Description

The Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta invites applications for the position of Director, Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching and Research (PTJC) at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. The successful candidate will take up a tenured appointment in an appropriate Department within the Faculty of Arts and assume the role of Director of PTJC for a three to five-year, potentially renewable term.

Inaugurated in 1996 under the name of the Centre for the Teaching of Japanese Language and Culture (Japan Centre), the centre was renamed The Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching and Research in 2004 to commemorate His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado, who was a great admirer of Canadian post-secondary education. The PTJC is the managing body of the Prince Takamado Japan Canada Memorial Fund, which honours the memory and legacy of Prince Takamado.

The PTJC mandate includes:

• Providing opportunities for interdisciplinary study and research which promotes Japan Studies, including language, culture, politics, history, business, technology and science
• Strengthening research which situates Japan in a global, transnational or comparative context
• Becoming the focus of a network of expertise in these areas in Canada

The PTJC offers and provides support for a variety of programs designed to enhance student learning of Japanese language and culture at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including:

• Japanese Language Speech Contests
• Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
• Student exchange programs, such as the Kakehashi Project and Ritsumeikan Summer Japanese Program
• JACOS/JAPEX Scholarships in Engineering
• Film screenings

The centre fosters faculty and student research through such offerings as:

• PTJC Seed Grant Program
• Public lectures and webinars
• Conferences and symposia
• Princess Takamado Essay Contest

The PTJC works closely with such partners as the Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary; the Japan Foundation, Toronto; the Canadian Association for Japanese Language Education (CAJLE); and local and national Japanese community associations.

The successful candidate will:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in relevant field(s) (e.g. Asian Studies, Cultural Studies, Fine Arts, History, Women’s Studies, etc.)
• Be at a career stage favourable for appointment or promotion to Associate or Full Professor rank
• Demonstrate breadth of experience with Japanese studies and preferably other related areas of interdisciplinarity having to do with gender, race, history, culture, media, or digital scholarship
• Possess capacity to contribute to teaching in a relevant department
• Have record of research excellence in relevant field(s) of scholarship
• Have a strong record of service
• Be fluent in Japanese language
• Demonstrate capacity for strategic thinking and collegial leadership in a team environment
• Have experience with community outreach, including fundraising
• Demonstrate administrative and academic leadership skills, including providing leadership in organizing events and conferences, financial planning and human resources
• Have experience dealing with academic and partner institutions in Canada and Japan
• Be willing to take an active part in the life of the University of Alberta community

Working at the University of Alberta 

The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Arts has 285 faculty members and more than 750 graduate students working in 16 departments and programs and 15 research centres and institutes. The Faculty of Arts boasts diverse interdisciplinary research expertise and supports many outstanding and internationally recognized individual and collaborative research projects.

Edmonton and the University of Alberta are situated on Treaty 6 territory, the homeland of the Métis, and the traditional meeting ground and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Dene, and Nakota Sioux. Established in 1908 as a board-governed, public institution, the University of Alberta has earned the reputation of being one of the best universities in Canada based on strengths in teaching, research and service. Edmonton, a city of nearly 1.5 million people, is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in Canada and has the second largest Indigenous population and the fourth largest Black population of any Canadian city. Nearly 10% of Edmonton's population is of South Asian origin and 16% of East and Southeast Asian origin. The city offers the benefits of an urban lifestyle combined with high-quality schools, varied restaurants, excellent theatre, year-round festivals, reliable public transportation, and ample recreation opportunities.

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications in accordance with the Faculty Agreement as per the negotiated salary scale. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, which can be viewed at https://www.ualberta.ca/faculty-and-staff.

How to apply

To apply, please select the Apply Online icon below and submit the following:  

• a detailed cover letter that includes:a curriculum vitae (CV), including the names/titles of three referees who could be asked to submit confidential letters of reference (please note that we are not requesting letters of reference in the initial application)
  • highlights of the candidate’s career and qualifications
  • a statement regarding their interest in this position
• a two-page research statement that outlines the applicant’s main areas of current and future research (Submit under “Research Plan”)
• a one-page statement of teaching philosophy. Please note that a teaching dossier may be requested at the next stage of candidacy. (Submit as an attachment under “Statement of Teaching/Research Interests”)

Questions about the director position can be addressed to the attention of Dr Marie Carriere, Vice Dean (Research) via carriere@ualberta.ca, using “PTJC Director position” as the email’s subject. 

Review of applications will begin on October 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

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