Örebro University
Professor of English

A permanent post as professor of English with a specialisation in subject didactics is now available at the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. The position is a full-time post.

Background
The English department and its activities are in many ways geared towards Örebro University’s teacher education programmes, both when it comes to teaching and when it comes to research. A prominent feature of the department is its high level of ambition and its focus on continuous quality and development efforts. Together with the departments of Comparative Literature, Swedish Language and Rhetoric, the English department forms a division within the School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. A number of joint projects and collaborative efforts are undertaken at the division, within both teaching and research. Among other things, joint seminar series are offered. At the department, research is pursued into literary pedagogy, linguistic pedagogy, the history of language and cultural studies. The department is also involved in ongoing efforts to develop programmes with subject-based teaching and learning at the Master’s level and to establish research profiles within the didactic and subject-didactic research undertaken at the university. The three didactic/subject-didactic profiles at Örebro University are sustainable social development, communication and learning, and assessment and evaluation.

As a subject, English is taught on the undergraduate and Master’s levels. English also has the status of a research subject area, however, there is currently no PhD programme on offer. The subject is closely linked to the teacher education programmes and is one of the subjects offered to students specialising in upper secondary school teaching. The subject also has a central role in the teacher education programmes for primary school teachers.

Duties and responsibilities
Duties include own research and teaching on the undergraduate and Master’s levels and possibly also on the doctoral level. Supervision of PhD students may also come into question. As the chair of the subject, the position holder is responsible for leading and developing the research pursued within the subject in general but also with a special focus on the subject-didactic research field. Responsibilities also include overseeing the quality of the programmes on the undergraduate and Master’s levels, as well as monitoring the forms for collaboration applied at the department, internally as well as externally. We welcome applicants with a desire to take the lead in the efforts to secure a teacher education programme that has a solid research basis. As the setup of programmes on the Master’s and doctoral levels are in progress in collaboration with other departments within the division and within the parameters of the teacher education programmes, leading these developments will be central to the position holder’s role.

Eligibility
Those qualified for the appointment as a professor are applicants who demonstrate research as well as educational expertise within the field.

The application deadline is 2015-09-30.

To apply for this position, see the posting.

Astrid Lindgren Foundation “Solkatten” was established in 1986. One of its aims is to “contribute to the teaching and further education of individuals who are involved in research on children’s culture and are capable of conveying the results of their research to a larger audience.”

For this purpose the Board of Directors has established a grant intended to give researchers – “primarily from abroad” – the opportunity “to pursue research on Swedish or Nordic literature for children and young adults.” Amounting to SEK 40,000, this grant should cover costs for a research period at the Swedish Institute for Children’s Books in Stockholm, which has a research library with a large collection of theoretical literature on children’s literature (appr. 20 000 items). The Institute will provide study space and reference services and will also arrange for professional contacts with colleagues within the Department of Literature and History of Ideas at the University of Stockholm.

The Board of Directors hereby invite Professors and Research leaders at academic departments to submit nominations for eligible candidates before September 1, 2015. The recipient will be expected to make use of the grant before June 15, 2016.

The nomination should not extend two pages of text and should, besides personalia in the form of name, address etc. contain information on the candidate as to

• academic education, other relevant qualifications and main research interests,
• previous research achievements (a separate bibliographical account of academic material and publications should be enclosed but books and other printed material should be submitted only at the request of the jury),
• language proficiencies (knowledge of one Scandinavian language is presupposed),
• the aim of the research period in Stockholm,
• the approximate time preferred for the utilization of the grant.

The Jury will include representatives of the Foundation (Annika Lindgren), the Swedish Institute for Children’s Books (Åsa Warnqvist, PhD), the Department of Literature and History of Ideas at the University of Stockholm (Boel Westin, Prof.) and the Department of Literature at the University of Uppsala (Lena Kåreland, Prof Emerita).

The appointment will be made known before September 15, 2015.

TD VISITING PROFESSOR OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
University of British Columbia, School of Library Archival and Information Studies

The iSchool (School of Library, Archival and Information Studies) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is pleased to invite applications for the TD Visiting Professorship in Children’s Literature and Writing for Children, generously funded by the TD (Toronto Dominion) Bank. Located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people in Vancouver, Canada, UBC holds an international reputation for excellence in research, teaching, and learning.

The TD Visiting Professorship in Children’s Literature and Writing for Children supports the uniquely interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Children’s Literature Program, which draws on the expertise of faculty from the iSchool, as well as the departments of Language and Literacy Education, English, and the Creative Writing Program. The successful applicant will be invited to spend an extended period of time, normally an academic term (Sept-Dec or Jan –April), engaged in research and teaching at the iSchool, connecting with affiliated units at UBC, and engaging with the broader community. Applicants should have a significant record of academic accomplishment, scholarship, or literary reputation, and the ability to teach in one of program’s key pillars, namely:

• Children’s literature theory and criticism;
• Literacy and the mediation of children’s texts; and
• Writing, publishing and the book trade for children.

UBC has established innovative community-based Indigenous research and intercultural exchange, a position of success unmatched in North America. This year’s call is for a Visiting Professor whose research, writing, illustration or criticism complements these strengths. Preference will be given to a scholar, author, illustrator, or literary professional who works in the area of Indigenous literature for children and youth. This Visiting Professorship offers the opportunity to work with talented and motivated graduate students by teaching one 3-credit course. The TD Visiting Professor will be welcomed into the research and teaching culture of the iSchool and UBC, and will be expected to engage with students and faculty, provide at least one public talk, exhibit or symposium on campus, and deliver a workshop or similar event in the community. Applicants are encouraged to include in their letter of application the proposed area of teaching, and how their scholarship or creative work can connect with the Indigenous youth of the greater Vancouver area.

The TD Visiting Professorship in Children’s Literature and Writing for Children funds this position for one term (four months) in the amount of CAD $35,000, inclusive of teaching and engagement with the public. Scholars, critics, illustrators and creative writers of Indigenous children’s literature from all countries are encouraged to apply. Appointments are subject to approval by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Kindly address all enquiries and applications, comprising a letter of interest and a current CV to:

Dr. Luanne Freund
Acting Director, School of Library, Archival and Information Studies
The University of British Columbia
Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Suite 470
1961 East Mall Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1 CANADA

Closing Date for Applications – September 15, 2015
Anticipated appointment dates: January 1 – April 30, 2016; or September 1 – December 31, 2016

Information on this posting may also be found at: http://macl.arts.ubc.ca/2015/06/05/call-for-applications-td-visiting-professor-of-childrens-literature/