Lecturer

Community Engagement

The Community Engagement Department invites suitably qualified candidates to join their team. 

Main Objectives

All academics are responsible for disseminating knowledge (teaching and learning), creating knowledge (research), engaging in community engagement (praxis), and recognising differences in the execution of these responsibilities across the various Departments and Faculties.  Academics are also expected to assume administrative, management, and/or leadership duties at the departmental, Faculty, and/or University level and contribute to their profession.

For this role, the incumbent is expected to provide academic leadership across teaching, research, and community engagement. There are three main integrated objectives listed separately: 

Engaged Teaching and Learning:

1. Collaborate with academics and academic departments to strengthen the quality, rigour, and coherence of institutional external engagement through Service-Learning (SL) programmes, including the design and delivery of short courses in Service-Learning, engaged research, digital storytelling, and social innovation.
2. Teach on the Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Community Engagement (PG Dip HECE).
3. Contribute to the implementation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) support strategies for SL, including institutional reporting on SL at Rhodes University.

Engaged Research:

     1. Work in partnership with academics and academic departments to enhance the quality and
         impact of engaged research that advances societal benefit and public value.

   2. Lead, promote and support local transdisciplinary research initiatives, with a particular focus
       on social innovation and local economic development.

    3. Make critical and original contributions to community engagement scholarship at national
        and international levels through the generation and dissemination of community-engagement
        knowledge (with a strong emphasis on social and economic development), including public
        scholarship (e.g., newspaper articles), peer-reviewed journal publications, and conference presentations.

Community Engagement:

     1. Manage the Rhodes University Social Innovation Hub within RUCE, including the provision
         of accredited short courses for academics, students, and community partner organisations, e.g.
         digital storytelling.

     2. Participate in the RU Masakhe Economic Development Stakeholder Committee,
         providing administrative and strategic support to the Director: Community Engagement for this
         city-wide initiative.

3. Work with academics to theorise social innovation and enterprise development, and to contribute to the scholarly body of knowledge in these fields.

    4. Promote the integrated praxis of CE with academics and students.

The Job Requirements

• A Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline, preferably Humanities or Social Science (must be prepared to register for a PhD)

• Experience in Community Development (CD) and Community Engagement (CE) (Service Learning,  Digital Storytelling and Social Innovation)

• Tutoring, facilitation, or conference presentation experience required. No teaching experience is required.
  
• Experience in conducting Community-Based Participatory Research
• Ability to teach diverse groups in the University and the broader community  

• No research supervision is required.

• Some administrative experience, albeit in informal contexts (e.g., student or sports clubs), and work experience. 

Application Process

It is essential that prospective candidates read the Job 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 scheduled for 1 July 2026.
• 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:                          R667 972

Cost to Company per annum (Approximately):             R872 722

 

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 does not entitle the applicant to an interview.  Employment checks will be conducted on recommended candidates. 

 

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 55 of 1998, as amended, the Immigration Act 13 of 2022 and Rhodes University's Recruitment and Selection policies. 

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

Underpinning these values is the moral duty of accountability and courage: we acknowledge that we are answerable to each other, our Council and ultimately, the South African society for the decisions we make and the actions we take. We are committed to openness and transparency in our governance, our decision-making and in the execution of our responsibilities and in demonstrating courage in confronting those who violate the values for which we stand.