The Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (WdKA/RUAS), offers a variety of bachelor and master programmes in the field of visual culture, art, design, education in arts, and leisure management.
At the moment we are looking for:
Commercial Practices Teacher
Teaching Position Commercial Practices Willem de Kooning Academy (0.2 fte with the possibility for extension).
The candidates would be required to prepare the course in November and start teaching in February 2021.
The Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (WdKA/RUAS), offers a variety of bachelor and master programmes in the field of visual culture, art, design, education in arts, and leisure management.
The curriculum of the Willem de Kooning Academy is founded in an interdisciplinary ethos through the Autonomous, Social and Commercial Practices. The Majors are the entry point of study for all Bachelor students; the Practices the interdisciplinary research contexts in the second half of the Bachelor programs; and the highly unique Stations (advanced workshops focused on Research through Making) complete the three pillars of the institute.
About the Commercial Practices
The Commercial Practices is one of three interdisciplinary graduation profiles at the Willem de Kooning Academy, which welcomes students from all majors currently offered at the academy including Fashion, Audiovisual Design, Fine Art and more.
The Commercial Practices cluster believes that by doing research and through creation, artist and designers are not only able to generate value for the world that is, but also for the one that could be. By combining imagination, creativity, research and strategic thinking we are convinced that together with industries and stakeholders, we can pro-actively help to shape and contribute to environmental challenges for more desirable futures and continuously question the values by which it thrives.
Our Commercial Practices students are encouraged to develop a convincing and thoroughly researched vision of what the future could be and become aware of its implications for society at large. Commercial Practitioners critically question the status quo and by doing so explore and build upon ideas that reach far beyond existing human (often Western) centred consumer behaviour and demand.
We are looking for research and design practitioners and theorists that are involved in the areas of emerging technologies, new materiality, human agency and system and process design.
Position
Within the Commercial Practices team, you will primarily participate in the Practice 1 programme, an interdisciplinary programme focused on the introduction to the Practices. It is possible this position will be extended to other parts of the program in the higher years.
Your main tasks will include:
- Developing and executing a full project plan with the Commercial Practices 1 team.
- Participating in the development of the Commercial Practices curriculum and positioning with other faculty members during Drive and Development Weeks—the stipulated periods for general staff organisation throughout the year.
- Responding with the flexibility to a workload that varies over the course of the academic year.
- Reporting to the Commercial Practices coordinator and Educational Managers for guidance and feedback.
- Organising resits and guiding students during Plus Weeks—mandatory self-directed study periods at the end of each term.
Additional tasks:
- Realising integrated Competency Assessments for 3rd or 4th-year students.
- Participating in para-curricular events such as Open Day, Graduation Show etc.
- Co-organising extra-curricular activates and/or public events with students and colleagues from the Commercial Practices.
Courses:
- Practice 1: FEB-APRIL
P1 (Practice 1) is a 7-week program in which students are introduced to all three practices (commercial, autonomous and social), giving students a first feel of the different work created within the practices. Students follow three two-week workshops, one from each of the practices, followed by a final ‘positioning’ week. These workshops are intended as a first introduction and an invitation for students to start exploring their artistic attitude in the context of the practices.
You will co-develop a project plan with your course team (3 teachers) for the Commercial Practices. The P1 teacher teams work collaboratively with the stations on a set assignment that responds to the context of an external partner organization.
The goal of this term is for students to get a basic understanding of the basic concepts that define all three practices. In specific, for a Commercial Practitioner, it is essential to become future conscious. - Practice 2: APRIL - JULY
P2 (Practice 2) is an 8-week program in which students start to work with the specific research methods as applied to the specific context of the Commercial Practices. Students follow 2 four-week workshops, within two different chosen Practices.
These workshops are intended as a first introduction into the research methods and possible contexts connected to the specific focus areas of the Practices. It is an invitation for students to start using these methods and challenge themselves to create new work within the applied context of specific research areas of the Commercial Practices. The second year of the Commercial Practices focus on storytelling and exploring new narratives that are transforming the market context of new economies, new industries and new audiences. You will co-develop a project plan with your course team (3 teachers) for the Commercial Practices. The P2 teacher teams work collaboratively with the stations.
The aim of this term is for students to better their personal positioning in relation to the focus area within the Practices, in preparation for the choice, students will have to make in the third year.
Your Profile:
We warmly welcome applicants from underrepresented, minority, or non-conforming communities. Our staff is diverse, not just in terms of practice profiles but also in terms of culture, gender, and ethnicity.
We are aware that you might not have experience in all domains below. If this is the case, please specify in which areas you would need to further develop yourself.
We are looking for a practitioner:
- who is able to work in in a hybrid learning environment
- who has an intrinsic motivation to contribute to the innovation of education and the profile of students in Commercial Practices
- who is engaged in working and researching the interdisciplinary field of art and design in the areas of emerging technologies, new materiality, human agency and system and process design
- who is critically and actively engaged in connecting work to audiences, users and stakeholders
- who is able to translate new and abstract perspectives to more concrete art and design practices
- who is able to create a learning environment in collaboration with industries/stakeholders
- who is a motivator and a team player (pro-active pedagogical contribution)
- who is caring towards students
- who is open to building teaching communities
- whose practice is both based in material (digital and/or physical) as well as critical research
- who is well self-organised, communicative and has interpersonal skills, also in the frame of a large organisation
Requirements:
- Bachelor/master-level degree in a relevant program in the creative/cultural fields or demonstrable work experience that provides the equivalence
- Commitment to developing new forms of art and design education, and a desire to work with students across the bachelor program
- Experience working in the cultural sector or related fields
- Experience with teaching (formally or informally) with a focus on transformative and experimental pedagogies
- Commitment to developing new forms of art and design education, and a desire to work with students across bachelor programs;
- Interest in project-based education and a willingness to participate in team teaching
- An active network in Rotterdam to situate our curriculum (cultural, commercial, non-profit, governmental) in a wider field of stakeholders, or be willing to cultivate it
- EU/ECC work authorisation
- Excellent command of verbal and written English (knowledge of Dutch is a plus)
Our Offer:
Contract depends on time-commitment and tasks, the starting point is 0.2 FTE, the number of FTEs may be higher depending on the number of students.
The Willem de Kooning Academy/Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool Rotterdam) offers you a temporary contract as a teacher. The salary range is HBO-CAO scale 10 or 11 (€ 2.845,- minimum and € 5.000,- maximum per month for full-time employment), exclusive of 8% holiday pay and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
All staff members of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences must be able to submit a Certificate of Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag, VOG) issued by the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security.
Perks. WdKA likes to invest in motivated and well-trained employees. Working at WdKA means that you can use time and facilities (via unlimited access to our Stations) for professionalisation.
To further your pedagogical development, you will be asked to participate in training sessions as required, such as Quick-Start training, Competency Assessment training and/or acquiring a BKE certification.
You may avail of a Hogeschool Rotterdam discount on your healthcare and participate in a solid pension scheme.
Caveats. Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences works with a limited travel reimbursement (maximum of 20 km).
Application Procedure:
- CV
- Letter of motivation
- Portfolio
All documents should be written in English. Please use the online application form.
The selection procedure will take place in two phases. A shortlist of applicants will be drawn based on CV, letter of motivation and portfolio, followed by interviews.
Additional Information
Informal enquiries about the position of the selection procedure can be directed to Kirsten Eerland, coordinator of Commercial Practices (k.eerland@hr.nl).
Deadline for applications: October 8, 2020. Please use the online application form.
Please do not use this vacancy as an acquisition opportunity.
