Careers at North West University

Job description
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• Senior Lecturer position in Subject Group: Creative Writing in the School of Languages (PC). The incumbent will be expected to teach undergraduate and post-graduate modules in Creative Writing Programmes offered at NWU as well as participate in research and community engagement activities as expected of every senior lecturer at the University.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Teaching & Learning

• All undergraduate teaching and learning and post-grad supervision, preferably with specialisation in Afrikaans & English creative writing modules.

Research and Creative Writing

• Individual research and creative writing, preferably with specialisation in Afrikaans and English literature, pre-reviewing of research articles and scholarly book contributions, co-operation in subject group projects in creative writing and research.

Management and University Services

• Fulfilling management tasks and duties in service of the University as a whole, as they arise.

Community Involvement

• Assist in organising subject group and school community engagement projects.

Minimum requirements

• PhD in Literature and/or Creative Writing
• 2 years’ experience in teaching at a tertiary institution (in literary studies and/or creative writing).
• Evidence of at least 1 article or creative writing output
• Post-graduate supervision /co-supervision experience

ADDED ADVANTAGE & PREFERENCES:

• Membership to relevant Afrikaans and/or English literary and/or writers’ societies
• 2 years’ experience in post-graduate study guidance at a tertiary institution (in literary and/or creative writing)

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent communication skills (in both Afrikaans and English)
• Excellent level of computer literacy and experience of online teaching and learning
• Successful creative writing (published by mainstream publishers)
• Effective (proven) teaching and research guidance skills
• Relevant and scholarly valued (published) literary researching

KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent administrative and organising ability
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently
• Good interpersonal skills

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Job description

• The MUST Deep Learning research group performs basic and applied research in machine learning, with an emphasis on the theory and application of deep learning, the set of tools currently driving innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). Our theoretical work focuses on the generalisation ability and interpretability of deep learning models. Our current application domains are diverse, ranging from space weather prediction to industrial applications of deep learning.
• MUST forms part of the Faculty of Engineering at North-West University (NWU), South Africa. It hosts the current SARChI chair in Deep Learning, is a node of the South African National Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR), and a coordinator of the “Machine learning in support of theoretical and computational science” research programme of The National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS). As such, the group develops and applies specialised machine learning techniques with a network of collaborating researchers.

We invite South African and international fellows with an interest in machine learning and, specifically, deep neural networks,  to apply. A postdoctoral fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity for individuals looking to:

• grow their research experience and portfolio,
• increase their research independence,
• learn to lead and coordinate research projects, and/or
• explore new research interests.

This fellowship, in particular, will prepare the successful candidate for a range of research opportunities related to machine learning and engineering, whether in an academic capacity or in industry.

• If you are the successful candidate, MUST will provide you with exposure to an environment that conducts machine learning research of international standing. You will develop your research skills, collaborate and publish internationally, and grow your own research profile. You will work in collaboration with a supervisor and participate fully in the research programme of the group. You will also interact with the group’s postgraduate students, and have the opportunity to act as supervisor for research masters and doctoral students. Undergraduate teaching is not a typical part of this position.
• The fellowship is driven by merit and is awarded in line with the NWU policy on employment equity. The position is offered at one of two locations: Potchefstroom at the Faculty of Engineering, and Hermanus (Western Cape) at the MUST research lab.

Minimum requirements

• Relevant PhD degree (e.g. Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics), obtained within five years before the appointment as a postdoctoral fellow.
• Strong programming and/or scripting skills (especially Python). 
• Good technical writing skills and a sound publication record.
• Ability to co-supervise students.
• Self-motivated individual with strong interpersonal skills.
• Prior machine learning experience is essential.

Deadline:5 May 2025

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Job description
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

Information Systems lecturer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Teaching and Learning:

• Delivery of lectures as per timetable and consultations with students including co-supervision of Masters and Honors students.

Research:

• Publications of articles in proceedings and journals as required.

Community Engagement:

• Industry and community responsiveness.
• Participate in individual and collective community engagement activities.

Management support:

• Participate in special responsibilities in support of the Program Leader.

Minimum requirements

• A Masters’ degree (NQF level 9) in Information Systems, Computer Science or IT.
• A minimum of 2 years’ teaching and learning experience at a higher education environment.

RECOMMENDATIONS / ADDED ADVANTAGES:

• Membership with any ICT professional body.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge in management information systems, databases and business intelligence.
• Computer networking and architecture, information system development (Java or C#), emerging technologies and IS research.
• At least 2 journal publications, supervision of at 2 Honours students.
• Knowledge of modern LMS platforms like eFundi to enhance the ongoing changing of the learning and collaboration environment.
• Ability to handle large classes.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Effective time-management skills.
• Effective communication skills.
• Good interpersonal relations and a client-service orientation.
• Demonstration of language proficiency to function optimally in the various functionally multilingual environments of the NWU.
• The ability to function well individually and as part of a team/subject group.
• Good analytical abilities and innovative thinking, as well as ability to be self-driven.
• The ability to solve problems independently.
• The ability to teach large classes in our service courses.
• Good Time-management and problem-solving skills.
• Good planning and organising skills as well as good report writing skills.
• A high level of professional and ethical conduct.

Deadline: 21 April 2025

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Job description

• A post-doctoral fellow position is available within the Centre of Excellence in Carbon-based-Fuels in the research area of waste valorisation. The prospective candidate must be able to independently conduct research, document and publish within the SARChI chair research programme. Our team is seeking talented individuals who possess a strong background in chemistry, engineering, or a related field, and have experience in conducting research and guiding post graduate students on the conversion of waste materials into valuable products.
• As a postdoctoral research fellow with our team, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of novel technologies and processes for the valorisation of discarded coal, biomass, and waste plastic, with the goal of creating sustainable and economically viable solutions to address our planet's waste and energy challenges. The candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge or sufficient experience by publication in the following:
• Electrochemical upgrading of bio-oil. 
• Development of Biofuels, Jet Fuels, and Value-added Products from biomass.
• A Scientific Approach to Fluidized Bed Gasification for Alternative Feedstocks Conversion to Renewable Hydrogen.
• Enhancing Madagascar's Rural Socio-Economy Through Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus Optimisation.
• Evaluation of purified sodium lignosulphonate as hard carbon source to produce anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Minimum requirements

• Relevant PhD degree obtained within five years before the appointment as a postdoctoral fellow.
• Record of publications
• Excellent communications skills and team-work ability.

Deadline: 30 April 2025

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Job description

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• To carry out duties relating to teaching & learning, research and community engagement, for the subject group Curriculum Studies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Teaching undergraduate modules.
• Teaching and supervision: Postgraduate.
• Research publications.
• Community service.
• Study guide and material development.
• Support of research entity.
• Initiating and planning of strategic research initiatives.

Minimum requirements

• A PhD (NQF 10) in Curriculum Studies.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in teaching in the relevant field in a higher education environment.
• Be an author/co-author of at least 2 research articles in accredited journals.
• Completed supervision of at least 1 master’s student.

ADDED ADVANTAGES & PREFERENCES:

• Have proven teaching experience in curriculum studies.
• Involvement in funded research projects.
• Research skills, interpersonal skills/communication and computer literacy.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrate recent experience of working and teaching in a higher education context.
• Demonstrate recent experience in publishing accredited research.
• Demonstrate recent experience in supervising post-graduate students to completion.
• Demonstrate recent experience of involvement in Community Engagement.

KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a team.

Deadline: 22 April 2025

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Job description

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

• To fill an existing vacant post to teach Geography Education and Environmental Education. A lecturer will be expected to make contributions to the teaching & learning, research & innovation, as well as community engagement for the duration of their post occupation in the faculty and institution at large. The appointed person will carry out activities to maintain and develop his/her professional career relevant to the profession or discipline in terms of research and social responsiveness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Teaching and Learning:

• Teaching undergraduate modules on contact and distance mode, etc. 
• Teaching and supervision.
• Study guide and study material development.

Research and Innovation:

• Research Publications - articles, chapters and/or books.
• Membership and participation in research entity activities.

Community engagement:

• Community service 
• Initiate and manage community engagement projects.

Minimum requirements

• A Master’s degree (NQF level 9) in Geography and/or Geography Education.
• A B.Ed. Honours (NQF level 8) in Geography Education or a BA/BSc Honours in Geography plus PGCE (or PGDiploma or equivalent) in Geography Education.
• A professional teacher’s qualification (NQF level 6-7) in Geography Education.
• A minimum of 3 years’ Geography teaching and learning experience in Further Education and Training Phase.
• Attach an academic transcript to your application.

RECOMMENDATION / ADDED ADVANTAGE:

• A bachelor’s degree (BA/BSc/B.Ed.) with Geography as a major subject up to university level 4.
• A Doctorate (NQF level 10) in Geography or Geography Education.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Advanced knowledge of Geography (Human and Physical Geography, Map Work, and GIS) and Geography Education to teach Geography and/or Geography Education content modules to undergraduate B.Ed. and Hons students.
• Knowledge of dynamic teaching-learning technologies,
• Good computer skills in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
• Use of blended learning environments, e.g. Internet and email.
• Advanced research skills.

Deadline: 

27 April 2025

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Job description

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

• To fill a vacancy in the school in the subject group Education leadership and management, and will be involved in teaching & learning, research and community engagement activities.

Research.

• Scholarly guidance, innovation and initiation with regard to research in education management and leadership.

Teaching.

• Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in education management and leadership.

Community engagement.

• Involvement in teaching practice.
• Involvement in community engagement programmes

Minimum requirements

• A master’s degree (NQF level 9) in Education with specialisation in Education Management & Leadership.
• A minimum of two (2) years’ teaching experience at school/university level.

 ADDED ADVANTAGES & PREFERENCES:

• Previously employed in higher education.
• Member of funded research projects.
• Be in possession of a doctorate in an appropriate field of study (PhD in Education with focus on Management & Leadership).
• Author/co-author of research experience in Management & Leadership.
• Have proven teaching experience in Education Management & Leadership.
• Supervised Masters and Doctoral students to completion.
• Research skills, interpersonal skills/ communication and computer literacy.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Proven record of teaching and learning.
• Research potential.

KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• The ability to work as part of a team.
• Good interpersonal relations.

Deadline: 20 April 2025