Karlstad University / Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences / Department of Language, Literature and Intercultural Studies

Sapere Aude—dare to be wise—is our motto. Our students and employees develop knowledge and expertise that enrich both people and the world around them. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and perseverance. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. We are located in an active and scenic region and we promote sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider society.
 
Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 17,300 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika.
 
More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-us

Description

Intercultural Studies at Karlstad University is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry dealing with the significance of cultural differences for social relations in contemporary society. Intercultural communication is an important part of this object of study. Karlstad University is the only higher education institution in Sweden offering intercultural studies as a main field of study, and there are plans in the making to offer second-cycle education. The subject belongs to the Department of Language, Literature and Intercultural Studies at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Intercultural Studies offers a well-established and wide range of courses. There are courses in Swedish and English, distance or on-campus, full-time or part-time. In addition to first-cycle courses, we also offer tailor-made contract education and lectures to businesses, schools, and other organisations and authorities.

Duties

The position includes teaching, course coordination, and supervision and summative assessment. The candidate is expected to actively participate in the development work of the subject. Teaching duties will vary and include teaching on-campus courses as well as distance courses. A considerable part of teaching will be conducted in English. The position may also include teaching summer courses. 

The candidate is expected to participate in the subject’s research activities by applying for external research funding, individually or as part of a group, and by managing one’s own research projects.

Some research/continuing professional development is included in the position with the possibility of increasing the number of hours allocated to research and professional development through one of the university’s faculty funded research groups and through externally funded research.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for the position of senior lecturer in intercultural studies, applicants are required to hold a PhD in a field of study within cultural studies or social sciences with relevance to the main field of study, intercultural studies, and be able to demonstrate proficiency in teaching.

Pursuant to the Karlstad University Appointments Procedure, teachers must have the personal qualities required to perform the duties involved, as well as a completed course in higher education pedagogy. In special circumstances, the course in higher education pedagogy may be completed within two years of employment. 

Assessment criteria

  • In the appointment, equal weight will be given to research and teaching expertise. Research expertise will be assessed based on documented research quality and the scope of the research in relation to intercultural studies or related subject areas. Teaching expertise will be assessed based on documented teaching experience in intercultural studies or related subject areas.
  • Special weight will be given to the ability and experience of conducting research informed by contemporary cultural theory.
  • The candidate’s ability to teach in English is also of special weight.
  • Considerable weight will be given to personal qualities such as the ability to cooperate and to show initiative. 
  • Administrative skills, ability to disseminate information about the subject in both Swedish and English, as well as the ability to cooperate with the surrounding community are of considerable weight.
  • We also value participation in international projects and networks as well as previously successful applications for external research funding.
  • If applicants have qualifications of equal value, priority will be given to the applicant whose experience in research and teaching is deemed most relevant to the activities of the department.

Terms

This is a permanent full-time position starting 1 August, 2022, or according to agreement. A probationary period may be required.

To contribute to a good working environment and help developing the subject’s activities, we expect the senior lecturer to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace.

Eligibility for permanent employment at Karlstad University usually includes proficiency in Swedish and English. A candidate who does not meet this requirement may still be hired provided they actively work to acquire these language skills.

Further information

Karlstad University places great value on the enriching presence of diverse backgrounds and gender balance in the organisation. We welcome applicants with different cultural backgrounds, gender identities, functional abilities, and life experiences.

Application

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. For advice on how to draft your application, refer to “Application Guidelines for the Appointment/Promotion of Professor or Senior Lecturer” that can be found on the web page https://www.kau.se/en/work-us/work/vacancies

Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications. Include two references, at least one of which is a previous or current supervisor. 

The application should include:

  • CV
  • Cover letter
  • An in-depth account of teaching experience 
  • An in-depth account of research experience
  • List of publications (in multi-authored publications, the role of the applicant must be specified)
  • Copies of course transcripts, degree certificates, and other certificates
  • No more than 10 scientific publications and no more than 5 materials intended to convey knowledge, such as textbooks, computer programs for teaching, or popular science articles
  • Verification of a completed course in higher education pedagogy or an account of equivalent skills
  • An account of other experiences
  • Documented managerial, collaborative and administrative experience, as well as experience of development work

All application documents should be written in Swedish and/or English. Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content. Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent in triplicate to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
Registrator
651 88 Karlstad

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.

Type of employment Permanent position
Contract type Full time
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Karlstad
County Värmlands län
Country Sweden
Reference number REK2022/28
Contact
  • Andreas Nyström, head of department, 076 004 4898
  • Staffan Löfving, head of subject, e-mail: staffan.lofving@kau.se
Union representative
  • Thomas Bragefors, SACO, 054-700 17 14
  • Denita Gustavsson, OFR, 054-700 14 34
  • Tony Ingemarsson, Lärarförbundet, 054-700 14 04
Published 02.Feb.2022
Last application date 15.Mar.2022 11:59 PM CET

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