FACULTY OF NATURAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, EXTENSION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSOR / ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR / SENIOR LECTURER (NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS) (ONE POSITION)
In pursuit of the ideals of excellence and diversity, the University of Pretoria wishes to invite applications for the above vacancy.
The University of Pretoria's commitment to quality makes us one of the top research Universities in the country and gives us a competitive advantage in international science and technology development.
BACKGROUND:
The University of Pretoria is seeking a dynamic natural resources and environmental economist to join our team. The successful candidate will actively support and contribute to the commitment of the University of Pretoria’s vision to become a leading research university in Africa. The candidate will be responsible for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students in natural resources and environmental economics, supervising postgraduate students and establishing a research programme on an area related to natural resources and environmental economics in line with the Department’s and Faculty’s strategic direction.
The Department offers top-quality training in its undergraduate (Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management), Honours (Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, and Agricultural Economics), Master's (Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, and Environmental Economics), and PhD (Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Environmental Economics and Rural Development) Programmes. Our sought-after postgraduate programme in Agricultural Economics has been host to the Collaborative Masters in Agriculture and Applied Economics (CMAAE) for over 15 years, training over 1500 students from across Africa through the African Economic Research Consortium. Our research programmes address practical, relevant and multi-disciplinary/sectoral problems and provide scientific, evidence-based research for policy/strategy aimed at improving incomes, food security and livelihoods for households/farmers and furthering the development of the African continent.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The incumbent will be responsible for:
- Teaching in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes;
- Teaching postgraduate modules, like applied econometrics, applied microeconomics, environmental and natural resource economics related modules;
- Supervision of Honours, Masters and PhD students in fields relevant to agricultural economics, econometrics, environmental and natural resources economics;
- Supervising 4th-year agricultural/environmental economics research projects
- Conducting research and publishing articles in leading accredited journals in the relevant fields;
- Raising funds to support existing or developing new research in the relevant fields;
- Community engagement;
- Academic administration.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Senior Lecturer:
- Appropriate Masters and Doctoral degrees in Environmental and Natural Resources Economics, Agricultural Economics, or relevant field;
- At least five (5) years teaching and research experience in fields relevant to micro/macroeconomics and/or environmental/natural resource economics;
- At least ten (10) publications in accredited journals relevant to the above fields;
- Evidence of successful supervision/co-supervision of Masters students or the mentoring of staff;
- Evidence of community engagement;
- Evidence of project leadership and raising project funding.
Associate Professor (same as for Senior Lecturer, PLUS):
- Three (3) more years’ relevant tertiary teaching and curriculum development experience in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics;
- Academic status and at least national recognition;
- A proven research and publication track record as evidenced by publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals in respected accredited journals in agricultural/environmental/natural resources economics;
- A proven track record of the successful supervision of Masters and PhD agricultural/natural resources and environmental economics students;
- A proven track record of international research collaboration, project leadership and successful acquisition of external research grants.
Professor (same as for Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer, PLUS):
- Proven graduation record of PhD students;
- Two (2) more years’ teaching and research experience;
- A well-established and internationally recognised research record;
- Evidence of designing and implementing own curriculum content;
- Evidence of successful acquisition of external research funds beyond own project funding.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):
- Research and teaching experience in quantitative methods in environmental economics, namely, Environmental Valuation and Policy, Advanced topics in environmental economics, behavioural economics, macroeconomic modelling, and partial equilibrium modelling;
- Teamwork and communication skills;
- Good interpersonal skills;
- Skilled at managing diversity;
- The ability to lead research and teaching programmes;
- Capacity to raise funds.
ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:
- Active engagement with the appropriate environmental/agricultural sector and policy- making environment in South Africa and Africa at large;
- Appropriate NRF rating or equivalent.
- Experience and skills in advanced statistical analysis with recognised international statistical packages like Stata, R-programming, etc.;
- Able to demonstrate innovation in teaching, experience in blended/hybrid learning delivery and the use of technology for improving learner throughput;
- Able to demonstrate innovation and present new ideas on how to expand research capacity in the relevant field.
- Evidence of active participation in a network of researchers in Africa and/or international.
The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbent’s level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium.
Applicants are requested to apply online at www.up.ac.za, and follow the link: Careers@UP. In applying for these posts, please attach:
-
- A comprehensive UP format CV;
- Certified copies of qualifications;
- Names, e-mail addresses and telephone details of three referees whom we have permission to contact;
- Names and contact details of three peer reviewers (academic and research);
- Teaching Portfolio;
- Self-evaluation;
- Your career vision for the following 5 – 8 years.
CLOSING DATE: 15 December 2024
No application will be considered after the closing date, or if it does not comply with at least the minimum requirements.
ENQUIRIES:
Ms A Hlatshwayo, Email: art.hlatshwayo@up.ac.za for application-related enquiries, and Prof Zegeye, Tel: (012) 420 3251 for enquiries relating to the post content.
Should you not hear from the University of Pretoria by 28 February 2025, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.
The University of Pretoria is committed to equality, employment equity and diversity.
In accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited to candidates from under- represented designated groups.
All candidates who comply with the requirements for appointment are invited to apply. All candidates agree to undergo verification of personal credentials.
By applying for this vacancy, the candidates consent to undergo verification of personal credentials and related information including, but not limited to, qualifications, criminal record, credit record, current and historic disciplinary proceedings as part of the selection process.
The University of Pretoria reserves the right to not fill the advertised positions.