FURTHER PARTICULARS

Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies Faculty of Languages and Cultures

Vacancy No: 000545 SOAS The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is one of the colleges of the University of London. The 2008 independent assessment of the quality of research activities in UK universities (the RAE) puts SOAS amongst the top research universities in the country. SOAS is located on the Universitys central campus at Bloomsbury, in the centre of London close to the British Museum, the British Library, the London Business School and other University of London colleges including the London School of Economics. The School was founded in 1916 and is the major European centre for the study of a highly diverse range of subjects concerned with Asia, Africa and the Middle East. SOAS has the largest concentration of specialist staff (more than 300 academics) concerned with the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East at any university in the world. It has well established research programmes, postgraduate programmes, and undergraduate programmes in the social sciences and humanities. These include law, political studies, economics, business and management studies, finance, anthropology and sociology, art and archaeology, music, religious studies, linguistics, geography and development studies as well as the languages of Asia and Africa. The Schools library is the national resource for the study of Asia and Africa, holding over 1.2 million items and extensive electronic resources and taking 4,500 periodicals, and attracts scholars from all over the world. Faculty members may have access to the other libraries of the University of London and its colleges. Department Background The Department of the Languages and Cultures of South Asia teaching and research on a wide range of subjects relating to the Indian subcontinent. While South Asian specialists are based in many different disciplines and departments throughout the School, the focus for work on language and culture (especially literature) remains fairly and squarely in the South Asia Department. The symbiosis between teaching and research is an important aspect of the Departments life, and we are constantly seeking to enhance and improve the courses that we offer. We would hope that the person appointed to this lectureship will not only contribute to existing courses but will also develop new areas that are likely to appeal to students of South Asia. Another of our present priorities is to increase the numbers of students coming to us for

taught Masters and research degrees, and the broadening of our teaching and research coverage will make an important contribution here also. Teaching The main degree programmes are (http://www.soas.ac.uk/southasia/programmes/) :

Undergraduate (Single) Degrees BA South Asian Studies (3 years) BA South Asian Studies (4 years) BA South Asian Studies Bengali Pathway BA South Asian Studies Hindi Pathway BA South Asian Studies Nepali Pathway BA South Asian Studies Sanskrit Pathway BA South Asian Studies Urdu Pathway Undergraduate (Combined) Degrees BA South Asian Studies and... (3 years) BA South Asian Studies and (4 years) Taught Masters Degrees MA Anthropological Research Methods and Nepali MA Comparative Literature (Africa / Asia) MA Languages and Cultures of South Asia MA South Asian Area Studies Research Degrees Research Degrees: South Asia Diplomas Diploma in Sanskrit Certificates Certificate in South Asian Studies

Department staff also convene and contribute to other degrees including those offered by the programmes and Centres of South Asian Studies, Pakistan Studies, Media and Film Studies, Film and Screen Studies, Gender Studies, Postcolonial Studies. Staff are active members of other research groups including the Centre for Cultural, Literary and Postcolonial Studies, and Film and Screen Studies. Staff List Dr James Caron, Lecturer in Islamicate South Asia Islam in South Asia; Afghanistan and Pakistan social and cultural history; historical methods and literary sources; non-western history from below; non-elite interregionalism Professor Rachel Dwyer, Professor of Indian Cultures and Cinema

Hindi Cinema; Indian popular culture; Indian film; Hinduism; new middle classes; Mumbai/Bombay; Gujarati language and literature; Gujarati diaspora esp UK and East Africa; comparative Indian literature Professor Michael Hutt, Professor of Nepali and Himalayan Studies Nepali literature; the Nepali media; Nepali politics; Bhutanese refugees Dr Francesca Orsini, Reader in the Literatures of North India Hindi Literature; North Indian literary cultures; Hindi; Urdu Dr Amina Yaqin, Senior Lecturer in Urdu and Postcolonial Studies Urdu language and literature; post-colonial literature and theory; gender studies; South Asian literatures in English; feminism in a Third World context; gender and politics in Pakistan Rakesh Nautiyal Senior Lector in Hindi Krishna Pradhan Senior Lector in Nepali Naresh Sharma Senior Lector in Urdu and Hindi Sahana Bajpaie Teaching Fellow in Bengali Amal Gunasena Teaching Fellow in Sinhala Mr Aishwarj Kumar Teaching Fellow in Hindi William Radice Teaching Fellow in Bengali; Research Associate Bengali language and literature; Tagore; Michael Madhusudan Dutt; 19th century Bengal; literary translation; poetry in Bangladesh. John Stevens Leverhulme Postdoctoral Fellow The interconnected histories of modern West Bengal, Bangladesh and Britain; comparative religion and political theology in India and Britain; postcolonial theory; the historical construction of gender, race, class and nation; social, cultural and transnational history. For a list of teaching fellows and visiting staff, see the relevant web-page: http://www.soas.ac.uk/southasia/staff/ Candidates seeking further information should contact Professor Rachel Dwyer (racheldwyer@soas.ac.uk). You may also wish to consult the Departments web-site: http://www.soas.ac.uk/southasia/london/ Job applicants who have been shortlisted would normally be notified within six weeks of the closing date. If you have not heard from the Human Resources Directorate by this date, please assume that your application for employment has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Job Description This form summarises the purpose of the job and lists its key tasks. It may be varied from time to time at the discretion of the School, in consultation with the post holder. Vacancy No: Job Title: Department: 000545 Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies Department of the Languages and Cultures of South Asia, Faculty of Languages and Cultures G7/Ac2 G8/Ac3 Dean of Faculty via Head of Department

Grade: Accountable to: Job Summary:

To improve the academic standing of the School by carrying out and publishing research of the highest quality and by lecturing and tutoring students to a high academic standard.

Main Activities and Responsibilities: TEACHING, LEARNING AND PASTORAL CARE 1. To teach your specific subject and within the broader area covered by your department and disciplinary field through classes, lectures, seminars, tutorials, briefings, short courses, or by other means of knowledge transfer. 2. To participate in the improvement of teaching through peer observation of teaching and feedback. 3. To participate in the development of new teaching and learning materials for your courses, both hard copy and through online delivery. 4. To participate in the pastoral care systems operating for the support of students at all levels. 5. To cover for colleagues where appropriate during leaves of absence. 6. To supervise research dissertations by postgraduate students and participate in supervisory committees. 7. To participate in the development of new courses and programmes. 8. To participate in curriculum review and in quality assurance processes relating to teaching. 9. To prepare, mark and provide feedback in connection with the range of assessment and examination systems in operation. 10. To participate in the activities of Centres and programmes as appropriate to your subject and academic interests. 11. To participate in the recruitment and selection of students. 12. To work with the Library, Faculty Offices, timetabling, IT and the LTU to prepare for the effective delivery of courses each session.

RESEARCH & ENTERPRISE, RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND RESEARCH CULTURE 1. To advance knowledge of the subject by conducting research and publishing the results individually and in collaboration with others. 2. To undertake knowledge transfer and enterprise activity and to undertake contract research and consultancy as and when appropriate. 3. To actively pursue grant opportunities to support research through Research Councils, Foundations, charities, and individual donors. 4. To act as referee for research councils, grant-awarding bodies, journals, publishers as appropriate. 5. To advance the research culture of SOAS by participating in seminars, conferences and workshops 6. To endeavour to ensure compliance of self and others with good practice in relation to the conduct of research, the ethics policy, IPR, copyright and other relevant School policies.

ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1. To participate in the activities of the Schools committees as appointed. 2. To participate in the appraisal process and undertake staff development as appropriate. 3. To participate in the mentoring and staff support systems. 4. To contribute to the planning of the activities and distribution of administrative roles in the Department or Centre. 5. To take on appropriate administrative tasks in the Department or Centre. 6. To develop School or Department links with external and international organisations. 7. To participate as required in fund-raising and development initiatives. 8. To assist in the recruitment of colleagues and students as appropriate.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. Job descriptions should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are an accurate representation of the post. June 2013

PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Department: Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical Indian Studies South Asia, Faculty of Languages & Cultures

Essential Skills, Knowledge, Experience:

1. Evidence of being able to carry out and publish research of academic quality which will improve, or at least maintain, the Departments research rating in the Research Excellence Framework. This would be at least two publications of international quality. 2. Ability to lecture, tutor and supervise undergraduate to postgraduate students from diverse backgrounds and experience to a high academic standard. Teaching experience in a Higher Education environment, preferably a University is desirable. 3. Have a specialist knowledge of Sanskrit language and literature and ideally also of a second South Asian language. 4. Proven administrative and organisational skills. 5. Sound time management skills; the ability to plan and to meet deadlines. 6. Well developed written and interpersonal communication skills.

Essential Qualifications: 7. A PhD in a relevant subject. However those who are close to completing a PhD will also be considered. Essential Personal Qualities: 8. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with students, staff, academic peers and external/professional organisations. 9. Ability to work independently and to participate fully as a team member. 10. Commitment to providing quality programmes at all levels. 11. Flexibility and responsiveness, particularly to the changing education environment. 12. High degree of professional judgement and integrity. Closing date: 6 August 2013 Interviews are provisionally scheduled for week commencing: 16 September 2013 SOAS values diversity and aims to be an equal opportunities employer.