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Associate Professor of Contemporary Japanese Society

Deadline: 01.11.2021

Universitetet i Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.


The Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages (abbreviated IKOS from its Norwegian name) is one of the seven departments at the Faculty of Humanities. The Department has a broad competency in the study of religion and culture and in language based area studies of South Asia, East Asia and the Middle East and North Africa. IKOS also hosts the Oslo School of Environmental Humanities. The Department has several study programmes at both BA and MA levels. Among the Department's 110 employees about 40 are PhD and Postdoctoral Fellows.

Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages

Job description

A permanent position of Associate Professor of Contemporary Japanese Society is available at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo.

The position consists of an equal amount of research and teaching. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of research, both individually and in collaboration with others in the department. The main research areas of current faculty in Japanese studies include pre-modern and modern history, religion, modern literature, linguistics, cultural heritage, and film. The successful candidate will participate in teaching courses on Japanese society, politics, and/or culture, as well as courses on research methodology, at the BA and MA levels. Teaching obligations may also include participation in Japanese language courses. There is ample opportunity to integrate one’s own research in courses. The position will also include supervising MA students and PhD candidates, exam design and assessment at all levels, and carrying out administrative duties in accordance with the needs of the department.

Qualification requirements

  • PhD or equivalent academic qualifications within Japanese studies or a social science discipline with a focus on contemporary Japan
  • Expertise in the study of contemporary Japanese society. Possible areas of specialisation include sociology, social anthropology, political science, international relations, gender studies, human geography, and/or political ecology
  • Excellent command of the Japanese language, written and spoken
  • The ability to teach social scientific research methods
  • The ability to teach Japanese language courses
  • Documented pedagogical skills (either a teaching course certificate or based on teaching experience), see how to document your pedagogical skills
  • Documented potential for project acquisition
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English (see Formal regulations)
  • Personal suitability and motivation for the position

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

  • Academic qualifications and academic production in the study of contemporary Japanese society, with emphasis on works published within the last 5 years. Originality and innovative thinking will be weighted more heavily than quantity
  • The ability to supervise students and teach courses on Japan and on research methodologies (ethnography, interviews, quantitative research methods, etc.)
  • Collaborative skills and willingness to initiate joint research projects, workshop, conferences, etc.
  • Experience with acquiring research grants and building international networks
  • Potential to contribute to the long-term development of the academic and research environment at the Department
  • Pedagogical qualifications, documented results from teaching and supervision, and disposition to inspire students
  • Interest and ability in leadership and administration
  • Skills within popular dissemination, public outreach and innovation
  • Since teaching at BA level is mainly in Norwegian, the ability to teach in a Scandinavian language can be an advantage

In the evaluation of the qualified candidates the full range of these criteria will be explicitly addressed and assessed.

Academic quality, development potential and breadth will be prioritised in this order. The selected candidates are expected to contribute to the objective in the University of Oslo’s strategic plan to “strengthen its international position as a leading research-intensive university through a close interaction across research, education, communication and innovation”.

We offer

How to apply

The application must include:

  • Application letter (statement of motivation, summarising scientific work and research interest)
  • Curriculum Vitae (list of education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other relevant qualifications)
  • Complete list of publications
  • A short summary of ongoing and planned research projects (max. 3 pages)

Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language), either in the original or in translation.

Applicants are required to describe and document the entire range of qualifications and criteria described in the announcement of the post with concrete examples.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”.

Selection procedure

As the first step in the evaluation process, a Selection Committee will assess all applications and invite the most qualified applicants to submit a portfolio of educational certificates and academic works (up to 10 publications, which should not exceed 500 pages in total) for expert assessment. Academic texts shall therefore not be enclosed with the initial application. Applicants who are invited to submit academic works are asked to select three works, published within the last 5 years, to be considered as most relevant for the position. In longer publications (monographs), applicants should specify the relevant pages. Applicants are further asked to submit a more detailed description of one or more research projects considered relevant for the Department.

Applicants are also asked to submit a portfolio that documents other qualifications (public outreach, teaching and supervision, and any experience with leadership and administration).

Finally, the most highly ranked candidates will be invited for an interview and a trial lecture.

Formal regulations

Please see the rules for appointments to Associate Professorships.

The successful candidate who at the time of appointment cannot document basic teaching qualifications will be required to obtain such qualifications within a two-year period. Please see the rules for practising the requirement for basic university pedagogical competence at UiO.

The successful candidate should demonstrate mastery of both English and one of the Scandinavian languages as working languages. If an appointee is not fluent in a Scandinavian language, they are expected to reach proficiency equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) within two years. Within three years the appointee is expected to, in Norwegian, be able to actively participate in all functions the position may involve, including teaching. The Faculty of Humanities will aid and facilitate the appointee in reaching said proficiency.

Within their normal duties and in accordance with their academic competence, the person appointed may also be asked to work outside their Department. The appointment is made under the condition that the employer may change the subject area and assigned tasks according to the needs of the Department.

According to the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, demographic information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contactinformation

For questions of the position:

For questions on how to apply: HR-Officer Natali Helgesen

Apply for this job

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