Associate Professor/Professor: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the African Arts and Humanities

NMU; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Gqeberha seeks an Associate Professor or Professor to lead academic initiatives in transdisciplinary scholarship, focusing on innovation in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Candidates must have a PhD and extensive relevant experience, along with a proven research record. The role involves strategic partnership development and enhancing education through innovative practices.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in the core functions of the job, preferably in a university.
• Proven research record and publishing of DHET-accredited outputs.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic academic leadership in sustainable transdisciplinary scholarship.
• Identify sustainable transformative partnerships.
• Develop sustainable donor partnerships.

Skills

In-depth knowledge of transdisciplinary scholarship

Experience in technological innovation

Ability to supervise graduate students

Experience in establishing sustainable partnerships

Education

PhD in a 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

Disclaimer: 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 candidates in accordance with the University's employment equity targets.

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