The closing date for the applications is October 17, 2011.
The Faculty of Humanities invites applications for a Professorship in Intercultural Communication
The professorship is intended to be filled as of August 1, 2012. The professorship in Intercultural Communication is closely associated with two of the University’s strategic core areas, Languages, Culture and Social Change and Human Technology. Detailed information about appointment procedure, qualification requirements, application prodecure, evaluation etc., see: Appointment procedure: http://r.jyu.fi/1g2J
Department of Communication
The position is located at the Department of Communication within the Faculty of Humanities. The Department houses four disciplines: Organizational Communication, Speech Communication, Journalism and Intercultural Communication. Each of the four disciplines offers postgraduate studies. The aim of the Department is to conduct high quality research of communication and offer high-level and diverse academic education in communication.
The research and education activities focus on: (1) Media and Communication in Social Processes of Change, (2) Human Interaction, Communication and Culture and (3) Communication and Well-Being in Work and Learning Environments. The Department’s teaching and research staff consists of seven professors and nine other teachers and researchers. In addition, the Department has 10–12 temporary researchers. The number of students with Communication as their main subject is approx. 550 and the annual intake of students is 80. The number of postgraduate students is 70.
Intercultural Communication includes both the Master’s Programme in Intercultural Communication and doctoral schooling, and has a professor and a university lecturer in its staff. The Intercultural Communication Master’s Programme has 60 students and 6 doctoral students. The studies prepare for careers in communication involving significant intercultural contact.
Research activities within Intercultural Communication focus on interaction in multicultural settings. The core areas are intercultural competence, and communication in multicultural communities and organizations. The challenges of internationality and multiculturality in both interpersonal and organizational communication as well as various media contexts will be met by applying research results.
A professorship in Intercultural Communication, based on a contract of employment to be filled as of August 1st, 2012, in effect until further notice.
According to § 33 of the Universities Act, the professor shall carry out and supervise scientific research or artistic work, provide instruction based on such work and follow developments in science or art, as well as participate in societal interaction and international cooperation in his or her field. According to § 67 of the University of Jyväskylä Regulations, members of the teaching and research staff are obliged, within their respective job descriptions and work plan, to conduct and supervise scientific research, follow the developments in their respective disciplines, examine theses and dissertations, teach and enhance teaching practices, provide study counseling, carry out relevant examinations, take part in the student selection process, as well as attend to tasks ensuing from memberships in the administrative bodies of the University and to other tasks counted as part of their work or assigned to them. In addition, they are to provide the necessary reports concerning their teaching and supervising activities, publications and scientific activity in general, and the examinations belonging to their sphere of responsibilities.
The professorship is closely associated with two of the University’s strategic core areas, Languages, Culture and Social Change and Human Technology. The professor is expected to conduct research on interaction in multicultural settings and must have a profound knowledge of the discipline. The professor is also expected to conduct and develop research and teaching within the Department’s focus areas, which presupposes applying for supplementary research funding. The duties also include developing interdisciplinary research and education in accordance with the strategic objectives of both the Department and the University of Jyväskylä. The professor will also be expected to participate in the administration of the Department. In addition, the duties include teaching, supervision and development activities regarding the Intercultural Communication Master’s Programme, the Intercultural Communication specialization option of the Interactions Master’s Programme, commencing in 2012, as well as the Doctoral Programme in Intercultural Communication. The professor will also be responsible for the Intercultural Studies (ICS) Programme and participate in the development and implementation of the European Masters in Intercultural Communication Programme. The professor is also expected to cooperate closely with the other disciplines of the Department.
The emphasis in the work of the professor is on active research, and launching and implementing of research projects, as well as participation in joint international research and teaching activities. In addition, the tasks include supervision of doctoral dissertations and Master's theses as well as providing instruction to basic degree levels and postgraduate level students.
In accordance with Section 57 of the University of Jyväskylä Regulations, a professor is required to have a doctoral degree, solid scientific competence, experience in leading research projects, ability to provide research-based teaching and supervising of high quality, as well as proven experience in international research cooperation in his/her field. Practical familiarity in the sphere of duties is not required.
The applicant’s merits are assessed on the basis of scientific publications, other scientific research results, experience in teaching and supervising, as well as pedagogical training, production of textbooks and other teaching materials, other indications of skills achieved in education, and if necessary, teaching ability as shown by trial lectures. In addition to this, the applicant’s activeness in the scientific community, success in acquiring complementary research funding, as well as involvement in international scientific work and international positions of trust will also be considered.
According to Section 1 of the Government Decree on Universities (770/2009), which defines the language proficiency requirements for university teaching and research positions in Finland, a full command of the teaching language, Finnish, is required. The teaching languages in the professorship in Intercultural Communication to be filled are Finnish and English. A good command of English is required and a proficiency to teach in English will be considered an additional qualification. When considered appropriate, the university can grant exemption from the language proficiency requirements.
In accordance with Section 65 of the University of Jyväskylä Regulations, a professor is required to complete studies in university pedagogy or equivalent within two years of the beginning of the employment contract, unless studies have already been completed by the time of appointment. This prerequisite concerns all teaching staff whose employment starts on 1 August, 2012 or thereafter.
The professor’s job-specific salary component is based on the job demands levels 8 - 11 (4434,84 €/month – 6541,87 €/month) according to the salary system concerning teaching and research staff at universities. In addition, a personal performance-based salary component amounting to the maximum of 46,3% of the job-specific salary component is also paid.
Application procedure
The application form is available at the University webpage www.jyu.fi/en and the appointment procedure on the Faculty webpage www.jyu.fi/hum/en. The appointment procedure for filling the vacant professorship provides more information on the duties involved and on the ways of meeting the qualification requirements, as well as on the application and appointment procedure itself.
The application shall include:
Brief (2 - 3 pages each) written accounts in four copies on the following:
- Scientific merits and activities connected with managing and supervising research work, acquiring research funding, leading positions in research projects, supervision and final examination of doctoral dissertations, and instruction of doctoral students;
- Pedagogical training and teaching merits;
- Activities in the field of societal interaction, and international activities;
- An account of how the candidate plans to develop the domain in relation to the University’s three basic tasks (research, teaching, and societal interaction) in Jyväskylä. 4 In addition, the application shall include the following documents in four copies each:
- A copy of the CV
- A list of publications drawn up according to the regulations of the Academy of Finland covering all the scientific and other publications with which the candidate wishes to demonstrate his or her eligibility and merits for the post.
- The list of publications must contain the following information (with a number of pages for each):
- articles in refereed scientific journals
- articles in refereed and edited scientific volumes and conference proceedings
- published monographs
- other scholarly publications
- textbooks and other research-related books and texts
- research-related popularized articles and radio or TV programmes.
The publications are to be listed with full reference data, containing the names of the authors and the title and publisher of the work (see http://www.aka.fi/en-gb/A/For-researchers/Howto-apply/Appendices/List-of-publications/).
A maximum of 10 publications, numbered in accordance with the above list and arranged in four identical packages ready to be sent to the external evaluators.
For additional information, please contact Dean Petri Karonen (mobile +358 (0) 400247388, email petri.k.karonen@jyu.fi), or Director of the Department of Communication Pertti Hurme (mobile +358 (0) 505471612, email pertti.hurme@jyu.fi). The applications and their attachments for the post shall be addressed to the University of Jyväskylä and delivered to the University Registry Office, Seminaarinkatu 15, or mailed to the following address: University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FIN-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The closing date for the applications is October, 17, 2011 at 16.15.
Applications will not be returned to the applicant.