Associate Professor/Professor: Entrepreneurship an

Nelson Mandela University; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading South African university is seeking academic leaders for its Humanities Faculty. The roles focus on driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and transdisciplinary scholarship within the arts and humanities. Candidates must hold a PhD and demonstrate substantial experience in higher education. Responsibilities include curriculum development and building institutional partnerships. Applications open until November 14, 2025.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion commitments

Opportunity for academic innovation

Mentoring graduate students

Qualifications

• Extensive working experience (three to seven years for Associate Professor) in core job functions.
• Proven research record and publication of DHET-accredited outputs.
• Experience as Associate Professor for at least two years for Professor role.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic academic leadership in transdisciplinary scholarship.
• Support curriculum development in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Engage with institutional partnerships for transformation.

Skills

In-depth knowledge of transdisciplinary scholarship

Experience in higher education sector

Ability to supervise graduate students

Experience in mentoring early career scholars

Capability in infusing technological innovation in curricula

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

CORE PURPOSE OF JOB

Nelson Mandela University’s Humanities Faculty seeks to develop graduates who are not only employable, but who will be able to create job opportunities for themselves and others.

The Core Purpose Of The Job Is

To lead the establishment and nurturing of the faculty’s transdisciplinary strategic focus areas focusing on the intersection between the arts, humanities and social sciences and technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Further, it seeks to undergird creative practices, resources and facilities at the institution and frame them in an African context.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Academic leadership

• Provide strategic academic leadership in the development of sustainable transdisciplinary scholarship intersecting the arts, humanities and social sciences, and technological innovation and entrepreneurship with rootedness in the African context, and with a focus on art forms and visual cultures.
• Guide and support curriculum development initiatives that support entrepreneurship and technological innovation in the faculty academic programmes.
• Position the Faculty as a place for development of entrepreneurial and innovative skills in our graduate training.

Engagement

• Identify and initiate sustainable, high-level institutional transformative partnerships with publics within and beyond the region.
• Contribute to the Faculty’s strategy in terms of technological innovation and entrepreneurship in the arts, humanities, and the social sciences.
• Support the Faculty’s capacity enhancement programmes by mentoring graduate students and early career scholars in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Fundraising

• Develop sustainable donor partnerships and other third-stream income generation initiatives to support the faculty’s strategy on innovation and entrepreneurship.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• In-depth knowledge and experience in transdisciplinary scholarship in entrepreneurship, innovation and the arts, humanities and/or social sciences.
• Experience within the higher education or similar sector in technological innovation and entrepreneurship in the arts, humanities and/or social sciences.
• Capability in infusing technological innovation and entrepreneurship in the faculty curricula.
• Knowledge and experience in traditional, contemporary, and popular African arts and expressive cultures.
• Capacity to conceptualize and implement sustainable impactful projects in innovation and entrepreneurship for graduate and postgraduate students.
• Experience in initiating and establishing sustainable strategic partnerships.
• Ability to supervise graduate students and mentor early career scholars.
• Experience in working effectively with diverse people.

Requirements

Associate Professor

PhD in the field related to the core purpose of the job.

• With extensive relevant working experience (three to seven years) in the core functions of the job, preferably in a university and industry set up.
• Proven research record and publishing of DHET-accredited creative and other outputs.

Professor

PhD in the field related to the core purpose of the job.

• With extensive relevant working experience (two years working experience as an Associate Professor) in the core functions of the job, preferably in a university and industry set up.
• Proven research record and publishing of DHET-accredited creative and other outputs.

Additional Information

• Provide a motivational letter of how you qualify for the position.
• The candidate will be required to make a presentation in the interview.
• The candidate needs to provide at least 3 referees for a reference check.
• The candidate will also be required to bring a portfolio of their innovative and entrepreneurial projects.

Nelson Mandela University is a designated employer committed to pursuing excellence, diversity, inclusion, and redress in achieving its employment equity targets. Preference will be given to suitably qualified (Race and Gender) candidates in accordance with the University's employment equity targets.

No applications will be accepted after the closing date Friday, 14 November 2025.