The Department of Social Service Professions, seated in the Community and Health Sciences Faculty, is committed to excellence in education, practice and research. Currently, the department offers degree programmes for two Social Service Professions (Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 as amended in 1998), namely the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and the Bachelor of Community Development (BCD). Both professions are practice-based and academic disciplines requiring interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and work (International Federation of Social Work & International Association of Schools of Social Work, 2014). As such the BSW and BCD programmes work closely together. The department has a vacant lecturer position in the BSW degree programme. The social work profession values indigenous theories and knowledge, and is therefore context-specific – embracing a bottom-up approach. The mandate of social work is to engage individuals, groups and communities in their natural environment, including those systems, legislation and policies that impact wellbeing. An important feature of the profession is that value is placed on working with rather for people through empowerment to increase hope, self-esteem, and the ability to challenge and address oppression and structural sources of injustices. The work within the department is guided by principles of respect for the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, doing no harm, respect for diversity and upholding human rights and social justice. The successful candidate will be expected to join the programme on 1 January 2027.

The successful candidate will have the following key performance areas and responsibilities:

• Facilitate excellent learning and teaching through lecturing a combination of lectures, seminar courses and workshops, and following a student-centred approach to learning and teaching
• Facilitate and coordinate fieldwork
• Supervise postgraduate students.
• Portray a commitment to high-quality research. 
• Engage in academic administration and leadership (i.e., module and programme specific administration and representation of the Department on committees).
• Engage in the scholarship of social work and contribute to social work practice through publications, presentations, research and community engagement activities.

Minimum Requirements for lecturer position

• A Master’s degree in social work (MSW), with active enrolment in a PhD programme
• Experience in teaching at undergraduate level
• Experience in research supervision on the fourth year-level (Honours)
• A minimum of 1 peer-reviewed or accredited publication
• Evidence of ongoing research
• Five years’ experience in the practice of social work
• Proof of registration at the South African Council for Social Service Professions
• Experience in academic administration
• Evidence of early-stage engagement in academic or professional networks

Added advantages

• Experience in fieldwork placements and/or supervision
• Experience in modern e-learning technologies
• Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, online platforms: Google Meet, Teams, Zoom, etc.)

Required Competencies:

• Client / student service and support
• Building interpersonal relationships
• Teamwork / collaboration
• Conceptual and analytical thinking
• Problem solving
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication
• Planning and organising / work management
• University awareness

Required application materials:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum vitae (indicating academic and practitioner experience as well as minimum of 3 selected fields of expertise)
• List of three references with telephone numbers, addresses as well as email addresses

Enquiries and details regarding this post may be directed to Head of Department, Prof Marichen Van der Westhuizen, email address: mvanderwesthuizen@uwc.ac.za

To be considered for this vacancy, applicants must submit the required materials indicated above via the ‘Apply for this Job’ link below or apply directly via UWC Careers at https://uwc.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll

For any queries, please contact the Human Resources Department at: +27 21 959 4063/9763/9708/3551/3756.

EQUITY DISCLAIMER: In line with the University's commitment to diversifying its workforce, preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with Employment Targets of the University. The University reserves the right to not make an appointment, make an appointment at a different level, seek additional candidates and may conduct competency assessments.

Application closing date: 23 October 2026