UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ
Faculty of Humanities
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Professorship in Organizational Communication and Public Relations
Department of Communication
The position is located at the Department of Communication within the Faculty of Humanities. The Department houses four disciplines: Organizational Communication and Public Relations, Speech Communication, Journalism, and Intercultural Communication. The aim of the Department is to offer high quality academic education on the B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. level and to conduct internationally recognized research on communication.
The research and education activities focus on the following areas: Media and Communication in Social Processes of Change; Human Interaction, Communication and Culture; Communication and Well-Being in Work and Learning Environments. The Department’s teaching and research staff consists of seven professors and nine other teachers and researchers. In addition, the Department has 10–12 temporary researchers. The number of students with Communication as their main subject is approx. 550 and the annual intake of students is 85. The number of doctoral students is 80.
Organizational Communication and Public Relations analyzes communication in multi-stakeholder networks, between organizations and various stakeholder groups. This includes interaction within organizations (in internal networks) as well as interaction with the external environment (in external networks). Key topics are strategic communication, theory of public relations, internal communication and change, issues management, media relations, and marketing communication.
In 2012, there is one professor, two university lecturers, a university teacher and four project researchers in Organizational Communication and PR. The number of students on the B.A. and M.A. level is about 150 and the doctoral level 26.
A Professorship in Organizational Communication and Public Relations based on a contract of employment to be filled as of August 1, 2013, in effect until further notice.
According to § 33 of the Universities Act, the professor shall carry out and supervise scientific research or artistic work, provide instruction based on such work and follow developments in science or art, as well as participate in societal interaction and international cooperation in his or her field.
According to § 67 of the University of Jyväskylä Regulations, members of the teaching and research staff are obliged, within their respective job descriptions and work plan, to conduct and supervise scientific research, follow the developments in their respective disciplines, examine theses and dissertations, teach and enhance teaching practices, provide study counseling, carry out relevant examinations, take part in the student selection process, as well as attend to tasks ensuing from memberships in the administrative bodies of the University and to other tasks counted as part of their work or assigned to them. In addition, they are to provide the necessary reports concerning their teaching and supervising activities, publications and scientific activity in general, and the examinations belonging to their sphere of responsibilities.
The professorship is associated with two of the University’s strategic core areas, Languages, Culture and Social Change and Human Technology and all three core areas – Media and Communication in Social Processes of Change, Human Interaction, Communication and Culture and Communication and Well-Being in Work and Learning Environments – in the research of the Department of Communication.
Organizations function in dynamic, multi-stakeholder networks. Key areas of research in Organizational Communication and PR are: Monitoring and perception management; Communication and management; Innovation and change.
The professor is expected to conduct research and provide instruction on organizational communication and PR, and must have a profound knowledge of the discipline. The professor is expected to conduct and develop research within the Department’s focus areas, which presupposes applying for supplementary research funding. The duties also include developing interdisciplinary research and education in accordance with the strategic objectives of both the Department and the University of Jyväskylä. The professor is expected to cooperate closely with the other disciplines of the Department. The professor is also expected to participate in the administration of the Department.
The emphasis in the work of the professor is on active research, and launching and implementing of research projects, as well as participation in joint international research and teaching activities. In addition, the tasks include supervision of doctoral dissertations and Master's theses as well as providing instruction to basic degree levels and postgraduate level students.
In accordance with Section 57 of the University of Jyväskylä Regulations, a professor is required to have a doctoral degree, solid scientific competence, experience in leading research projects, ability to provide research-based teaching and supervising of high quality, as well as proven experience in international research cooperation in his/her field. Practical familiarity in the sphere of duties is not required.
The applicant’s merits are assessed on the basis of scientific publications, other scientific research results, experience in teaching and supervising, as well as pedagogical training, production of textbooks and other teaching materials, other indications of skills achieved in education, and if necessary, teaching ability as shown by trial lectures.
In addition to this, the applicant’s activeness in the scientific community, success in acquiring complementary research funding, as well as involvement in international scientific work and international positions of trust will also be considered.
In accordance with Section 65 of the University of Jyväskylä Regulations, a professor is required to complete studies in university pedagogy or equivalent within two years of the beginning of the employment contract, unless studies have already been completed by the time of appointment.
According to Section 1 of the Government Decree on Universities (770/2009), which defines the language proficiency requirements for university teaching and research positions in Finland, a full command of the teaching language, Finnish, is required. When considered appropriate, the university can grant exemption from the language proficiency requirements. The teaching languages in the professorship Organizational Communication and PR are Finnish and English. A good command of English is required and a proficiency to teach in English will be considered an additional qualification. For non-Finnish applicants proficiency in Finnish is not mandatory.
The professor’s job-specific salary component is based on the job demands levels 8 - 11 (4543,23 €/month – 6703,08 €/month) according to the salary system concerning teaching and research staff at universities. In addition, a personal performance-based salary component amounting to the maximum of 46,3% of the job-specific salary component is also paid.
The application form is available at the University webpage www.jyu.fi/en and the appointment procedure on the Faculty webpage www.jyu.fi/hum/en or freely ordered from the registry office of the University, by calling +358(0)408053473.
The appointment procedure for filling the vacant professorship provides more information on the duties involved and on the ways of meeting the qualification requirements, as well as on the application and appointment procedure itself.
The application shall include in pdf format (name of the applicant must be included):
Brief (2 - 3 pages each) written accounts on the following:
- Scientific merits and activities connected with managing and supervising research work, acquiring research funding, leading positions in research projects, supervision and final examination of doctoral dissertations, and instruction of doctoral students;
- Pedagogical training and teaching merits;
- Activities in the field of societal interaction, and international activities;
- An account of how the candidate plans to develop the domain in relation to the University’s three basic tasks (research, teaching, and societal interaction) in Jyväskylä.
In addition, the following documents:
- A copy of the CV
- List of publications drawn up according to the regulations of the Academy of Finland covering all the scientific and other publications with which the candidate wishes to demonstrate his or her eligibility and merits for the post.
The list of publications shall include the following information (with a number of pages for each):
A. Peer-reviewed scientific articles
B. Non-refereed scientific articles
C. Scientific books (monographs)
D. Publications intended for professional communities
E. Publications intended for the general public, linked to the applicant’s research
F. Public artistic and design activities
G. Theses
H. Patents and invention disclosure
I. Audiovisual material; ICT software.
For each publication, give a complete literature reference, indicating the authors and the title of the article or publication as well as the publisher (see http://www.aka.fi/en-GB/A/For-researchers/How-to-apply/Appendices/List-of-publications/).
- A maximum of 10 publications, numbered in accordance with the above list.
For additional information, please contact Dean Petri Karonen (mobile +358 (0) 400247388, email petri.k.karonen@jyu.fi), or Director of the Department of Communication Pertti Hurme (mobile +358 (0) 505471612, email pertti.hurme.@jyu.fi).
The applicants are kindly asked to make their applications by using the electronic form on page http://r.jyu.fi/3AX3. Applications and their attachments for the post can also be addressed to the University of Jyväskylä and delivered to the University Registry Office, Seminaarinkatu 15, or mailed to the following address: University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FIN 40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The closing date for the applications is 21 January, 2013 at 16.15. Applications will not be returned to the applicant.