Lecturer in Systems Thinking in Practice - Reference 21377 (closing date now 18 January)
The Open University are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic academic who will be able to contribute to the development and delivery of their postgraduate systems thinking in practice (STiP) distance learning provision and help lead their Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship (STPA).
Unit : Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Salary : £45,585 to £54,395; Location : Milton Keynes; Two Years Fixed Term with possibility of extension, Full Time; Closing Date : 18 January, 2024 - 12:00
Change your career, change lives
The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.
The role
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic academic who will be able to contribute to the development and delivery of our postgraduate systems thinking in practice (STiP) distance learning provision and help lead our Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship (STPA). More broadly, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to contribute as part of an energetic and committed academic community within the school to develop new transformative qualifications to diverse, motivated students learning ‘at a distance’. Teaching at The Open University is a team-based collaborative process which allows for training and induction of new staff into the teaching process, and opportunities for ongoing professional development, which in turn allows for unparalleled OU support for distance learning. The successful candidate will also have a strong and active research profile and will be supported to secure external research and knowledge exchange funding.
As an academic member of staff in the School of Engineering & Innovation you will be based at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes. The School is proud to have gained an Athena SWAN Departmental Silver Award in 2021 and as such the principles of equality and diversity will be evident in all aspects of your work.
The School has ambitious plans for growth including new qualifications and apprenticeships, helping people to succeed across its core disciplines of Systems Thinking, Environmental management, Design, Engineering, and Technology Management. It sees multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary working, especially in advancing our sustainability goal, as key so the successful candidate will have opportunities to engage across these disciplines in teaching and research. Essentially, the role offers a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary working across the provision of the school. These opportunities also extend into undertaking a self-directed programme of individual or collaborative scholarship or research in a field that will contribute to the national and international profile of STiP and support the School and Faculty strategic objectives. We also work proactively, taking an innovative approach to teaching and learning and developing collaborative and effective partnerships with employers and other institutions.
Skills and experience
The successful candidate will have, as a minimum, a master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Applied Systems, Social Cybernetics, Complexity Science, Systems Science or a closely related area or a cognate area to the disciplines within the school with demonstrable experience of using ‘systems thinking’ as a practitioner. Preferably the successful candidate will hold a PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
The role invites demonstrable knowledge of the skills and experience of systems thinking and the ability in designing and presenting undergraduate, postgraduate and/or non-formal learning experiences. Some evidence would be advantageous, through publication and/or development of successful professional or work-based learning, of a capacity to bring theory to practice using STiP.
Experience of online and/or distance education would be an advantage.
More information can be provided via a link to the Job Description here.
If you would like to discuss the application or recruitment process before making an application, please contact Sally Siveter at Resourcing Hub on 01908 655544 or Resourcing-Hub@open.ac.uk quoting the reference VRF 21377.
What you get in return
We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.
We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days.
How to apply
Unless otherwise stated in the advert, all applications are completed online via the instructions on The OU Job’s page. Applications submitted via 3rd party websites will not be received.
Access details for disabled applicants are available from the Resourcing Hub, telephone: 01908 655544, quoting the vacancy reference above.
To apply for this role please submit the following as one document;
- CV
- Personal statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.
Please save your document with the following file name as appropriate to the vacancy you are applying for: reference, surname, forename.
You will need to have your documents ready ahead of submitting the electronic application. Please click on the APPLY NOW button below to be redirected to our application page.
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You can view your application communications on the Candidate portal.
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