Description:
Lecturer Part - Time 15 hours per week
Community Engagement
The Department of Community Engagement invites suitably qualified candidates to join their team.
Main Objectives
For this position, the Academic will be responsible for disseminating knowledge (developing and teaching CE short courses), creating knowledge (engaged research and publication) and participating in community engagement and development.
There are four main objectives for this 3-year (part-time) contract post as listed below.
The first objective is to lead and manage an online open-access journal hosted at Rhodes University and to ensure:
- The quality of the intellectual content of the journal and overseeing the review process to ensure it is thorough, fair, and timely.
- upholding the journal's objectives and scope and selecting papers that provide new, original, and important contributions to knowledge.
- writing editorials, soliciting manuscripts on special issues, and sometimes assigning guest editors for these special issues.
- promoting diversity among the journal’s contributing authors (nationally, regionally and internationally)
- working with the RUCE editorial team to undertake and assist with some of the responsibilities
The second main objective is to make critical and original contributions to CE scholarship at local, national and international levels by generating community engagement knowledge through publishing scholarly papers for accredited/peer-reviewed academic journals, and writing articles for newspapers and other publishing spaces.
The third main objective is to work with Academics and Academic Departments to:
- Promote Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), Critical Service Learning (CSL) and Engaged Citizenry (EC)
- Ability to design and facilitate short courses in CE (CBPR, CSL and EC)
The fourth objective is to manage and coordinate the UCDP Collaborative Grant Project with four participating Universities by:
- Working with RUCE staff, take overall responsibility for the communication with the participating academics and oversee the coordination of activities
- Assisting with the open access publication of two books as part of the project and the organisation of the international conference in May 2026
- Responsible for the grant outcomes and reporting.
- A Master's Degree in a relevant discipline, preferably Humanities or Social Science (register for a PhD)
- Experience in Community Development (CD) and Community Engagement (CE) (partnership development, Service Learning, Engaged Citizenry and Engaged Research)
-
Tutoring, facilitation, or conference presentation experience required. Experience in developing short courses and teaching diverse groups in the University and the broader community
-
Experience in conducting Community-Based Participatory Research
-
No research supervision is required.
- Experience in managing an online open-access journal.
- Some administrative experience, albeit in informal contexts, e.g., student or sports clubs, work experience.
Application Process
It is essential that prospective candidates read the j ob profile for further information and ensure that all relevant documentation is submitted.
The following documents are required:
- A comprehensive CV and relevant qualifications which should include the following: -
- Reasons for leaving your current and previous jobs.
- Referees who are and/or were your direct line manager, their title, name, designation and contact information which should be at least their contact number and email address.
- A strong and succinct motivation outlining your interest in the post and suitability relative to the job requirements.
Please note that no hand-written applications will be considered. Your application must be submitted via our website and online recruitment system. Failure to submit all documentation and respond to all the questions asked appropriately will result in an application being disqualified.
Any questions or enquiries regarding the submission of an application please contact 046 603 7266.
Selection Process (provisional date, subject to change):
- Short-listing meeting date to be scheduled.
- The selection process that will be followed for this post will include an assessment and/or presentation and an interview.
- Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the interview date.
Remuneration per annum :
Basic Pensionable Salary per annum: R253 199.64
Cost to Company per annum (Approximately): R330 702.35
All applications will be treated in strict confidence. This post is advertised as a permanent post, but the University may opt to appoint on a fixed-term contract of not less than three years . The University reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of the post. An application in itself does not entitle the applicant to an interview. Employment checks will be conducted on recommended candidates.
Closing Date: 14 August 2025This advertisement may be closed before the indicated closing date if a high number of applications are received. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.
If you are not contacted within 30 days from the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Our core values and principles are the foundation of our commitment to creating a positive, supportive, and enabling environment. These values guide our decisions, actions, and how we engage with each other as we work to achieve our vision and mission.
These values are:
Diversity; Integrity; Respect; Excellence; Collegiality and Compassion
Recognising that diversity is important in achieving excellence. Rhodes University strongly encourages South African members of underrepresented designated groups as well as persons with disabilities to apply. Spouses and partners of existing staff members are also encouraged to apply.
Please note all appointments are made in line with the requirements of the Employment Equity Act of 55 of 1998, as amended, the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2022 and the University's Recruitment and Selection policies.
Requirements:
- The quality of the intellectual content of the journal and overseeing the review process to ensure it is thorough, fair, and timely.
- upholding the journal's objectives and scope and selecting papers that provide new, original, and important contributions to knowledge.
- writing editorials, soliciting manuscripts on special issues, and sometimes assigning guest editors for these special issues.
- promoting diversity among the journal’s contributing authors (nationally, regionally and internationally)
- working with the RUCE editorial team to undertake and assist with some of the responsibilities
- Promote Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), Critical Service Learning (CSL) and Engaged Citizenry (EC)
- Ability to design and facilitate short courses in CE (CBPR, CSL and EC)
- Working with RUCE staff, take overall responsibility for the communication with the participating academics and oversee the coordination of activities
- Assisting with the open access publication of two books as part of the project and the organisation of the international conference in May 2026
- Responsible for the grant outcomes and reporting.
- A Master's Degree in a relevant discipline, preferably Humanities or Social Science (register for a PhD)
- Experience in Community Development (CD) and Community Engagement (CE) (partnership development, Service Learning, Engaged Citizenry and Engaged Research)
-
Tutoring, facilitation, or conference presentation experience required. Experience in developing short courses and teaching diverse groups in the University and the broader community
-
Experience in conducting Community-Based Participatory Research
-
No research supervision is required.
- Experience in managing an online open-access journal.
- Some administrative experience, albeit in informal contexts, e.g., student or sports clubs, work experience.
- A comprehensive CV and relevant qualifications which should include the following: -
- Reasons for leaving your current and previous jobs.
- Referees who are and/or were your direct line manager, their title, name, designation and contact information which should be at least their contact number and email address.
- A strong and succinct motivation outlining your interest in the post and suitability relative to the job requirements.
- Reasons for leaving your current and previous jobs.
- Referees who are and/or were your direct line manager, their title, name, designation and contact information which should be at least their contact number and email address.
- Short-listing meeting date to be scheduled.
- The selection process that will be followed for this post will include an assessment and/or presentation and an interview.
- Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the interview date.