000545 Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies Job Description 2013

7/27/2019 000545 Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies Job Description 2013

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FURTHER PARTICULARS

Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies

Faculty of Languages and Cultures

Vacancy No: 000545

SOAS

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is one of the colleges of the Universityof London. The 2008 independent assessment of the quality of research activities in UK

universities (the RAE) puts SOAS amongst the top research universities in the country.

SOAS is located on the Universitys central campus at Bloomsbury, in the centre of Londonclose to the British Museum, the British Library, the London Business School and otherUniversity of London colleges including the London School of Economics. The School wasfounded in 1916 and is the major European centre for the study of a highly diverse range ofsubjects concerned with Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

SOAS has the largest concentration of specialist staff (more than 300 academics)concerned with the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East at any university in the world.

It has well established research programmes, postgraduate programmes, andundergraduate programmes in the social sciences and humanities. These include law,political studies, economics, business and management studies, finance, anthropology andsociology, art and archaeology, music, religious studies, linguistics, geography anddevelopment studies as well as the languages of Asia and Africa.

The Schools library is the national resource for the study of Asia and Africa, holding over1.2 million items and extensive electronic resources and taking 4,500 periodicals, andattracts scholars from all over the world. Faculty members may have access to the otherlibraries of the University of London and its colleges.

Department Background

The Department of the Languages and Cultures of South Asia teaching and research on awide range of subjects relating to the Indian subcontinent. While South Asian specialistsare based in many different disciplines and departments throughout the School, the focusfor work on language and culture (especially literature) remains fairly and squarely in theSouth Asia Department.

The symbiosis between teaching and research is an important aspect of the Departmentslife, and we are constantly seeking to enhance and improve the courses that we offer. Wewould hope that the person appointed to this lectureship will not only contribute to existing

courses but will also develop new areas that are likely to appeal to students of South Asia.Another of our present priorities is to increase the numbers of students coming to us for


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taught Masters and research degrees, and the broadening of our teaching and researchcoverage will make an important contribution here also.

Teaching

The main degree programmes are (http://www.soas.ac.uk/southasia/programmes/) :

Undergraduate (Single) Degrees BA South Asian Studies (3 years)

BA South Asian Studies (4 years)

BA South Asian Studies Bengali Pathway

BA South Asian Studies Hindi Pathway

BA South Asian Studies Nepali Pathway

BA South Asian Studies Sanskrit Pathway

BA South Asian Studies Urdu Pathway

Undergraduate (Combined) Degrees

BA South Asian Studies and... (3 years) BA South Asian Studies and (4 years)

Taught Masters Degrees

MA Anthropological Research Methods and Nepali

MA Comparative Literature (Africa / Asia)

MA Languages and Cultures of South Asia

MA South Asian Area Studies

Research Degrees

Research Degrees: South Asia

Diplomas

Diploma in Sanskrit

Certificates

Certificate in South Asian Studies

Department staff also convene and contribute to other degrees including those offered bythe programmes and Centres of South Asian Studies, Pakistan Studies, Media and Film

Studies, Film and Screen Studies, Gender Studies, Postcolonial Studies. Staff are activemembers of other research groups including the Centre for Cultural, Literary andPostcolonial Studies, and Film and Screen Studies.

Staff List

Dr James Caron, Lecturer in Islamicate South AsiaIslam in South Asia; Afghanistan and Pakistan social and cultural history; historicalmethods and literary sources; non-western history from below; non-elite interregionalism

Professor Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Indian Cultures and Cinema


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Hindi Cinema; Indian popular culture; Indian film; Hinduism; new middle classes;Mumbai/Bombay; Gujarati language and literature; Gujarati diaspora esp UK and EastAfrica; comparative Indian literature

Professor Michael Hutt, Professor of Nepali and Himalayan StudiesNepali literature; the Nepali media; Nepali politics; Bhutanese refugees

Dr Francesca Orsini, Reader in the Literatures of North IndiaHindi Literature; North Indian literary cultures; Hindi; Urdu

Dr Amina Yaqin, Senior Lecturer in Urdu and Postcolonial StudiesUrdu language and literature; post-colonial literature and theory; gender studies; SouthAsian literatures in English; feminism in a Third World context; gender and politics inPakistan

Rakesh NautiyalSenior Lector in Hindi

Krishna Pradhan

Senior Lector in NepaliNaresh SharmaSenior Lector in Urdu and Hindi

Sahana BajpaieTeaching Fellow in Bengali

Amal GunasenaTeaching Fellow in Sinhala

Mr Aishwarj KumarTeaching Fellow in Hindi

William Radice

Teaching Fellow in Bengali; Research AssociateBengali language and literature; Tagore; Michael Madhusudan Dutt; 19th century Bengal;literary translation; poetry in Bangladesh.John StevensLeverhulme Postdoctoral Fellow

The interconnected histories of modern West Bengal, Bangladesh and Britain; comparativereligion and political theology in India and Britain; postcolonial theory; the historicalconstruction of gender, race, class and nation; social, cultural and transnational history.

For a list of teaching fellows and visiting staff, see the relevant web-page:http://www.soas.ac.uk/southasia/staff/

Candidates seeking further information should contact Professor Rachel Dwyer([email protected]). You may also wish to consult the Departments web-site:http://www.soas.ac.uk/southasia/london/

Job applicants who have been shortlisted would normally be notified within six weeks of theclosing date. If you have not heard from the Human Resources Directorate by this date,please assume that your application for employment has been unsuccessful on thisoccasion.


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Job Description

This form summarises the purpose of the job and lists its key tasks.It may be varied from time to time at the discretion of the School, in consultation with thepost holder.

Vacancy No: 000545

Job Title: Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies

Department: Department of the Languages and Cultures of South Asia, Facultyof Languages and Cultures

Grade: G7/Ac2 G8/Ac3

Accountable to: Dean of Faculty via Head of Department

Job Summary:

To improve the academic standing of the School by carrying out and publishingresearch of the highest quality and by lecturing and tutoring students to a high academicstandard.

Main Activities and Responsibilities:

TEACHING, LEARNING AND PASTORAL CARE

1. To teach your specific subject and within the broader area covered by your departmentand disciplinary field through classes, lectures, seminars, tutorials, briefings, short courses,or by other means of knowledge transfer.2. To participate in the improvement of teaching through peer observation of teaching andfeedback.3. To participate in the development of new teaching and learning materials for yourcourses, both hard copy and through online delivery.4. To participate in the pastoral care systems operating for the support of students at alllevels.5. To cover for colleagues where appropriate during leaves of absence.6. To supervise research dissertations by postgraduate students and participate in

supervisory committees.7. To participate in the development of new courses and programmes.8. To participate in curriculum review and in quality assurance processes relating toteaching.9. To prepare, mark and provide feedback in connection with the range of assessment andexamination systems in operation.10. To participate in the activities of Centres and programmes as appropriate to yoursubject and academic interests.11. To participate in the recruitment and selection of students.12. To work with the Library, Faculty Offices, timetabling, IT and the LTU to prepare for theeffective delivery of courses each session.


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RESEARCH & ENTERPRISE, RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND RESEARCH CULTURE

1. To advance knowledge of the subject by conducting research and publishing the resultsindividually and in collaboration with others.2. To undertake knowledge transfer and enterprise activity and to undertake contractresearch and consultancy as and when appropriate.3. To actively pursue grant opportunities to support research through Research Councils,Foundations, charities, and individual donors.4. To act as referee for research councils, grant-awarding bodies, journals, publishers asappropriate.5. To advance the research culture of SOAS by participating in seminars, conferences andworkshops6. To endeavour to ensure compliance of self and others with good practice in relation tothe conduct of research, the ethics policy, IPR, copyright and other relevant Schoolpolicies.

ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. To participate in the activities of the Schools committees as appointed.2. To participate in the appraisal process and undertake staff development as appropriate.3. To participate in the mentoring and staff support systems.4. To contribute to the planning of the activities and distribution of administrative roles in theDepartment or Centre.5. To take on appropriate administrative tasks in the Department or Centre.6. To develop School or Department links with external and international organisations.7. To participate as required in fund-raising and development initiatives.8. To assist in the recruitment of colleagues and students as appropriate.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will berequired to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope andgrading of the post. Job descriptions should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are anaccurate representation of the post.

June 2013


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PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies

Department: South Asia, Faculty of Languages & Cultures

Essential Skills, Knowledge, Experience:

1. Evidence of being able to carry out and publish research of academic quality which willimprove, or at least maintain, the Departments research rating in the Research ExcellenceFramework. This would be at least two publications of international quality.

2. Ability to lecture, tutor and supervise undergraduate to postgraduate students fromdiverse backgrounds and experience to a high academic standard. Teaching experience ina Higher Education environment, preferably a University is desirable.

3. Have a specialist knowledge of Sanskrit language and literature and ideally also of asecond South Asian language.

4. Proven administrative and organisational skills.

5. Sound time management skills; the ability to plan and to meet deadlines.

6. Well developed written and interpersonal communication skills.

Essential Qualifications:

7. A PhD in a relevant subject. However those who are close to completing a PhD will alsobe considered.

Essential Personal Qualities:

8. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with students, staff,academic peers and external/professional organisations.

9. Ability to work independently and to participate fully as a team member.

10. Commitment to providing quality programmes at all levels.

11. Flexibility and responsiveness, particularly to the changing education environment.

12. High degree of professional judgement and integrity.

Closing date: 6 August 2013Interviews are provisionally scheduled for week commencing: 16 September 2013

SOAS values diversity and aims to be an equal opportunities employer.

Documents

000545 Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies Job Description 2013