Lecturer- Geography, Environmental Studies & Tourism

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES (GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES & TOURISM)

Lecturer in Critical Human Geography

• The University of the Western Cape (UWC) enjoys national and international acclaim for its continuing contribution to democratic change in South Africa and for making quality education accessible to all South Africans.
• The Department of Geography, Environmental Studies & Tourism wishes to appoint a Lecturer in Critical Human Geography. We seek a highly motivated scholar from any subfield of Critical Human Geography, who has expertise in critical philosophy and theory of geography.
• Applicants should be able to articulate a research program that is rooted in social justice, and combines theoretical work with deep community partnerships. Applicants should also demonstrate research and activism experience, with evidence of writing policy briefs, newspaper articles, website publications, or academic journal articles.
• The Department offers a three-year BA degree with two majors in 1) Geography and Environmental Studies and 2) Tourism. We also offer Honours, MA and PhD degrees in Geography and Environmental Studies.
• The successful candidate will be expected to make a significant contribution to research, teaching, supervision and overall student development. They will exhibit a sense of collegiality and an ability to work as a member of a team.

Responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to the learning and teaching programme at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Supervising Honours research projects.
• Developing a research and publications profile.
• Integrating the effective use of existing and new technologies to enhance teaching and learning.
• Contributing to departmental academic administration.
• Contributing to departmental and institutional community engagement efforts.

Minimum Requirements

• A MA degree in Geography, with active enrolment in a PhD with a critical Human Geography focus.
• At least two years of teaching or tutoring experience at undergraduate and/or post graduate level.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, deliver and assess at least one full course or module (i.e., contribution to curriculum development, design of learning materials, or adaptation of content to meet student needs).
• A minimum of one accredited publication is required, including a journal article, book chapter or conference proceeding.
• Demonstration of research competence and a clear potential to contribute knowledge (i.e., participation in research projects, co-authorships, and/or academic presentations).
• Involvement in at least one community engagement activity relevant to the discipline (i.e., NGO/CBO relationships, service-learning initiatives, and/or public outreach).
• Demonstrated involvement in the academic life of your previous department (i.e., course coordination, committee work, student support, institutional development, and/or administrative duties).
• Demonstrated early-stage engagement in academic or professional networks beyond your immediate institutional context (i.e., scholarly associations, journal editorial work, and/or discipline-based networks).

Added advantage would be:

• A completed PhD.
• Postgraduate supervision experience at the Honours or Master's level.
• Expertise in the critical philosophy and theory of geography.
• A research program that is committed to social justice, and combines theoretical work with deep community partnerships.
• Demonstrate the ability to connect critical geographical theory with empirically grounded, interdisciplinary research addressing contemporary issues, with experience of collaboration across academic, governmental, and community contexts.
• Demonstrated research and activism experience, with some evidence of writing in blogs, policy briefs, newspapers, or academic journals.

Supporting Documents in addition to standard documents as below in application process:

• Cover letter that explains your research interests, community engagements, theoretical approach to geography, and teaching or tutoring experience.
• A sample of your writing (1000 words) from a policy brief, newspaper article, website publication, academic journal or seminar paper.

In your application, you are encouraged to highlight your strengths and include anything else you deem exceptional and outstanding to be considered by the selection panel. In addition, please attach a cover letter motivating your suitability, a detailed curriculum vitae including contact details of three referees, and your highest qualification to your online profile.

Closing date: 29 October 2026