The Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Copenhagen University (UCPH), Denmark, invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professorship or associate professorship in China Studies to be filled by 1 January 2021, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies is concerned with cultures, languages, religions and societies outside of Western Europe and North America.
Further information about the application may be found at https://jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabelige-stillinger/?show=151997
China Studies is a language based area studies program with a disciplinary focus on history, culture, society, and politics. It offers BA, MA, and PhD degrees. The focus is on modern Chinese language instruction, but classical Chinese is also taught. The China Studies group teaches not only the China Studies programe offered by the University of Copenhagen, but also parts of the BSc in Business, Asian Language and Culture offered by Copenhagen Business School and thus the student population amounts to several hundreds. Successful applicants will be involved in both these programs and contribute to make the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies a vibrant and productive centre for teaching and research on China.
Further information about the educational programs may be found at
https://ccrs.ku.dk/education/chinese_studies/
Job content
One of the two positions is focused on contemporary Chinese culture in any of, or preferably a combination of several of the following fields: literature, film (motion pictures and/or documentaries), popular culture, art, new media, TV, or social media.
The other position is focused on Chinese politics and society and draws upon political science, sociology, history or cognate disciplines concerned with the political economy of contemporary China.
The successful applicants will be expected to pursue and produce research in their own discipline as well as in cross-disciplinary projects. The candidates will teach both Chinese language and content courses and work in close collaboration with colleagues to further develop China Studies at the University of Copenhagen and contribute to its international recognition in research and teaching.
It is anticipated that the candidates will take an active role in developing and implementing cross-disciplinary activities within the framework of the University of Copenhagen’s Asian Dynamics Initiative (see https://asiandynamics.ku.dk/english/) and participate in the operations of the cross-university China initiative ThinkChina (see http://ThinkChina.dk).
Qualification requirements
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Chinese/China studies or a relevant discipline and have a record of original research based on Chinese language materials.
Candidates must demonstrate native or near-native fluency in Chinese with excellent communication, reading and writing skills in both Chinese and English; possess the ability to teach Chinese language courses as well as content courses in their own field at all levels (BA and MA). Training and experience with multi-media technology in foreign language instruction is desired. Experience with teaching of classical Chinese will be considered an asset. Knowledge of other East Asian civilizations and/or a comparative and interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching would be an advantage.
The duties of the position are evenly distributed on tasks related to teaching and tasks related to research (including relevant administration and knowledge-sharing). Documented competences in both of these main fields of activity, as well as the ability to reflect on them, will be weighted in the assessment process (see further below).
Associate professor
Applicants for associate professorships must have research and teaching qualifications corresponding to at least the level attained on successful completion of a tenure track assistant professorship.
The associate professor is expected to be able to take part in all the activities of the department, including examinations and administration, and also to manage research projects, provide pedagogical supervision and support to assistant professors.
The criteria as associate professor at the Faculty of Humanities can be found here: https://humanities.ku.dk/about/vacancies/5668eng_Lektorkriterier_paa_HUM_KUendelig.pdf
For further details about the qualification requirements for associate professor, please read more in the job structure for academic at the Universities: staff https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=140435 (only in Danish)
Tenure-track assistant professor
Applicants should have research qualifications equivalent to having a completed PhD education in the field.
A tenure-track assistant professorship is a six-year, fixed-term academic position involving both research and teaching. The successful candidate will be obliged to complete a teacher-training course designed especially for assistant professors, and will be expected to be able to take part in all the activities of the Department, including examinations and administration.
Approximately six months before the end of the six-year period as assistant professor, a committee set up by the Dean will assess whether the assistant professor can be considered for promotion to a tenured position as associate professor.
Read more about the tenure-track program at the UCPH at this homepage: http://employment.ku.dk/tenure-track/tenure-track-at-ucph/.
For further details about the qualification requirements for tenure-track assistant professor, please read more in the job structure for academic at the Universities: staff: https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=140435 (only in Danish)
Qualifications requirements for both positions
The applicant’s scientific record, academic breadth and depth, rigour, thoroughness, and accuracy.
- Research qualifications, which will be assessed in relation to the period of active research, the degree of originality, and academic output, e.g. number of publications published in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed journals or in comparable high-ranking series published with internationally recognized publishing houses.
- The applicant’s scientific record, academic breadth and depth, rigour, thoroughness and accuracy
- Teaching qualifications: Read more about our Educational Charter at https://humanities.ku.dk/about/vision_and_goals/educational_charter/ and Pedagogic Basis and Guidelines at https://uddannelseskvalitet.ku.dk/quality-assurance-of-study-programmes/university-guidelines/pedagogic-basis-and-guidelines/
- Experience and qualifications with regard to dissemination of research, knowledge-sharing and engagement with the wider public, the media and the world of politics
- Documentation of possible administrative qualifications
Applicants are encouraged to read the University guidelines for teaching portfolio when appointing staff at the UCPH https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio/
Tenure-track assistant professors and associate professor must hold an academic record demonstrating internationally competitive research, and/or have internationally recognized potential to make a future impact.
Assessment of applicants will primarily consider their level of documented, internationally competitive research. Teaching qualifications must be documented and teaching experience will be taken into account. Applicants’ outreach qualifications, including the ability to attract external funding, will also be considered.
Within a reasonable period of time (max. 2 years), non-Danish-speaking appointees are expected to acquire proficiency in Danish sufficient to be able to interact with colleagues and students.
For further information about the position, please contact Head of Department Ingolf Thuesen, e-mail: it@hum.ku.dk.
Application
Please click on the “Apply online” icon at the bottom of the page.
The application must be written in English and must include the following enclosures:
Please write in the application which position you are applying
- Application letter/cover letter
- Curriculum vitae (with the applicant’s email address, telephone number and list of referees (maximum five names))
- Documentation of qualifications (examination certificates/PhD diploma, etc.).
- Complete and numbered list of publications. The enclosed publications must be marked with *.
- Research plan, including a short description of previous research and a plan for the coming years that includes an account of involvement in organising research, establishment of research seminars, symposia and congresses, etc.
- Teaching portfolio. Documentation of teaching qualifications and research dissemination (organisation of classes, materials, courses and other forms of teaching). For more information regarding the expected contents of the teaching portfolio, applicants are encouraged to read the University Guidelines for teaching portfolios when appointing academic staff at the University of Copenhagen https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/job-application-portfolio/
- Publications. Applicants may choose a maximum of five publications for assessment, of which at least two must have been published within the five years immediately preceding the deadline for applications. At least two of these publications must have been published in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed journals or in comparable high-ranking series published with internationally recognized publishing houses. Publication dates must be clearly marked on the publication list. The publications selected must be uploaded as attachments and listed from 1 to 5.
Should any material submitted consist of work with named co-authors, or work that is otherwise the result of collective academic endeavours, the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work must be clearly stipulated. The Faculty may ask for a signed statement from the co-authors stipulating the extent and nature of each individual’s contribution.
Only material in English, German, French, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish will be assessed.
Appointment procedure
After the application deadline, the Head of the Department selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been accepted for assessment. The Dean subsequently appoints an expert assessment committee tasked with carrying out an assessment of the selected applicants for the specific post. Selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Applicants are ultimately offered the opportunity of commenting on the part of the assessment relating to themselves before the appointment is finalized.
Applicants will be continuously informed about the progress of the procedure by email.
Further information about the application procedure is available from HR, e-mail: hrsc@hrsc.ku.dk. Please refer to ID number 211-0066/20-2N.
Salary and conditions of employment
Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). It is possible to negotiate salary supplements based on qualifications.
The Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) have further agreed on a protocol that makes it possible for international researchers employed by the University to achieve a pension exemption, whereby the pension contribution will be paid out as salary.
For more information about the different pension schemes, please see https://ism.ku.dk/salary-tax-pension/pension/
The Faculty of Humanities offers a special start-up package, read more here https://humanities.ku.dk/about/tenuretrack/
A special tax scheme is offered to researchers recruited abroad https://ism.ku.dk/salary-tax-pension/tax/
If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark and at UCPH. See: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB, https://www.workindenmark.dk/ and https://ism.ku.dk/.
The UCPH wishes to encourage everyone interested in this post to apply, regardless of personal background.
The closing date for applications is 7 August 2020 23:59 CET.
Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.