art teacher Aberystwyth, Wales
Job description
Job Description
The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa
The Role
The School of Art, an academic department at Aberystwyth University (AU) that sits within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, is looking to appoint a Lecturer in Fine Art (Teaching and Research, Printmaking and Book Illustration).
The School of Art offers single and joint honours undergraduate schemes in Fine Art, Photography, Creative Arts, and Art History, as well as taught Masters and research programmes in the practical, historical and curatorial study of art. In art practice, our students specialise in painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, book illustration, film, installation and site-specific performance.
Together with colleagues in their field, the role holder will be responsible for the design, delivery, assessment and administration of undergraduate modules in printmaking and book illustration as well as undertake postgraduate (MA and PhD) supervision. The position requires an active involvement with the development, delivery and administration of our printmaking and book illustration curricula. For information on existing modules, see: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/modules/deptfuture/Art/.
The role holder will make a significant contribution to the delivery of excellence in research-led teaching and learning in printmaking and/or book illustration practice within the context of national and institutional guidelines. It is expected that the role holder will undertake practice-led, scholarly research in accordance with REF guidelines as well as the School of Art and Aberystwyth University’s research strategies. There will be a requirement to make grant funding applications and to contribute to the School’s research environment. Through outputs such as exhibitions, publications, conferences, commissions, and curated exhibitions, the role holder will aim to produce research of international significance that has impact, scope and relevance.
The appointee will also undertake administrative duties that contribute toward the smooth running of the School of Art, represent the School of Art at Faculty and University levels, and will be sensitive to the School’s provision as a whole and engage with AU strategic priorities such as recruitment, retention and student experience.
The School of Art has been located in the Edward Davies Building since 1993. It is an elegant symbol of the School’s aim to bridge past and present by relating the tradition to contemporary practices. Set in its own grounds, the School houses painting studios, print workshops, darkrooms, and a MacSuite, as well as lecture theatre and seminar rooms. The Edward Davies Building also accommodates a museum, public galleries, and extensive teaching collections of original artworks. Aberystwyth is one of only two UK art schools with UK government Accredited Museum status.
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Paul Croft (printmaking, [email protected]) or Chris Iliff ([email protected]).
Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
- prepare and deliver the teaching, administration, and assessment (including providing timely feedback in accordance with AU’s Assessment and Feedback Policy) of undergraduate modules in printmaking and book illustration;
- promote and encourage creative thinking as well as professional standards, laying the groundwork for careers in a highly competitive market;
- review and update, as appropriate, lecture and class content;
- oversee and maintain clean and safe workshops, informing students of health and safety protocols and enforcing them, as required
- engage proactively with AU IT teaching and learning systems such as Blackboard (e-learning environment), Talis Aspire (reading list management system), Turnitin (e-submission of assignments), SAMS (student attendance monitoring), and Aladdin (personal tutee record management);
- work with central administrative departments to market and promote printmaking and/or book illustration at Aberystwyth in order to create new and nurture existing student cohorts;
- hold formal meetings with personal tutees to discuss, among other things, progress and attainment with a view to ensuring on-going learner development;
- contribute to Open Days and Visit Days;
- engage with AU IT systems such as ASTRA (student records and admissions), WAMM (workload allocation model), ECS (performance management), and AberPeople (recording leave and absences);
- and, engage with External Examiners with regard to teaching and learning issues, feedback and assessments, and wider examination processes.
- To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
- To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
- To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
Training will be provided where there is identified need.
Two part-time 0.5FTE positions will be considered, one in printmaking, one in illustration. Teaching and scholarship appointment(s) (T&S) will also be considered.
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
Essential
- Experience in the delivery of research-led teaching and supervision in printmaking and book illustration, academic administration and co-ordination of taught modules.
- Good communication skills (able to communicate specialist knowledge and concepts, and transfer skills to others).
- Good interpersonal skills, enabling effective team working (liaising with staff and students to support teaching and learning, discussing schedules and class preparation with module coordinators and others working on the delivery of core activities).
- Undertake practice-led research relevant to the School’s curriculum.
- An understanding of and engagement with research impact and innovation within and beyond the REF context
- Good analogue as well as IT skills (to include Adobe Creative Suite software) to provide students with a technical grounding in the materials used and techniques of book illustration, book and typographic design. (Drawing is central to the teaching of book illustration at Aberystwyth.)
- Advanced subject knowledge and a track record of practice-led research (exhibitions, publications, etc.) that is recognised internationally in terms of its originality, significance and rigour, or has the capacity to do so;
- Good printmaking skills in as many as possible of the following media: etching and intaglio processes, wood and linocut and relief processes, stone and plate lithography, and screen printing as well as digital and hybrid methods. Appointing someone with etching and intaglio skills is important for us.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1.* or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.
Desirable
- PhD in Art (or a cognate discipline), or working towards one, or have equivalent professional experience pf research-led teaching and supervision.
- Competence to act as supervisor of student-led undergraduate and postgraduate projects.
- A research profile of a level to be submitted to the REF, evidenced by publications and esteem indicators and evidence of a track record of successful grant funding bids.
- Knowledge of e-learning platforms such as Blackboard and Turnitin.
- Experience of student personal tutoring, sensitive to the needs of students from different backgrounds and with varying degrees of aptitude.
- Flexibility to work contribute to occasional weekend Open and Visit Days.
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B2.*
- More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.
Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.
Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:
- Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:
- A national of a majority English speaking country
- Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
- Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
