Professor/Senior Associate Professor/Associate Professor in Media and Communication

School: Humanities and Social Sciences

Department: Media and Communication

Location: Suzhou, China

Contract Type: Fixed-term, renewable, 3rd contract open-ended

Position Close Date: Open until filled (early submission of applications is encouraged)

ABOUT XJTLU 

In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among whom about 1,000 are academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site is not only a pioneer, but also an educational model. for the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model.

With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At the same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the internationally recognized educational theory, best practice and culture with those of China.

About the department

The Department of Media and Communication is a dynamic and innovative academic centre dedicated to exploring the complexities of media, communication, and their impacts on society.

The department offers BA, MSc and PhD programs, with a curriculum of a diverse array of topics, including media theory, multimedia journalism, digital media production, advertising, public relations, cultural studies and beyond, all designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for success in the rapidly evolving fields of media and communication.

Working in four interrelated research clusters – Digital Technology and Society, Culture, Creativity and Communication, Journalism and Society, Screen Studies and Popular Culture, staff in the department explore and publish on many salient and pressing issues such as the role of (social) media and communication in representation, identity, gender issues, creativity, cultural heritage, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its transformative impact, algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, misinformation detection. The Department is quickly emerging as an internationally recognised hub for leading research and innovative teaching.Through research-led teaching, cutting-edge research and active engagement with industries, the Department strives to create an inclusive and supportive environment for students to ensure our students develop into creative and responsible global citizens. The research-led teaching also makes our students competitive for entry in top postgraduate programmes and the Chinese and international job markets.

RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking the appointee at the associate professor level or above, with strong evidence of leadership in research and teaching in media and communication studies, specializing in journalism, digital media, cultural creative industries, advertising, screen studies, or cultural studies. Experience in service is prioritized. 

The appointee is expected to perform the following duties:

• Publish high-quality research on media and communication or practice-based research leading to high-quality academic outputs, including in refereed journals
• Apply for internal and external grants
• Enable and empower colleagues to conduct research activities
• Coordinate and deliver courses in the department’s existing programs
• Contribute/lead curriculum development, esp, in the AI enhancement of education
• Mentor junior colleagues in research, teaching and service
• Supervise the research projects of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students
• Advise students of all levels
• Provide service to the Department, School and University, and the wider scholarly community 

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES

The department welcomes applications from any of the following levels of experience: 

Associate professor: Open to experienced candidates that have developed an internationally recognized research profile, as evidenced, for example, by publication in international peer reviewed journals, research grant income, and supervision of doctoral students to completion. Candidates should also have a well-developed teaching profile, with evidence of external recognition and teaching innovation. Candidates should have strong evidence of leadership in departmental and university contexts. 

Senior associate professor: Open to candidates with an internationally established and recognized research profile, demonstrating sustained output in leading international peer-reviewed journals, repeated research grant income, and regular supervision of doctoral students. Candidates should be experienced university teachers with a well-developed teaching portfolio, with evidence of external recognition and teaching innovation. Candidates should demonstrate extensive experience in leading the development of research and teaching strategy in departmental and university contexts. 

Professor: Open to candidates with significant experience in international higher education, an exceptional publication record for discipline, outstanding record of external grant application, and successful supervision of doctoral students. The candidate should also demonstrate extensive experience in leading the development of research and teaching strategy in departmental and university contexts. 

Desirable Qualifications/Experience

• Engagement with professional community
• The attitude and ability to engage in continuous professional development
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Familiarity with China and Chinese higher education.
• Familiarity with the British system of higher education.

CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labour Laws, and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas.  Please be advised candidates over 65 may not be eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

1. Clear career development path with annual review.
2. Professional development trainings are provided. 

COPENSATION & BENEFITS

SALARY: Competitive salary in the market

BENEFITS

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances as

• Housing allowance
• Travel allowance
• Kids’ education allowance
• Relocation allowance 

2. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (details refer to the University Policy) 

3. Paid holidays:

• Statutory Holidays (11 days)
• Annual Leave (36 days)
• Family Matters Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Marriage Leave
• Paternity Leave
• Parental leave 

4. Working visa and residence permit in China:
XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your applications online by clicking Apply button. 

Job ID: 3742

Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes 3 parts in the order of:

• A cover letter 
• A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
• Contact details for three references 

For general enquiries, please email Head of Department of Media and Communication, Prof. Xiaoling Zhang at Xiaoling.Zhang@xjtlu.edu.cn. Informal enquiries may be addressed to the HR Recruiting Team at Xinyun.Yang@xjtlu.edu.cn. Please quote the position and job ID 3742 in your enquiry.  

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