of which it is a part.
· Lead discipline level planning for staffing, succession, recruitment and sabbatical planning.
· Lead staff support and development in the discipline.
· Represent the School on relevant, College and Senate committees, if needed.
· Implement School Management Committee decisions, and contribute to implementing university strategy at the discipline level.
· Protect the quality and integrity of postgraduate qualifications in the discipline.
· Represent the Discipline as a standing member of the School Board
2. ADMINISTRATION
· Represent the Discipline as a standing member of the School Management Committee, the School Teaching and Learning Committee and the School Higher Degrees Committee.
· Report to School Management Committee, School Board and other structures.
· Oversee any budget devolved or allocated to the discipline.
· Hold and chair regular (at least quarterly), meetings of the discipline.
· Line manage academic staff in the discipline.
· Ensure timely, equitable and balanced teaching allocation.
· Ensure that required discipline representative roles on school and other structures are filled.
· Carry out functions specified in policies, including functions assigned to the role of ‘Academic Leader for Discipline’ or ‘Academic Leader for Cluster.
The incumbent will report to the Dean and Head of School.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
· A relevant Doctoral degree
· Associate Professor or above, in the Discipline
· In exceptional cases, where there are no academic members of staff at the level of Associate Professor or above, candidates at the level of Senior Lecturer in the discipline, or Full Professors in another discipline in the School will be considered for a one (1)-year term with the approval of the College DVC.
APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE:
· A track record of achievement in scholarship in the discipline appropriate to the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor. In exceptional cases where there are no staff members at the level of Associate Professor or higher in a discipline, staff at Senior Lecturer level in the discipline with an excellent track record of achievement in scholarship, and Full Professors from other disciplines in the School will be considered.
· Good administrative, communication organisational and time management skills
· Ability to work with and in a team
· Ability to interact well with and motivate staff and students
· Understanding of the higher education environment.
· At least two years of experience with UKZN policies and processes.
· Well-informed understanding of personal, social and financial constraints faced by UKZN students.
ADVANTAGE:
· Experience in development and/or management of academic programmes.
REMUNERATION: A non-pensionable allowance of R104 644pa will be payable.
Enquiries and details regarding this post, as well as requests for a job profile may be directed to the Dean and Head of School on hlongwan@ukzn.ac.za
Interested applicants are required to submit a letter of application & CV to the Manager, School Operations, Mr James Duly, via email duly@ukzn.ac.za
The closing date for receipt of applications is 26th Jan 2026.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||