Description:
The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship in the Faculty of Education within the department of Curriculum Studies and Higher Education. Applicants interested in pursuing an academic career in Teacher Education and Professional Development research are strongly encouraged to apply. The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience of research, innovation, and community service at a higher education institution under the mentorship of established researchers.
The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants' academic achievements, research outputs and potential, as well as the relevance of his/her prior experience and expertise. The fellowship is available for a period of one year, renewable for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance.
Duties and responsibilities:
• Conduct innovative research in the following areas: Practitioner/Educator Professional Development; Curriculum reform and Facilitation of Learning.
• Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET– accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books.
• Initiate research projects and seek funding for them.
• The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and the submission of an annual progress report.
• Do limited teaching in the Programmes where appropriate.
• Provide limited supervision and/or co-supervision at Honour’s, Master’s and/or Doctoral level where appropriate.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities in the Faculty of Education
• The successful candidate will be required to conduct innovative research and obtain evidence- based empirical data on current developments in Teacher Education and professional development studies within the South African context.
Eligibility requirements:
• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Graduated with a relevant PhD degree, with a focus on Teacher Education and Professional Development studies within the last five years.
• Successful candidates must remember that the fellowship will terminate once your PhD degree reaches the fifth (5th) year of graduation.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.
Value of the fellowship:
• R 220,000 annual fellowship.
• R 30,000 additional research expenses fund.
Application:
To apply, please email the following documentation to: MokheleML@ufs.ac.za
• Motivation letter detailing postdoctoral research agenda including a 1–2-page outline of relevant expertise and experience.
• Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers and other scholarly outputs.
• Full transcripts of academic record and copy of doctoral degree certificate.
• A copy of at least two manuscripts produced that have the potential to be converted or submitted for publication in accredited journals.
• Copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of foreign applicants).
• Contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the candidate.
Closing date:
06 June 2025.
Commencement of fellowship:
01 July 2025.
For enquiries, please contact:
Prof Matseliso L Mokhele-Makgalwa: Email: MokheleML@ufs.ac.za
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).pd f
The 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 unsuccessful.