Senior Lecturer P7/Lecturer P8: Botany at Sol Plaatje University

Minimum Requirement
Lecturer P8

• Master’s degree in Botany (or related field) with a specialisation in Plant Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics.
• Evidence of some teaching experience at tertiary level
• At least one relevant, published full length paper in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal (not mandatory).
• Evidence of active participation in professional, industry and/or community activities.
• Evidence of competence in administration of a course/subject at departmental level.

Senior Lecturer P7

• PhD/Doctorate in Botany (or related field) with a specialisation in Plant Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics.
• At least 4-6 years relevant teaching experience at tertiary level.
• Evidence of managing a research program.
• Evidence of relevant, published full length papers in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.
• Evidence of successful postgraduate research supervision.
• Evidence of successful curriculum development and academic management (not mandatory).
• Evidence of active participation in professional, industry and/or community activities.
• Knowledge and experience of implementing quality assurance requirements.
• Evidence of external funding or demonstrate the ability to apply for external funding.
• Evidence of statistical competence.

Recommendation 
Lecturer

• It is highly recommended that the incumbent has knowledge of or has teaching experience in specialisation in Plant, Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics. 
• Statistical competence in R will be an added advantage.
• Experience with online teaching platforms and blended learning approaches will be an added advantage.

 Senior Lecturer

• It is highly recommended that the incumbent has the following experience:
• Teaching experience in or knowledge of specialisation in Plant Taxonomy, Phylogenetics and Systematics.
•  Research active with evidence of participation in collaborative research programmes.
• NRF rating or demonstrate the potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
• SACNASP, ResearchGate and ORCID ID registration.

Duties and Responsibilities 
Teaching:

• Develop and present a reflective teaching portfolio which covers: Approach to teaching; contributions to curriculum development; design of learning materials; innovative pedagogy; student and junior staff mentoring; successful supervision of postgraduate students; formal participation
  in teaching and learning development courses; Student and/or peer evaluations of own teaching; Evidence of scholarship of Teaching and Learning would be beneficial.
• Provide evidence of teaching modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as evidence of postgraduate supervision.
• Contributions to curriculum development.
• Design of learning materials.
• Innovative pedagogy.
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in implementing quality assurance requirements.
• Evidence of national and/or international collaboration within the Natural and applied Sciences fraternity.
• Student and junior staff mentoring.
• Formal participation in teaching and learning development courses.
• Student and/or peer evaluations of own teaching; Demonstrate the ability to teach across subjects.

Research:

• Demonstrate evidence of continuous research productivity in the form of:
• Publications in DHET-accredited journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings, research papers presented at national and/or international conferences.
• Contributions to scholarly books published by reputable publishers, in good standing with DHET and not linked to predatory practices.
• Highlight evidence of managing a research program.
• Evidence of external research fundraising.
• Proof of citations (e.g. Scopus H-index); Evidence of scholarship of Teaching and Learning would be beneficial.
• NRF rating is recommended OR demonstrate potential for obtaining an NRF rating within the next five 5 years.

Community Engagement:

• Significant involvement in discipline or departmental official activities and processes.
• Active academic participation in workshops/forums in higher education.
• Movement towards recognition in the broader subject/ discipline community.
• External examining/ moderating at other higher education institutions at UG and/or PG levels.

Curriculum development and accreditation

• Contribute to curriculum development and participate in curriculum review to ensure alignment with sector /discipline norms and requirements.

Student academic development

• Identify, report, and support students at risk timeously.
• Develop intervention strategies.

Administration

• Keep attendance registers.
• Record student results.
• Assist with registration of students.
• Invigilate test and examinations.
• Implement policies and procedures applicable to the teaching and learning community engagement research, SHE and academic administration functions.
• Participate in departmental School /Faculty committees.

Quality Assurance

• Contribute to quality assurance through committee meetings and submission of relevant documents.
• Implement appropriate interventions.

Personal /Professional Development

• Keep abreast of development within own field of study.
• Register as member of professional bodies.
• Attend conferences, seminars and workshops.
• Present research papers at conferences.

Monitoring, Evaluations, and reporting

• Develop relevant reports as and when required.
• Communicate and consult with relevant stakeholders.