Professor / Associate Professor (Information Studies)
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
The University of KwaZulu-Natal is one of the top Universities in South Africa and in the top
500 Universities globally. The School of Social Sciences is well established with a strong research profile and has a large number of undergraduate and postgraduate students. The school has an active Information Studies specialization, with a vibrant postgraduate research programme.
- The incumbent will be expected to contribute to teaching and research within the discipline of Political Science- Information studies and associated disciplines such as International Relations, Policy Studies, and/or Political Theory.
- She/he will also be expected to contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum development, and supervise postgraduate students.
- The incumbent will be required to facilitate dynamic interaction between the curriculum and real-world applications and encounters through research leadership at the intersection of information studies and political science.
Minimum requirements
- A PhD degree in Information Science/Studies or any information-related discipline
- At least 9 years of working and relevant experience in either teaching, research, or industry
- Excellent and sustained publication of independent research in quality scientific journals, appropriate for the level
- Excellent and sustained track record of successful attraction of external research grants
- Excellent and sustained track record of successful supervision of postgraduate students at Masters and PhD level, appropriate for the level
- Evidence of national and international recognition in a research area within the discipline
- Evidence of strong and sustained academic leadership within the Department / School/ College/ University, which includes mentorship and coaching
Associate Professor
- A PhD degree in Information Science/Studies or any information-related discipline.
- At least 6 years of working and relevant experience in either teaching, research, or industry
- Evidence of current and sustained publication of independent research in quality scientific journals, appropriate for the level
- Evidence of sustained and successful attraction of external research grants
- A sustained track record of successful supervision of postgraduate students at Masters and PhD level, appropriate for the level.
- Evidence of national and international recognition in a research area within the discipline.
- Evidence of strong and sustained academic leadership within the Department / School/ College/ University, which includes mentorship and coaching
This appointment will be made in line with the University Guidelines/benchmarks which are available on the University Vacancies website on http://vacancies.ukzn.ac.za/Academic-Process-Proc-Guides.aspx
The School and the University reserve the right not to appoint and/or stop the recruitment process at any stage.
Short-listed candidates may be expected to do a presentation on a specific topic.
All applicants are required to apply online on Career Portal, https://ukzn.ci.hr/applicant/index.php
The closing date for receipt of applications is 26 October 2025.
Kindly note that the University of KwaZulu-Natal (“the University”) is required to process any Personal Information (as defined by the Protection of Personal Act, 2013 “POPIA”) submitted by candidates when applying for positions at the University. The provision of the Personal Information is a requirement in terms of the University’s recruitment and selection process. The retention of any personal information is as a consequence of the University being bound by legislative requirements and / or good governance practices as well as record keeping for statistical purposes. The University will endeavour to ensure that the appropriate security measures are in place and implemented for both electronic and paper-based formats that are used for processing of the personal information recorded through this recruitment and selection process.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representivity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan.
- Please do not send us copies of your degree and other certificates. We will request certified copies if you are short listed for interview.
- Please read the advertisement carefully. We do not consider applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements.
- The University is committed to Employment Equity.
- The University reserves the right not to fill a vacancy.
- Should you not hear from us within six weeks of the closing date, please assume you are unsuccessful
- Please familiarise yourself with the University’s Section 18 Notice regarding the processing of your Personal Information.
