Job Description

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Childhood Education. Candidates interested in pursuing their research niche with a special interest in the early years of education are encouraged to apply. The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience in research and innovation at a higher education institution under the mentorship of established researchers.
The fellowship is awarded competitively, considering the applicants' academic achievements, publication outputs, research potential, and the relevance of prior experience and expertise. The fellowship is available for one year, renewable for up to three years, subject to satisfactory performance.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Conduct innovative research in the Early Childhood Development and Learning area.
• Co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET-accredited scholarly journal articles. The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and submitting an annual progress report.
• Initiate projects and seek funding for them.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and,
• Participate in relevant activities of the Department of Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Centre for Graduate Support, and the Directorate for Research Development.

Eligibility requirements:

• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research in the Department of Childhood Education at the University if the Free State.
• Graduated with a PhD in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) within the last five years.
• Successful candidates must remember that the fellowship will terminate once your PhD degree reaches the fifth year of graduation.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship.
• This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant must spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS.

Competencies

Value of the fellowship:

• R 240 000 annual fellowship
• R 30 000 additional research expenses fund

Application:
To apply, please email the following documentation by Friday, 24 November 2023 to Mrs

• Motivation letter, including a 1-2-page outline of relevant expertise and experience.
• Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers and other scholarly outputs.
• Full transcripts of academic record and copy of doctoral degree certificate.
• Copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of foreign applicants).
• Contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the candidate.

Closing date:
24 November 2023.

Commencement of fellowship:
01 March 2024.

For enquiries, please contact: Prof. C.I. Okeke, Email:
Acting Academic Head
Department of Childhood Education
Faculty of Education
University of the Free State
South Campus
Email:

General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities.

Our Employment Equity Policy is available at :

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.

Additional Information

University of the Free State