The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a vibrant, diverse and dynamic university rooted in the African continent with an increasing global reach. Led by its commitment to research and engaged teaching, UWC is recognised for its proud history and as an aspirational example of a university shaping developments within an ever-changing and challenging global context.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences hosts nine academic departments, a School of Pharmacy and several world-class research institutes and centres. Based on a foundation of internationally-recognised quality research, the faculty is committed to learning and teaching excellence and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the major scientific disciplines as well as a professional degree in Pharmacy.

The Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at UWC is advertising two posts at Lecturer / Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor level. The department has a strong track record in Teaching, Postgraduate Programmes and Research excellence in the fields of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The department hosts a SARChI Research Chair in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence, as well as the Telkom/Openserve Centre-of-Excellence in Smart Technologies for the 4IR.  Some of the fields of research currently undertaken in the department include:

• Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity Policies, Cybersecurity Protocols, Cybersecurity Platforms and Cybersecurity Architectures.
• Internet-of-Things (IoT): Static, Mobile and Airborne IoT networks
• Data Science: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Assistive Technologies and Big Data Analytics
• Data Engineering: Cloud/Fog Computing, High Performance Computing (HPC) and Big Data Technologies
• Immersive Technologies: Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR)
• Knowledge Representation: Ontology Engineering, and

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following key responsibility areas:

• Facilitate learning and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the Computer Science department
• Conduct research and publish in one or more fields of 4IR
• Undertake undergraduate and postgraduate supervision
• Undertake curriculum development and assessment
• Undertake community engagement and outreach
• Provide academic leadership
• Secure funding or third-stream income
• Perform management tasks as required by the department

Minimum Requirements for the post of Associate Professor:

• A PhD in Computer Science or in Computer/Electronic Engineering, and an MSc in Computer Science or in Computer/Electronic Engineering or similar qualification.
• Experience in developing and teaching core undergraduate and postgraduate Computer Science courses.
• A track record of producing quality peer-reviewed DHET-accredited publications in journals and conferences proceedings, and research in one or more of the 4IR fields.
• Successful postgraduate research supervision to completion at all the levels.
• Evidence of national standing in Computer Science.
• Evidence of leadership experience.
• Evidence of the ability to engage and collaborate with peers and colleagues.
• Involvement with professional and academic associations.
• Evidence of secured research funding.

Added advantages for the appointment at Associate Professor:

• Evidence of community engagement with learning and teaching and/or research.
• An NRF rating.

Minimum Requirements for the post of Senior Lecturer:

• A PhD in Computer Science or in Computer/Electronic Engineering, and an MSc in Computer Science or in Computer/Electronic Engineering or similar qualification.
• Experience in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate Computer Science courses.
• A track record of producing quality peer-reviewed DHET-accredited publications in journals and conferences proceedings, and research in one or more of the 4IR fields.
• Successful postgraduate supervision at the Honours and Masters level.
• Evidence of initiating community engagement activity integrated with learning and teaching and/or research.

Added advantages for the appointment at Senior Lecturer level:

• Evidence of secured research funding.
• Successful postgraduate research supervision or co-supervision at PhD level.
• An NRF rating.
• Involvement with professional and academic associations.

Minimum Requirements for the post of Lecturer:

• MSc in Computer Science or Computer/Electronic Engineering and registered for a PhD in Computer Science or in Computer/Electronic Engineering, with a clear plan for completion.
• Experience in teaching undergraduate and/or postgraduate Computer Science courses.
• Successful postgraduate research supervision at Honours level.
• A clear career development plan in at least one or more of the 4IR fields.
• Evidence of community engagement with learning and teaching and/or research

Added advantage at all levels:

• Evidence of a strong technical background in, and knowledge of, physical-level hardware, robotics, embedded devices and systems, and/or Computer and systems’ architecture.

Required competencies: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Adaptability and the ability to operate in a diverse environment
• Student focused approach
• Coaching and mentoring skills
• Planning and organising skills
• Computer literacy and e-learning skills
• Technical professional knowledge and skills in the discipline and in the core strategic areas, namely learning and teaching, research and scholarship, community engagement as well as professional leadership