Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Design and Media Theory and Research

Location: Xiamen University, Zhangzhou Campus, China 

Hours: 36.25

We are looking for skilled educators and creatives in media and design theory to join us at the Institute of Creativity and Innovation (ICI), a dual-degree institute founded by Xiamen University (XMU) and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in 2020.

We are offering positions in teaching units that develop students’ understanding of the importance of theory and context in relation to practice. These units utilise an innovative teaching approach, combining lectures and seminar discussions with creative workshops that guide students in considering the theoretical and contextual relevance of their creative projects. The first of these units teaches students to interpret a range of design and media through semiotics and according to contextual frameworks such as representation, globalisation, and postmodernism. The second unit explores a range of theories discussing how understandings of design and media are constructed through mediation and consumption.

The right candidate will have an MA and/or PhD in a relevant area (e.g. design or humanities), along with a teaching qualification or equivalent professional experience with at least two consecutive years of teaching in higher education. Candidates with UKHE or similar working backgrounds will be prioritised. Active research in the field or ongoing professional practice are considered assets. 

We are a unique department at the ICI specialising in core skills shared by all disciplines. As such, the units you teach allow the students to develop interdisciplinary design skills that enhance their knowledge base that can apply to a range of personal, creative and theoretical abilities. We embrace and strongly encourage enterprising and collaborative teaching styles across all our modules and encourage teachers to adapt and modify content to suit their styles and specialisms. 

By joining the ICI you will become part of international community of designers, architects and researchers involved in visual arts, environmental studies, and new media. Our educators are involved in pioneering projects and teaching methodologies which they apply through research and mentoring practices. We are a community of expats committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within teaching and working environments.

ICI is located on XMU’s Zhangzhou campus, which boasts a park-like environment, with mountains to the west, Amoy Bay to the north, and the South China Sea to the east. It’s a short commute to beautiful beaches, or the city of Xiamen, the multicultural centre of South-East China.

UCA offers a competitive compensation package including visa application expense allowance, relocation allowance, health and accident insurance, annual repatriation allowance, and accommodation.

If you would welcome an informal chat about the role before applying, or any aspect of living and working in China, please contact Duncan Breeze by email (Duncan.breeze@uca.ac.uk) providing your contact details. 

Come and join a growing community of design professionals in a location that inspires creativity – you won’t be disappointed.

HOW TO APPLY?

Please click on the link below. You will need to upload the following documents to complete the application process:

• Your updated CV.
• A cover letter addressing your suitability for the role (Please view the attached role profile/job description for reference)
• Your portfolio and/or any other supporting documents that you believe would be beneficial (Optional)

Priority will be given to applicants with experience of working in the UK, or other countries where courses are taught in English.

Candidates must be able to meet the Chinese visa requirements. UCA will assist with obtaining a visa.

Interviews will be ongoing; this role will remain open until filled. 

At UCA, creativity and innovation are at the heart of what we do. Our legacy of educating eager and passionate artists, makers, and thinkers runs back almost 160 years, and today we’re helping shape a global future that supports and nourishes talent worldwide.