Lecturer, ASPIRE

Learning Transformation
Ayr / Dumfries / Lanarkshire / Paisley Campus

Lecturer, ASPIRE – REQ001810
AC3: £46,047 to £51,805 per annum, pro rata
Up to 3 posts (minimum contract 0.5 FTE) – 3 FTE across multiple subjects
1-year, fixed term

THE POST – Lecturer, ASPIRE
Learning Transformation has a number of vacancies for a range of one-year fixed term, Lecturer, ASPIRE posts across multiple subjects. 

Aspire is a new University wide initiative that prepares students to make the most of their experience at UWS through engagement with a series of modules deigned to support their academic, professional and personal development. Students will have the chance to explore their aspirations for university study and think about how their degree connects to other aspects of their personal and professional life. This module is an opportunity for students to gain confidence developing the skills, knowledge and personal qualities that will prepare them for life and work in the 21st century.

The successful post-holder will be primarily responsible for delivery of the first year of this new Academic, Professional and Personal Development curriculum and suite of modules known as ASPIRE. This role is based in Learning Transformation but will include working with the Schools and across the portfolio of Learning, Teaching and Students to deliver a positive and transformative student experience through ASPIRE.

Learning Transformation is a dedicated team comprising academics, learning designers and digital learning technologists, sitting within the Office of the Vice Principal Learning, Teaching and Students. You will join us as we strive to continuously enhance learning, teaching and curriculum at UWS, in turn inspiring our students and wider University community and, through modern teaching and impactful research, continue to deliver innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges.

This post is focused on supporting the delivery of a key ambition within the UWS Curriculum Framework – the development and implementation of a new suite of modules supporting Academic, Professional and Personal development and supporting our UWS graduates as world-ready and with developed meta-skills related to their ambitions, needs and interests. 

Teaching within ASPIRE includes regular meetings with students on both a group and one-to-one basis, utilising coaching approaches within disciplinary focused contexts to consider academic, professional, and personal development. The role holder is allocated to students within specific subject areas and will be required to have relevant subject specific expertise and broad awareness of relevant professional contexts. The ASPIRE modules are fundamental to building a supportive, encouraging and inspirational context for student-led learning, and comprise part of the Personal Tutoring System within the student support model at UWS. The post is an exciting career development opportunity for a student-centred higher education professional interested to teach and be part of the implementation of a flagship curriculum within the University. 

We require lecturers with expertise in the following subject areas:

• Business and Creative Industries (including Business, Event Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Broadcast Production: TV and Radio, Commercial Music, Filmmaking and Screenwriting, Performance)
• Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences (including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Forensic Science)
• Education and Social Sciences (including Criminal Justice, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Social Sciences)

It is expected that a minimum of one appointment will be made in each subject area to a minimum of 0.5 FTE (17.5hr per week) with the exact distribution of vacancies dependent on the expertise of the successful and appointable candidates.

The successful candidate should have the following:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a subject area within at least one of the subject areas listed above
• Postgraduate qualification.
• Experience of teaching, assessment and/or supporting students in Higher Education.
• Experience of facilitating one-to-one and/or group sessions with Higher Education students.
• Developed approaches to engaging and interacting with students in both online and on-campus sessions. 
• Effective facilitation skills centred around coaching approaches and creating and nurturing professional and student relationships through effective feedback channels.
• Commitment to delivering high quality teaching and supporting an outstanding student experience.

ABOUT US

UWS was named Higher Educational Institution of the Year in The Herald Higher Education Awards 2022 and is officially ranked by Times Higher Education in the top 600 universities worldwide (2022 World University Rankings) as well as in the top 150 universities worldwide under 50 years old (2022 Young University Rankings). University of the West of Scotland is one of Scotland’s largest and most dynamic modern universities. Our reach across the country, together with our London campus, means that UWS is a significant force in global knowledge creation, innovation, and a leading provider of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree education. Our degrees provide students with a transformational experience; equipping them with highly sought-after graduate skills that set them up for global success in world-leading sectors, industries and businesses. 

With cutting-edge courses, modern pedagogy and practical knowledge, we enable our students and staff to experience the joy of learning, teaching, research and innovation, and apply their knowledge for the benefit of others.
We offer our staff a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes: 

• 35 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays
• 23% employer’s pension contribution, including death in service benefits on joining the pension scheme
• A flexible approach to working pattern and work-life balance
• Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
• Fitness facilities across our campuses
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme 
• Professional, career and research development opportunities.

Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Ruth Whitney, Senior Lecturer, Academic, Professional and Personal Development: [email protected]  

Further information, including details of how to apply are available at https://jobs.uws.ac.uk/

Closing Date: Monday 17th October 2022
Interview Date: w/c 31st October 2022     

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.
UWS is a “Disability Confident” employer.
University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520.