National University of Singapore job ad

YUSOF ISHAK PROFESSOR IN SOCIAL SCIENCES – INVITATION TO APPLY

We invite applications for a professorial position named in honour of one of Singapore’s pioneer leaders Encik Yusof bin Ishak, whose exemplary and eminent public career was marked by his appointment as Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Singapore (1959), Chancellor of the University of Singapore (a predecessor institution to NUS), and as the first President of the Republic of Singapore (1965-1970). His professional tenure as a distinguished journalist and editor, his identity as a prominent patron of the arts scene in Singapore, his membership of the ‘Films Appeal Committee’, the ‘Nature Reserves Committee’ and the ‘Malaynisation Commission’ all reflect the depth and breadth of his critical and impassioned engagement with key socio-cultural, economic and political issues in an emerging nation-state.

The Professorship honours his many contributions to Singapore, not least his deep interest in promoting harmonious race relations and sustaining a multiracial and multi-cultural nation. The endowed professorship, established in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore, will enable the university to attract and appoint leading social scientists who have demonstrated excellence and an established international recognition.

The appointed candidate will assume stewardship for enhancing cutting edge research in one (or more) of the following fields of study: race, ethnicity and community studies and multiculturalism; communication and civic engagement; and studies of religion and religious diversity. In educating the next generation of leaders, the candidate will play a role in generating knowledge that benefits an inclusive and progressive society.

The successful candidate should be a senior scholar with a strong international reputation in any aspect of the social sciences. The appointee should have a strong publication record (with evidence of a continuing trajectory), extensive experience of teaching and student supervision, an internationally recognized research profile and a track record in securing research funding. He/She will be expected to contribute to the teaching, research and leadership in the department in which he/she is appointed.

The successful candidate will have a primary appointment in one of the social sciences departments according to area of expertise. Appointment will be on a full-time tenured OR full-time contract OR full-time visiting position. The professorship title will be for a period of up to three years. A competitive remuneration package will be offered to the appointee.

The application dossier should include a letter of interest, full curriculum vitae, and the names and contact details of six referees. There is no deadline for applications, which will be received until an appointment is made. Please send applications to:

Yusof Ishak Professor in Social Sciences Search Committee
c/o Ms Amy Tan
Research Division, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,
Block AS7 #06-20
National University of Singapore
5 Arts Link, Singapore 117570
Email applications are encouraged, they should be sent to Ms Amy Tan

For further enquiries, please contact:
Professor Vineeta Sinha, Chair of Search Committee
Name of Institution:    National University of Singapore
Position Announcement: open until filled

CFP Communication for Social Change (Singapore)

Call for Papers
COMMUNICATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: INTERSECTIONS OF THEORY AND PRAXIS
Organized by: Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE), National University of Singapore
Event: 8 January 2016
Deadline for submissions: 28 July 2015

In 2011, it was estimated that one billion people in the world lived on less than $1.25 a day, and that 22,000 children die each day due to poverty (World Bank, 2015; UNICEF, 2009). Global inequality continues to exist on a remarkable level, exacerbated by globalization, enactment of neoliberal regimes, and global economic restructuring that widens the gap between the rich and poor (Dutta, 2008). This has led to widening inequality and health disparities among marginalized and disenfranchised communities both in the global South and in developed countries. Against this backdrop, many communication scholars have been vested in social change work, attempting to address these problems from a communication standpoint. Within the field of communication, critical scholars have
brought attention to globalization processes and modernization projects that continue to reify structural violence and the erasure of subaltern voices from mainstream discourse under the guise of ‘aid’ (Dutta, 2008, 2010). There is a growing pool of communication scholars who reject top-down prescriptions of definitions of poverty and its solutions, and instead recognize the role of culture and structure in forming the contextual base for understanding experiences of subalternity in one’s everyday life (Airhihenbuwa, 1995; Dutta & Basu, 2008; Lupton, 1994). Within this paradigm, communication scholars seek to work with subaltern communities to foster participatory spaces for listening and dialogue, with the larger goal of social change and structural transformation. In
their negotiations of culture and structure with their material and symbolic experiences of marginalization, we see the emergence of narratives from the ground which actively challenge and resist structures that have communicatively erased the lived experiences of subaltern communities. It is within these alternative narratives and rationalities that social change is articulated in culturally meaningful ways.

The broad goal of this conference is to explore the intersections between theory and praxis in social change communication. This conference brings together communication scholars, both experienced and new, to share, dialogue, debate, and discourse on the future of social change in the discipline. The conference is also envisioned as a platform to build solidarity among people working within the academic-activist spectrum – for them to share their lived experiences in the field and to encourage young scholars in the field of communication to actively partake in social change scholarship. Finally, the conference also acts as an invitational space to celebrate novel and alternative ways of communicating for social change. Hence, this presents a unique opportunity for communication scholars around the world to come together and contribute to the intellectual space in which communicative practices are embodied and enacted in the sites of oppression and resistance and told through academic engagement, theorizing the ways in which communication can solve social problems.

We invite submission of papers that address communication and issues of social change, both theoretically and empirically, in different national contexts, pertaining to social change in the margins from around the globe.Heeding this conclusion, and based on the context and scope of
communication for social change, the following questions include, but are not limited to:
1. How are issues of social change theorized by communication scholars?
2. How do emerging alternative theories and frameworks in communication address various kinds of disparities?
3. How do communication scholars approach social change?
4. How can widening health disparities be addressed communicatively?
5. What is the role of self-reflexivity for communication scholars?
6. How do culture, community engagement, and communication intersect for social change?
7. What are the emerging innovations in research using the culture-centered approach?
8. How do communication scholars negotiate culture, structure, and/or agency in envisioning social change and social justice?
9. How do theory and praxis intersect in social change communication? What are the roles of academics and activists within this paradigm?

PAPER SUBMISSION:
Paper submissions must include a title, an abstract (max 300 words), full paper not exceeding 30 pages double-spaced (5,000-8,000 words), and a brief biographical sketch (max 150 words). Please submit your papers by 28 July 2015 to contact@care-cca.com. Please see paper submission format below. Successful applicants will be notified by the first week of October 2015. Selected papers will be developed and included in a book chapter series.

Participants are encouraged to seek funding for travel from their home institutions. Based on the quality of paper, full funding is available for two successful applicants that are developing-country researchers. Full funding would cover air travel to Singapore by the most economical means plus accommodation for the duration of the conference. Participants that qualify for full funding will be informed by early October 2015.

Conference Convenor
Professor Mohan J. Dutta
Head of Department of Communications and New Media & Director of the Center for Cultured-Centered Approach to Research And Evaluation (CARE), National University of Singapore

National University of Singapore job ad

The Centre for English Language Communication (CELC), National University of Singapore invites applications for full-time non-tenure track teaching position as Lecturer.

Applicants for the position of Lecturer should possess:
– a Master’s degree or PhD in Applied Linguistics, TESOL or a related field (content area specialists with a strong interest in teaching writing are also welcome to apply)
– a sound record of and strong commitment to teaching, with a minimum of three years of full-time teaching experience at the tertiary level
– evidence of leadership in curriculum planning and materials development
– evidence of scholarly output in pedagogical research at the higher education level would be advantageous

Successful applicants are expected to:
– work in teams to develop and/or teach various courses at the undergraduate and/or graduate level(s)
– contribute expertise through involvement in ELT-related projects and activities
– engage in pedagogical research which supports English language teaching and learning at the higher education level

How to Apply
Applicants should submit a cover letter which addresses their suitability for the position for which they are applying. The letter should be sent via email to celcrecruit@nus.edu.sg with the following necessary documents:
– a detailed curriculum vitae, with names and addresses (including email) of three referees and a statement of current and expected remuneration
– copies of degree scrolls
– student/staff evaluations of courses taught in the last two years
– a statement of teaching philosophy and methodology (max. 1,000 words)
Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide additional documents to support their application.

The starting salary is competitive and will depend on the applicant’s qualifications and experience. Successful applicants are expected to commence work in December 2015. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing date:  22 May 2015

National University of Singapore job ads 2014

The National University of Singapore is advertising multiple positions:

Two Full /Associate Professor Positions in HEALTH COMMUNICATION

Full /Associate Professor in MEDIA STUDIES

Full /Associate Professor Positions in NEW MEDIA STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT

Assistant Professor in HEALTH COMMUNICATION

Full /Associate Professor in HCI & INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA DESIGN

The Department, a part of the globally ranked Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS, offers degree programs at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels, and is ranked among the top global Communication and Media Studies departments. For details, see their Academic Job Postings.

 

Nat U Singapore 3 job ads

The Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has posted ads and seeks to hire for three positions, one at the Assistant Professor level and two at the Associate Professor level. For application info, please visit this website.

NUS

1) A tenure track Assistant Professor in Health Communication for July 2014. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Communication or a closely related field. ABDs are encouraged to apply, but a Ph.D. degree is required by date of appointment. The successful candidate should demonstrate a clear promise of research excellence in health communication. We are interested in candidates who explore health communication using participatory and culture-centered methodologies or approaches. The successful candidate will teach a range of courses in Health Communication and Communication Management/Public Relations, and work closely with the Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE) at NUS. CARE is a global hub for health communication research that uses participatory and culture-centered methodologies to develop community-driven health communication solutions. Application deadline for this position is: September 30, 2013.

2. Associate Professor in Health Communication and/or Communication Management. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Communication or a closely related field, and demonstrated excellence in teaching and research.  We are interested in scholars who approach communication through new and emergent media perspectives and value diverse research methods. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a range of courses in health communication and communication management/public relations, and play active roles in developing the Department’s graduate program and mentoring graduate students.

3. Associate Professor in Media Studies/New Media. The successful candidate should have a Ph.D. in Communication or a closely related field, who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and research.  We seek a colleague to conduct teaching and research in one or more of the following specializations in New Media: (a) Freedom of Speech, Regulation, and Control, and (b) Public Discourse and Public Participation. We are interested in scholars with a record of research or a research interest in Asian contexts.

Application deadline for positions two and three: August 31, 2013.

Nat U Singapore job ad

The Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore (NUS) seeks to hire a tenured Full Professor with research and teaching specialization in Communication Management. In particular, research and teaching interests in health communication, science communication, public policy, social change communication, strategic communication, corporate social responsibility, public communication campaigns, and/or globalization are desired. We are interested in internationally recognized scholars who value diverse research methods and approach communication through new and emergent media perspectives.

For this position, candidates must have a Ph.D., extensive teaching experience, globally recognized research achievements, proven administrative experience, and leadership qualities. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a range of courses and play active roles in developing the Department’s graduate program, supervising graduate students, and mentoring junior faculty.  Minimum qualifications will include demonstrated excellence in teaching and research. Our Remuneration is internationally competitive.

The Department, a part of the globally ranked Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS, offers degree programs at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels, and is ranked number 3 in the global QS rankings of Communication and Media Studies. There are currently 15 tenure-track faculty members in this multi-disciplinary Department with international faculty whose areas of expertise cover communication management, media studies, and interactive design. The Department values its culture of collegiality and collaboration, and is a cross-disciplinary institution for multi-dimensional scholarship that encompasses engineering, arts, humanities, and the social sciences.

Application Procedure: Please submit the following: (1) a letter of interest; (2) an updated curriculum vitae (including education, employment history, public and professional service, honors and awards, and a complete list of publications); (3) a list of six referees (with affiliations and particulars); and (4) a statement of research. Application Deadline: To ensure consideration, applications must arrive by 31 March 2013. We uphold the principle of non-discrimination and encourage every qualified individual to apply.

Enquiries and applications should be sent to Ms. Gayathri Dorairaju, Department of Communications and New Media, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, Blk AS6, #03-41, 11 Computing Drive, Singapore 117416. Email: cnmcareer AT nus.edu.sg.

Save

CFP Child raising across cultures

Journal of Intercultural Communication Research Call for papers
Child raising across cultures: practices, values and scripts
Special Issue Editor: Jock Wong, National University of Singapore

Anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists have written a large volume of books and journal articles about parenting in a diverse range of cultures. These studies have contributed immensely to our understanding of the cultural beliefs and values in a variety of cultures. However, most of these studies unintentionally describe these beliefs and values in ethnocentric terms. This is because language and culture are inextricably linked, and when we use a language to describe another language or culture, we run the risk of imposing the categories and values of the metalanguage onto the object of study. For example, when we ask how people in other cultures make “requests”, the question rests on the ethnocentric assumption that every language has a word for request and that every culture shares the values embodied in a request.

An ideal way to avoid ethnocentrism is to use a metalanguage that consists of semantically simple, un-definable words and grammatical structures that are universal. A metalanguage that is proposed to have these characteristics is the natural semantic metalanguage (NSM). A number of studies have shown the main advantage of using such a metalanguage is that it can describe cultural norms with maximal clarity and precision, and minimal ethnocentrism. Potential contributors may want to visit the NSM homepage to find out more about what this approach.

A forum to be published in a special issue of the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research in 2013 will be organized to discuss child raising practices in various cultures. We invite contributions that focus on linguistic aspects of child raising practices and encourage papers that use NSM as the analytic tool, but also welcome all methodologies that expound culture from the inside. We are especially interested in analyses of the culture-specific values and beliefs that influence what parents say to their children in order to mould them into culturally acceptable beings. How, for example, do these values and beliefs: determine what parents teach their children to say; influence how parents say it; guide the ways in which parents express their approval when their child does something considered “good”; result in common sayings about parental roles or good child behaviour? Selected cultural keywords or concepts related to parenting may be explained to give readers a better understanding of the culture described. Selected forms of parenting related verbal behaviour may also be explained in terms of cultural rules that are designed to represent the subconscious cultural values and beliefs held by parents within a given speech community

Each paper should be a maximum of 10 pages in length, double spaced, excluding references, figures, and tables, etc. The deadline for submission is January 14, 2013. All submissions must be submitted via the Manuscript Central System. For style information on the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, please select ‘Authors and submissions’.

The issue is being guest edited by Jock Wong, National University of Singapore, Centre for English Language Communication. To contact Jock, email him.

 

Postdoc Nat U Singapore

Two-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow Positions 15 July 2012 (avail immediately) at National University of Singapore

The Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation is a project-driven center housed in the Department of Communication and New Media at the National University of Singapore that utilizes ethnographic and participatory action research methods in carrying out culturally-centered social change interventions in marginalized populations. The Center is global in scope with initial project emphases in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The goals of the Center are to (a) create a strategic research core for the social scientific study of health communication and social change issues in Asia (e.g. China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), (b) develop health communication interventions and policies that are culturally-centered and developed through the acknowledgement of the participatory capacity of local communities in creating culturally meaningful and locally responsive health solutions, (c) disseminate core principles and lessons learned from the culture-centered projects within Asia and across other sectors of the globe, and (d) build health communication research capacity in Asia by creating a training hub for the next generation of health communication theorists, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers across Asia.

The candidate is expected to be familiar with the culture-centered approach to research and evaluation, and is expected to have experience conducting field-based participatory research. Training will be provided on the use of the facilities in the university. The candidate should also have some experience working with ethnography, although on-the-job training will also be provided. Other skills include the ability to carrying out social change campaigns in disenfranchised populations. Proficiency in Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, Malay, Philippine, or Mandarin will be an added plus point.

Requirements:
– PhD in the area of health communication, public health, medical anthropology, or medical sociology, with coursework in health communication and qualitative research methods.
– Experience in conducting in-depth interviews, focus groups, and/or ethnographies.

Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions for the Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) are as follows:
1.      Contract to be awarded beginning from July 2012 tenable for up to two years.
2.      An Annual Base Salary of $48,000 per year.
3.      An allowance of S$500 a month as contribution towards housing expenses for non-citizens (i.e. non-Singaporeans) and their spouses who do not own any property in Singapore and whose spouses are not in receipt of any form of housing benefits from their Singapore employers.
4.      Singapore citizens and permanent residents are eligible for provident fund benefits.
5.      Travel Assistance, payable once only, as follows.
*       $2,000 for the Postdoctoral Fellow
*       $2,000 for spouse
*       $1,000 for each eligible child, subject to a maximum of 3 children.  Children must be less than 18 years of age and receiving full-time education.
The above travel assistance is a contribution towards expenses incurred by the appointee and his/her dependants in re-locating to Singapore. Such expenses refer to costs for travel, packing, transportation and insurance of personal and professional effects as well as settling-in expenses.
The travel allowance is contingent upon the Postdoctoral Fellow’s completion of his/her initial two-years’ contract. In the event that the appointee does not fulfill the initial two-years’ contract, the appointee shall be liable to refund the University a proportionate amount of the travel assistance granted to him/her and his/her dependants on appointment.
6.      Foreign PDFs who are granted Singapore Permanent Residence will continue to receive an allowance of S$500 a month as contribution towards housing expenses.  The allowance will cease once they acquire Singapore citizenship.
7.      Medical benefits in accordance with the Medical Benefit Plan.
8.      Vacation leave of 28 days per calendar year.

Contact:
Interested candidates are invited to email a detailed resume, and copies of supporting documents and names and contact details of two academic referees to:
Dr Mohan J. Dutta, Director, Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation at culturecenteredapproach@gmail.com.

Res Asst Health Comm – Nat U Singapore

Research Assistants in Health Communication- 2 positions available immediately at National University of Singapore

The Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE) is a project-driven center housed in the Department of Communication and New Media at the National University of Singapore that utilizes ethnographic and participatory action research methods in carrying out culturally-centered social change interventions in marginalized populations. The Center is global in scope with initial project emphases in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The goals of the Center are to (a) create a strategic research core for the social scientific study of health communication and social change issues in Asia (e.g. China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), (b) develop health communication interventions and policies that are culturally-centered and developed through the acknowledgement of the participatory capacity of local communities in creating culturally meaningful and locally responsive health solutions, (c) disseminate core principles and lessons learned from the culture-centered projects within Asia and across other sectors of the globe, and (d) build health communication research capacity in Asia by creating a training hub for the next generation of health communication theorists, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers across Asia.

The candidate is expected to be familiar with the culture-centered approach to research and evaluation, and is expected to have experience conducting field-based participatory research. Training will be provided on the use of the facilities in the university. The candidate will mostly participate in field-based culture-centered projects, running interventions, as well as conducting evaluations through the use of participatory quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Other skills include the ability to carrying out social change campaigns in disenfranchised populations. Proficiency in Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, Malay, Philippine, or Mandarin will be an added plus point.

Requirements:
– Bachelors or Masters in the area of health communication, public health, medical anthropology, or medical sociology, with coursework in health communication and qualitative research methods.

Terms and Conditions:
Salary and benefits will be commensurable to qualifications and working experience. Interested individuals can send their applications, academic transcripts, curriculum vitae and two reference letters to the email address below.

Contact:
Interested candidates are invited to email a detailed resume, and copies of supporting documents and names and contact details of two academic referees to:
Dr Mohan J. Dutta, Director, Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation at culturecenteredapproach@gmail.com.