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Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor, Digital Journalism

Entity

Graduate School of Media & Communications

Location

Nairobi, Kenya

Introduction

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU, www.aku.edu) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access.

Launched in 2015, the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) is the premier source of education and tailored training for journalists, communicators and media executives and entrepreneurs in East Africa and beyond. Guided by the principles of global excellence and local relevance, GSMC helps individuals to transform their careers and organizations to seize opportunities and reap the benefits of innovation.

Reporting to the Dean, the Assistant Professor will support teaching in Multi-platform and/or Data Journalism.  The position holder will teach academic courses and professional training workshops on multi-platform journalism, mobile journalism, social media, and/or understanding and visualizing data for use in news stories and research. The individual will be experienced in using media convergence technology and social media. Proficiency in the use of relevant video and audio editing, database management, data analytics, and graphic presentation software and ability to collect and analyze big data trends on social media is an advantage.

The incumbent will be based in Nairobi, Kenya. He/she should be prepared to operate across AKU campuses, potentially including short assignments in other African locations, in fulfilment of their role.

Responsibilities

Design and deliver quality teaching    
  • Plan, design, develop and teach courses in multi-platform and/or data journalism
  • Effectively integrate new technologies and multi-media innovations into curriculum and courses
  • Co-ordinate and administer courses/programmes, where required, as part of the GSMC’s academic and professional programs
  • Deliver lectures, design and conduct case studies, seminars, workshops, consultancies and other formal and informal learning activities as part of the GSMC suite of offerings
  • Monitor and evaluate programmes, courses and teaching performance
  • Contribute to collaborative teaching, research and curriculum development projects in the areas of data journalism
Research and Innovation
  • Engage in relevant and innovative research activities to advance the school’s scholarly research agenda in the areas of data journalism
  • Maintain a sound and current knowledge and understanding of the field through research, scholarly activities and publications
  • Contribute to maintaining and extending links between the School and relevant organizations, researchers and practitioners
Mentorship
  • Mentor early career staff and students
  • Identify and create opportunities for collaborative teaching and research projects with internal and external researchers and stakeholders
Administration    
  • Actively contribute to governance, marketing, promotion, and administrative activities to facilitate the strategic goals of the School and the University including being actively involved in the School
  • Attend team meetings and other activities as well as contribute to appropriate commercial/consulting activities with other academic staff

Requirements

  • A Master’s Degree with at least 3 years of post-qualification work experience and registered/commenced in a PhD programme
  • At least three (3) years of teaching experience
  • A creative and imaginative approach to student-centered teaching
  • Good analytical skills and a methodical approach to tasks / problems
  • An ability to work well as a member of a teaching team to provide quality education to all students
  • Good oral and written communication skills – a capacity to communicate effectively with staff, students, employers and others
  • Good conceptual skills
  • Flexibility and the capacity to work under pressure
  • Able to prepare effective written and visual teaching materials including the effective use of Information Learning Technology, e.g. Virtual Learning Environments, PowerPoint, etc.
  • Proven ability to maintain a professional approach in line with the University values while under pressure
  • Ability to relate effectively and sensitively to students and staff from a variety of backgrounds and cultures
  • Must demonstrate a strong commitment to equality and diversity and how it affects classroom practice
  • Must demonstrate a strong commitment to academic excellence

To Apply

​Interested candidates should submit a Cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae, names and email contacts of three professional referees, telephone contact, e-mail address and copies of relevant academic certificates as well as transcripts to the Director, HR Academic, Aga Khan University’s Campus Nairobi, Kenya. P. O. Box 30270-00100 or by email to hr.universityke@aku.edu.  

Your application should bear the reference number APDJ-GSMC  Applications by email are preferred.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.  More information about the Aga Khan University is available at www.aku.edu.

Applications should be submitted latest by March 5, 2021