News

Job Opportunity: Theory Tutor Major Spatial Design

Fri 23 Apr

The Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (WdKA/RUAS), offers a variety of bachelor and master programs in the field of visual culture, art, design, education in arts, and leisure management.

The Majors (of which Spatial Design is one) are the entry point of study for all Bachelor students. The curriculum of the WdKA is unique because of its interdisciplinary ethos. Students from all majors meet each other in the Practices in the second half of the Bachelor programs - the Practices are interdisciplinary research contexts. Together with the highly unique Stations (advanced workspaces) the Majors and Practices form the three pillars of the WdKA’s curriculum.

 

At the moment we are looking for:

Theory Tutor Major Spatial Design (0.2-0.4 fte)

Deadline for applications: May 15, 2021

About Spatial Design

Our vision is to educate for a world in which Spatial Design, as both a method of critical thinking and creative exploration, is valued for its capacity to enhance human experience and understanding and improve local environmental conditions with a global awareness.

In our major projects, we address future spatial challenges in a post corona societal context. We pose questions that approach history, technology and practice with an open and critical mind; and difficult questions that provoke and imagine ideas described through speculative projects in design and text.

The Major Spatial Design at Willem de Kooning Academy considers the urban environment as well as indoor and outdoor spaces on a small and large scale. It is a discipline that creatively combines cultural and artistic awareness, social engagement, and technical insight. The curriculum is focused on the elements and principles of 3D outdoor and indoor design. We anticipate on the speed of actual social and economic developments by frequently updating our projects, and we are implementing new techniques that influence spatial design .

We stimulate our students to develop their collaborative talents and creative skills, with a cross over mindset.

Theory education

The role of Theory in the curriculum is to educate students in the key concepts of architectural/ urban planning theory, art theories and theories of design in general.  This involves actualizing and making these useful as inspiration and reflection on the issues of the Majors and Practices, which means making a number of interfaces with other theoretical disciplines.

Tutor

The Major Spatial  Design is hiring a theory tutor for 0,2 – 0,4 fte for theory lessons in architecture, urban design, interior design and related theories of design, woven in the projects taught in the curriculum. We are looking for an architecture theoretician who is excited about addressing these notions of theory in the context of project-based education. A tutor who wants to grow as an educator and has the ability to work collaboratively, as all of our education is team-based. As an academy we are also exploring the possibilities of blended learning, combining online- and in real life teaching. A tutor joining the WdKA must share an interest in exploring these ideas.

Duties will include

  • Teaching, as a part of a team, in mainly 2nd year courses.
  • Participating in the development of curriculum for the program.
  • Participating in assessments, both in the context of classes you are teaching and in stand-alone assessment moments such as annual competence-based assessments.
  • Responding with flexibility to a workload that varies over the course of the academic year.

Requirements

  • A degree in Architecture theory and affinity with global and local developments in that field.
  • An interest in engaging with recent developments in the discourse of architecture- and design theory such as de-centering the knowledge base, expanding on the critical understanding of designed space and exploring speculative positions.
  • An interest in project-based education and a willingness to participate in team teaching;
  • Creative teaching activities that ignite engagement with theory as a relevant component of the design process.
  • Provides stimulation of the independent learning ability and creates an attractive working atmosphere.
  • Finds out whether the offered study material is contained by the students and responds to this.
  • Can communicate well and listen to students and colleagues.
  • EU/ECC work authorization.
  • An excellent command of verbal and written English.
  • Familiarity and an ability to engage with design communities in Rotterdam is a major asset.

Conditions

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences offers a temporary contract, from September 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, with the possibility for extension into a permanent contract. The salary ranges from €2,845.48 to €4,307.66 gross per month (salary scale 10) for a full-time employment, exclusive of additional 8% holiday pay and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Secondary benefits include professional training opportunities and an attractive pension scheme.

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.

Informal enquiries about the position or the selection procedure can be directed to Harm Scholtens, Course Leader Major Spatial Design h.scholtens@hr.nl.

Deadline for applications: 15 May 2021, Apply here.