Tenure-track position in contemporary Chinese society

About the job

A tenure-track position (tenure-track in a postdoctoral position and tenured as associate professor) in contemporary Chinese society is available at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (IKOS), University of Oslo. IKOS comprises five sections covering cultural history and museology, the study of religion, and language-based Asian and Middle Eastern area studies. In the China/Korea section there are two lecturers in Chinese language and six associate and full professor positions with both a teaching and a research component. The main research areas of the current staff cover broad areas of China studies, such as language and literature, history, religion, environment, education, migration, ethnic minorities, Taiwan, and China’s global relations, in addition to one professor in Korea studies.

The announced tenure-track position starts as a full-time postdoctoral position (SKO 1352) for a period of six years, including a 25 % component devoted to teaching and administrative duties. These duties include obtaining basic pedagogical qualifications, and minimum level B2 in Norwegian language if the candidate is not a speaker of a Scandinavian language. A formal midterm evaluation will be held in the fourth year of this period and the candidate will receive feedback on performance relative to the requirements for the six-year tenure track period. Toward the end of the six-year period, the candidate will be evaluated for a tenured position as associate professor (SKO 1011). During the final assessment, the candidate’s research performance will first be assessed by an expert (adjudication) committee within the candidate's subject area. Subsequently, the candidate will be interviewed by an internal interview committee assessing the full range of criteria in the contract of employment.

More about the position

Applicants apply with a research project on social and/or political issues in contemporary Chinese society to be carried out in the initial six years period. In the application letter, candidates should also describe long term plans for building an international research group, for future development of the teaching in Chinese society and politics, for contributing to the public dissemination of research and insights into Chinese society, and for developing their own academic career.

The contract of employment will specify results, requirements, and criteria regarding academic production, public dissemination, research leadership and teaching that the candidate must fulfil during the six-years period to be favourably evaluated for a tenured position. According to the Regulations on appointments to tenure-track positions, with supplementary provisions for UiO, the contract of employment will also specify the criteria for the midterm and final assessment of competencies and milestones. Candidates will also be evaluated on personal suitability and ability to contribute to academic citizenship, both during the initial hiring process and during the mid-term and final evaluations. The contract of employment will further outline the Department’s obligations in supporting the candidate’s research as well as offering academic mentorship, guidance and training. 

Make sure to follow the description of required results necessary in order to be eligible for the tenured position as associate professor.

Requirements

•    PhD or equivalent academic qualifications with a specialization in the field of contemporary Chinese society, granted within the past five years (excluding documented parental and sickness leaves)
•    Extensive experience with fieldwork and/or other forms of primary data collection in China and/or Taiwan
•    A demonstrated ability to use oral and written Chinese sources in research
•    The ability to use oral and written Chinese sources in courses taught at all levels
•    Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
•    Personal suitability and motivation for the position

To be eligible, candidates must have submitted for final evaluation or defended their doctoral dissertation within five years preceding the application deadline. In the former case, the appointment will be contingent upon the successful defense of the thesis. Someone who has been employed for more than one year in an ordinary postdoctoral position in Norway or abroad cannot be employed in a postdoctoral position on tenure-track terms.

In the evaluation of the applications, emphasis will be placed on:

• The research project’s scientific merit and contribution to field of China studies, including the applicant’s academic and personal ability to carry out the project
• The applicant’s long-term plans for building and leading an international research group and successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines, including plans for obtaining external research funding
• Academic qualifications and academic production. Originality and quality of publications will be weighted more heavily than quantity
• Interest in and motivation for teaching, ability to inspire and provide guidance to students, and potential to teach university-level courses about Chinse society and politics
• Collaborative skills
• Experience with and potential for popular dissemination and public outreach
• Academic citizenship and potential to contribute to a positive working environment and the long-term development of teaching and research at the Department

In the evaluation of the qualified candidates the full range of these criteria will be explicitly addressed and assessed. Academic quality, development, potential and breadth will be prioritised in this order.

The appointed candidate should demonstrate mastery of both English and one of the Scandinavian languages as working languages. If an appointee is not fluent in a Scandinavian language, they are expected to reach proficiency equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) within three years. By the end of the tenure track period the appointee is expected to, in Norwegian, be able to actively participate in all functions the position may involve, including teaching and administration. The department will aid and facilitate the appointee in reaching said proficiency.

We offer / We can offer you / Why should you choose us?

• Salary NOK 579 700 – 661 600 per annum depending on qualifications
• A professionally stimulating working environment 
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
Attractive welfare benefits

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Application

Your application must include:

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (including list of education, previous and current positions, teaching experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities)
• List of publications
• Project description (3 - 5 pages, maximum 14,000 characters. See Template for project descriptions)
• A realistic progress plan for all six years, including activities beyond the postdoctoral research project itself, such as teaching, professional development and project development
• Two writing samples (eg. two chapters from the PhD dissertation or two academic articles)
• Copies of educational certificates

Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language), either in the original or in translation.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, jobbnorge.no. Applicants with education from non-Norwegian universities must attach an explanation of their grading systems.

Selection procedure

As the first step in the evaluation process, a Selection Committee will assess all applications and invite the most qualified applicants to submit a portfolio of educational certificates and academic works (not more than 7 publications) for expert assessment. Academic texts, except for the two writing samples, shall therefore not be enclosed with the initial application. Applicants who are invited to submit academic works are asked to select three works, published within the last 5 years, to be considered as most relevant for the position. In longer publications (monographs), applicants should specify the most relevant pages. Applicants are also asked to submit an educational portfolio of 3-6 pages documenting educational competence and experience, including a reflection note in which your own practice and learning vision is anchored in the principles of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).

Finally, the most highly ranked candidates will be invited for at least one interview and trial lecture. Ranked candidates will be asked to provide a list of 3 reference persons (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number). References are contacted after the interviews.

Formal regulations

Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.