Professor (Scale 2) in Education (Early Years and Childhood Studies Programme)
Overview
Permanent Whole-time Post
UCC wishes to appoint an inspirational scholar of international standing to a Professorship (Scale 2) within the School of Education in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. This is an exciting opportunity for leadership in a vibrant community of active researchers and full-time post-graduate masters and PhD students. One of the most well-established and research-active in the country, UCC’s School of Education is highly regarded for the quality of its courses and the depth of its scholarship.
Reporting to the Head of School, the Professor will be expected to provide leadership and support for the School’s research and teaching activities. The appointee will have an extensive track record of scholarship in the field of Early Years and Childhood Studies, and the capacity to provide strong academic leadership as well as the skills to develop new initiatives for the promotion and co-ordination of teaching and research across the School.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Kathy Hall.
Further information on the School of Education can be found on the School website.
This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures.
What is UCC Futures – Collective Social Futures
UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures is re-imagining and addressing the complex and intertwined societal, environmental and political challenges faced across the world. These include social and gender-based inequalities, geopolitical shifts, migration, health and climate change and the urgent need to foster a more caring and liveable world for all. The imperative to develop more collective and social visions of the future is more pressing than ever. By driving innovative, critical, theoretical, participatory and community-engaged research, UCC Futures – Collective Social Futures will foster excellence in social research to understand, re-envision and enact our collective social futures.
Duties of the post
In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as a research-led institution, the duties of all academic staff will include research, research-led teaching and contributions to the university, the discipline and the community. The academic staff member shall teach and examine, undertake administrative duties and carry out other duties appropriate to the post under the general direction of the Head of School/College.
The appointee to this role will contribute to the leadership, research, teaching and learning on the Early Years and Childhood Studies programme and other programmes across the School of Education. The role also involves supporting postgraduate studies, undertaking research, and sustaining community links in the education/childhood field, while contributing to UCC academic life.
The roles and responsibilities outlined below are to be interpreted in the context of the relevant Statutes and where there is any difference arising from interpretation, that statutory provisions take precedent. For the sake of clarity, the relevant elements of the statutes not already incorporated in the numbered sections are appended in italics under each subheading.
Leadership | Research | Teaching and Examining | Contributions
Leadership
- Demonstrate academic leadership through teaching, research and scholarship, and in any other appropriate manner;
- Mentor, support and advise junior staff as appropriate and assist in their academic career development in teaching and research and foster the research and scholarship of other individuals and groups within their school and the university.
Research
- Engage in productive research and scholarship and contribute to the advancement of knowledge within his/her discipline and publish his/her research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
- Carry out initiatives in generating research income and assist in the co-ordination of research funding activities within the discipline/department/school, as appropriate to the discipline;
- Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
- Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the discipline.
Teaching and Examining
- Promote excellence in teaching and learning and encourage the application of innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Education and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
- Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and, where appropriate, adult and continuing education courses and make a distinguished personal contribution to teaching at all levels;
- Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
- Contribute to, and take a leadership role where appropriate in, the regular evaluation of curricula, and the development of new curricular initiatives;
- Perform a significant role in the development of postgraduate studies at UCC;
- Lead in the maintenance of academic standards and in the development of the curriculum within his/her subject areas:
- to give the students attending his/her ordinary lectures assistance in their studies, by advice, by informal instruction, by occasional and periodic examination, and otherwise, as s/he may judge to be expedient; also, to make such arrangements as s/he sees fit to make to meet students who have individual queries;
- to give instruction to his/her students and assist them in the pursuit of knowledge;
- to hold, or assist at, all University examinations in the subjects with which s/he is an examiner.
Contributions
- Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
- Serve if required as head of one of the College’s academic units subject to relevant University regulations, statutes and management requirements;
- Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
- Contribute to the administrative duties of the discipline/department/school and to act as a member of such committees as may be required within the university;
- Fulfil other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the head of discipline/department/school;
- Carry out other duties as may arise as identified in the University statutes:
- to carry out administrative and other appropriate duties lawfully allocated to them within their department or other academic unit;
- if a member of the Academic Council, to attend its meetings;
- to serve upon all the committees to which s/he may be appointed by the Governing Body or the Academic Council, and to assist and co-operate with the Governing Body in such other reasonable ways as the Governing Body may prescribe, for the maintenance of discipline and good conduct among the students, or for the general business of the University.
The above listing is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake duties as may reasonably be expected. All staff are required to be flexible, co-operative and professional within the needs of the post and the Discipline/Department/School, College and University. The University is undertaking a major reform of its internal structures which may necessitate possible future changes in the organisation of its activities.
Selection Criteria
The successful candidate will be expected to meet the following essential criteria:
Qualifications | Leadership | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other
Qualifications
Essential Criteria
- A doctorate or appropriate professional qualification or a significant record of research and publication in the discipline of Education.
Desirable Criteria
- A teaching qualification that could be recognized by the Teaching Council of Ireland.
Leadership
Essential Criteria
- The ability to provide vision and leadership in the development of Early Childhood Studies within the School of Education and the University;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with leading and supporting a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
- Demonstrable experience of leadership in advancing gender equality.
Research
Essential Criteria
- International standing as a leading researcher and scholar in the relevant discipline or profession as evidenced through an outstanding contribution to its advancement through research outputs including peer reviewed publications, creative works or other appropriate forms of scholarship and a significant research funding record, as appropriate to the discipline;
- A record of successful leadership and international recognition through research and scholarly activity within the discipline, including research supervision, examining, editing and refereeing, as appropriate for the discipline.
Teaching and Examining
Essential Criteria
- Evidence of significant achievement in and commitment to excellence in research-led teaching and learning in Childhood Studies and Education, at undergraduate and postgraduate level and a willingness to both contribute to and lead in the development of the teaching programmes offered by the academic unit;
- Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and in curriculum or programme development, review and evaluation;
- The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and where the opportunity has existed, to develop and lead postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
- A familiarity with and willingness to use modern teaching technologies.
Contributions
Essential Criteria
- Proven senior administrative experience and the capacity and willingness to act as head of an academic unit;
- Evidence of participation in relevant academic and professional associations/ bodies as appropriate;
- Ability to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.
Other
Essential Criteria
- An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
- Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
- A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline.
The successful applicant will be required to participate in a relevant IMI/UCC Senior Leadership Development Programme (or equivalent programme) to further develop your leadership development capabilities. Please contact Staff Wellbeing & Development on taking up your position to find out arrangements for forthcoming programmes.
Salary Information
Applications for this post
How to apply
Applications for this post are received through UCC's online application portal. You'll be required to set up a profile (if you don't already have one).
You can find the posts associated with UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures by selecting 'Academic UCC Futures' in the search by vacancy type field.
Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to uccfuturesrecruitment@ucc.ie, quoting the job title.
What to include in your application
Applications should consist of your academic CV and a cover letter demonstrating your academic and research achievements. We would also like to hear about your research ambitions and how your academic and research profile aligns with the UCC Futures - Collective Social Futures initiative.
Details of the following should also be included, as appropriate:
- Publications
- Research Interests
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching Interests and Abilities
- Teaching Objectives and Methods
Who to contact
We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to making an application for the position.
- Contact: Informal queries about this post can be made in confidence to: Professor Kathy Hall.
Deadline for applications
Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Thursday, 29 June 2023. No late applications will be accepted.
Equality statement
University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC 2022 Strategic Plan. UCC holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives.