The Wits School of Education invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow to join a research project on professional teaching led by Dr. Lee Rusznyak. The research project seeks to provide support to the South African Council for Educators (SACE) to develop a set of standards for professional teaching appropriate for the South African context in collaboration with JET Education Services. The overarching research question for the project is: What could professional teaching look like within the diversity of schools in the South African context? The project hopes that standards for professional teaching within the South African context will bring about greater degrees of consolidation within the sector, greater synergies between the transition points that characterize teachers’ career, and greater degrees of professional accountability.

This Post-Doctoral Fellowship is funded by the Zenex Foundation, with contributions from JET, SACE and the University of the Witwatersrand. The fellowship is a two year position, with the renewal of the contract for the second year subject to satisfactory performance during the first year. The successful candidate will receive a tax-free stipend to the value of R250 000-00 in each of the two years and medical aid benefits. Additional funding is available to the Fellow to support research-based activities linked to the project, and for attendance at conferences.

Duties and Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to:

  • Undertake focused and high quality research that will investigate the nature of professional teaching in developing countries; in-depth analysis of all data collected during the Standards Development Working Group process, as well as interviews with a range of stakeholders about various drafts of the standards.
  • Participate in other university staff activities, including research and work experience at JET and SACE.
  • Present findings of the research project at local and international conferences.
  • Contribute to the writing of research reports and academic papers on the development of standards for professional teaching in South Africa.

Minimum requirements 

  • Normally a post-doc fellowship requires that the PhD has been obtained within the last 5 years.
  • Advanced research experience in teaching, teacher development, inclusive teaching practices and/or teacher education.
  • Demonstrated evidence of scholarly performance including a relevant publication record.
  • Demonstrated English language proficiency, good conceptual and writing skills.
  • Good knowledge of the South African education system.
  • The University of the Witwatersrand is an equal opportunity employer and it is strongly hoped that the selected candidate will make a contribution towards the diversification of the Wits academy. South African citizenship is a requirement. 

Contact

Interested candidates should submit their application to Mrs. Nkateko Sithole at applications@jet.org.za.

Closing date for applications is 31 January 2017.

Applications should include an application letter explaining the candidate’s interest in the project and background, a detailed CV with reference details of published papers, an academic record, certified copy of qualifications and the names of three contactable referees (two of which should be academic).

 It is hoped that the successful applicant will be able to occupy the position immediately upon appointment.

 

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