Faculty of Education
Department of Curriculum Studies and Higher Education
Bloemfontein Campus
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Digital Transformation for Teaching and Learning in Education (1-year contract, renewable up to 3 years)
Job ID: 6645

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates and motivated researchers for a postdoctoral fellowship under the supervision of Prof Thuthukile Jita in the Department of Curriculum Studies and Higher Education located in the Faculty of Education.
Applicants interested in pursuing an academic career on a transnational research project investigating digital transformation in teaching and learning across different educational sectors are strongly encouraged to apply. The project focuses on the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning and their implications for schools, teachers, learners, lecturers and students, as well as institutional practices and educational development more broadly.
The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience in research, innovation, and community service at a higher education institution under the mentorship of established researchers. Candidates with proven research expertise in design, collection, and analysis of quantitative data and mixed-research data will have an added advantage. Candidates with expertise in the application of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) are preferred. The successful candidate will be required to conduct innovative research and obtain evidence-based empirical data on curriculum innovations and innovative instructional strategies, including the use of educational technologies in schools and preservice teacher preparation. Experience in postgraduate supervision will be an added advantage.
The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants' academic achievements, research outputs and potentials, as well as the relevance of his/her prior experience and expertise. The fellowship is available for a period of one year, renewable for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance. The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and the submission of an annual progress report.

Duties and responsibilities:
• Conduct innovative research in the following areas: Technology integration, Digital transformation in education, Curriculum innovation, curriculum implementation and digital pedagogy; Digital literacy and the development of digital competencies.
• Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET– accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books.
• Do limited co-teaching in the Teacher Education and Teaching Practice programmes, where appropriate.
• Provide limited supervision and/or co-supervision at Honours, Master’s and/or Doctoral level where appropriate.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the School of Postgraduate Studies and the Directorate of Research.
• Conduct innovative research and obtain evidence- based empirical data on current educational developments in schools associated with the Faculty of Education.
• Prepare and present papers during seminars and other research events.
• Contribute to collaborative research, project reporting and dissemination activities.
• Support the development of future research proposals and sustainable research partnerships.

Eligibility Criteria:
• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Graduated with a PhD degree in Education with specialisation in the use of Information and Communication and Technology (ICT), or a related field, preferably in Curriculum Studies, Higher Education, Educational Technology, Digital Learning or a cognate discipline within the last five years.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship. The successful applicant is required to spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Value of the fellowship:
• R 270,000 annual fellowship.
• R 30,000 additional research expenses fund.

Application:
To apply, please email the following documentation by 31 January 2027 to Mrs Kenosi Mocwana at mocwanakv@ufs.ac.za

• Motivation letter detailing postdoctoral research agenda including a 1–2-page outline of relevant expertise and experience.
  • Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers and other scholarly outputs.
  • Full transcripts of academic record and certified copy of doctoral degree certificate.
  • A SAQA Certificate for qualifications obtained outside South Africa.
  • Certified copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of foreign applicants).
  • Contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the candidate.

Closing date:
31 January 2027.

Commencement of fellowship:
01 March 2027.

For enquiries, please contact:

Prof Thuthukile Jita: Email: Jitat@ufs.ac.za

General:

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.
The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.