Overview
We wish to appoint a practising artist, with experience of teaching in Higher Education, to join a small team of staff intent on growing the achievements and profile of Worcester’s new undergraduate Fine Art course (the course’s first cohort of students will graduate in 2010/11).
We welcome applications from practitioners working in any area of fine art who are clearly engaged with current international discourses informing art and design practices, but especially from practitioners working across a range of media.
The postholder will contribute to all aspects of teaching and developing the course towards the goal of continuing to enhance its national standing and reputation. It is anticipated that the national peer standing and networks of the postholder him/herself will also indirectly support that goal.
Background
FINE ART AND THE INSTITUTE OF HUMANITIES & CREATIVE ARTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER
The Institute of Humanities & Creative Arts (IHCA) is currently one of the fastest growing of the University’s six Institutes. It offers undergraduate provision across a wide range of arts and humanities disciplines and subjects and, most recently, has significantly enhanced its portfolio of practice-based courses (eg Digital Film Production; Illustration; Animation; Journalism; Graphic Design & Multimedia; Fine Art), all of which are recruiting well. Staff in the Institute played a significant role in the University’s RAE2008 submission and a number of recent appointments have raised, further, its research aspirations and strengths.
There are good numbers of postgraduate research students and the Institute, as a whole, has a lively research culture that draws on the potential for cross-disciplinary exchange offered by its academic breadth. It has a dynamic and ambitious approach to making regional, national and international connections in both academic and professional contexts.
Key foci for development over the next few years are: its postgraduate course portfolio (with a number of new MAs, including MA Digital Media and MA Writing, currently in preparation); its international research achievement and continuing development of research culture; and innovative development of professional/industry engagement and knowledge transfer work.
The Division of Art, Design & Creative Digital Media has been energetic in its development of new academic courses over the past two years; it takes a highly proactive approach to engaging with the professional worlds of art & design and to creating opportunities for its students and new graduates. It has strong links with a range of arts organizations and initiatives regionally and nationally. All staff are practitioners and most are active researchers.
In response to successful recruitment in the Division, by September 2010, the second and final phase of the University’s newly refurbished building, The Garage will come on stream, concluding the past two years’ radical transformation of art and design studio space available to students. This will operate alongside existing excellent digital media facilities offered by the Digital Arts Centre which, in Summer 2010, are also being extended to provide additional digital editing suites and an additional Mac studio. The Division will thus offer the conditions to support a further step change in its activity and aspirations, to which the post-holder will contribute.
Main duties
1. Contribution to development and delivery of learning, teaching and assessment on a broad-based Fine Art course (eg design, enhancement and organisation of teaching and learning; undergraduate and, potentially, postgraduate curriculum development).
2. Achievement of effective student learning through high quality academic guidance and advice and support for professional practice and employability, and innovative teaching and student support through use of a wide range of learning resources and appropriate pedagogic practice.
3. Engagement in high quality research leading to publication of international quality outputs.
4. Teaching informed by cutting-edge research in contemporary art that develops the ability of students to engage in debate and critical discourse.
5. All relevant tasks associated with teaching (eg. preparation of course materials; marking and assessment; moderation; attendance at examination boards; conform to the subject’s quality assurance procedures and all other relevant aspects of course administration).
6. Represent the subject, if required, at University open and visit days and support the subject’s links with local schools and colleges.
7. Ongoing critical self reflection on own teaching practice, implementing improvement, sharing good practice and contributing to Quality monitoring and enhancement and professional accreditation processes as appropriate.
8. Research and/or knowledge transfer activity through, for example: UK/international exhibitions/presentations of work; active contribution to research groups or communities of practice within the University and externally; contributing to delivery of externally-funded projects or contracts; dissemination of other research outputs (eg writing, curation, conference papers etc).
9. Contribution to Institute and/or University committees and working groups, as required.
10. Any other duties deemed appropriate by the Head of Division.
*Carry out the duties of this post in a manner which promotes equality of opportunity and shows due respect for all employees and users of the University's services, in accordance with the University's Equal Opportunities Policy and 'Dignity at Work and Study' Guidelines.
*Carry out all duties having due regard for the health and safety of yourself and others, in accordance with the University's Health and Safety Policy.
*All employees are expected to go about their duties in an environmentally responsible manner. It is our aim is to ensure all resources are utilised effectively and efficiently. This includes taking measures to minimise wasting energy, water and office consumables, as well as reducing unnecessary or inefficient travel. All employees will fully adhere to the University's Environmental Policy.
Person Specification
Essential
1. A good Honours degree and a Masters degree in Fine Art or equivalent subject.
2. Practical, critical and contextual knowledge of contemporary art practice, including web-based practice.
3. Experience of teaching in Higher Education.
4. Ability to teach and support students’ progress in their individual practices using methods including, for example, seminars, feedback, assessment, group projects and web-based interaction.
5. A proven, national/international track record of professional practice and research outputs.
6. Willingness and ability to work flexibly and as part of a close-knit team on a broad, multi-disciplinary fine art course, to take part in study visits to enhance students’ experience and to adapt to a developing studio culture environment.
7. Effective oral and written communication skills in both one-to-one tutorials and group situations.
Desirable
1. PhD (or doctoral research in progress).
2. Proven experience of contribution to the wider student experience e.g. in recruitment/retention initiatives, in employability/ enterprise initiatives, in student welfare.
3. Evidence of successful external networking and profile-raising.
4. Proven administrative and organisational experience in an HE context.
5. A HE teaching qualification.*
*Unless a candidate can offer at least three years’ full-time experience of teaching within higher education, and an accredited teaching qualification for the higher education environment, or registered practitioner status with the HE Academy, then completion of the probationary period will be dependent on the successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education which is delivered within University of Worcester.
Disclosure
This employment is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidates will be required to declare any criminal convictions, cautions or bind-overs, including any that would be regarded as spent under the Act in other circumstances. If you are selected for appointment you will be required to apply to the Criminal Records Bureau for an Enhanced Disclosure.
Applications from Non EEA Workers:
Prospective applicants are advised to ensure that they are eligible to work in the UK without restriction. Further details can be found at the Home Office UK Border agency website at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/ and the points based calculator can be found at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator
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