Job Description

The Directorate for Institutional Research and Academic Planning (DIRAP) at the University of the Free State (UFS) is offering three-year postdoctoral fellowships (subject to annual renewal depending on satisfactory progress within the UFS system) to exceptionally accomplished young and emerging researchers to conduct full-time research in Institutional Research. This exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and productive research group is open to hard-working and motivated applicants. Ideally, the Postdoctoral Research Fellow will have an interest and expertise in higher education studies or a related discipline such as educational management, diversity studies, historical studies, political science, public management, sociology, or social psychology.In particular, we are looking for postdoctoral fellows to assist with the following projects:

• UFS Institutional Culture Project
• Digitalization Project
• Graduate Desirability and Research Impact Project
• Student Enrolment and Efficiency Planning

Applicants are expected to undertake research and publish on higher education. They will also contribute to the research activities and the culture of the higher education and human development research group.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Fellowships are open to South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Candidates must hold a relevant PhD degree before the commencement of appointment (PhD should have been awarded less than five years ago).
• Have vital qualitative and quantitative analysis skills.
• Demonstrated experience and/or interest in Institutional Research is highly favoured.
• Successful applicants will demonstrate exceptional academic performance and intellectual potential.
• Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, considering the applicants' academic achievements, publication outputs, and research potential.
• Successful applicants will demonstrate potential to contribute to knowledge creation in their future academic careers.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the tenure of the award.

VALUE OF THE FELLOWSHIP

• R270 000 Annual Fellowship
• R30 000 Additional Research Expenses

CompetenciesApplication:
To apply, please email the following documentation by 15 May 2024 to Dr. Loquitur Maka at MakaL@ufs.ac.za and include DIRAP Postdoctoral Fellowship full-time in the subject line.

• Motivation letter, articulating the applicant's career ambitions and scholarly motivation, as well as details of their significant scholarly/ academic accomplishments to date.
• Full Curriculum Vitae (CV), including all research publications.
• Full transcripts of academic records.
• Copy of Doctoral degree certificate.
• Copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of non-South African applicants)
• Letters from two academic referees (one referee must be your lead PhD supervisor).
• The successful applicant will be expected to live in Bloemfontein when not conducting fieldwork.

Closing date: 15 May 2024.Commencement of the Fellowship: January 2025.General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at : EEA13_EE Plan UFS 1 March 2022 (003).pdfThe University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessfulAdditional Information

University of the Free State