Waseda University

Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University

Faculty Recruitment Information in Information Literacy/Media Literacy

The Faculty of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured position in Information Literacy/Media Literacy to begin in the spring or fall of 2025 (or a mutually agreed later date).

Waseda University, founded in 1882, is a leading private research university located in central Tokyo. As part of its globalization efforts, the Faculty of Political Science and Economics (the “FPSE”) has been offering degree programs in English for both undergraduate and graduate students since 2010, in addition to degree programs in Japanese. The programs provide diverse and dynamic academic opportunities for talented students from all around the world.

1. Affiliation
   The Faculty of Political Science and Economics (FPSE), Waseda University
2. Field
   Information Literacy/Media Literacy
3. Courses to be taught
   The successful candidate will teach courses related to information literacy and/or media literacy, and seminars for both the School of Political Science and Economics (Undergraduate Program) and the Graduate School of Political Science (Master’s and Doctoral Programs) and other related courses in the FPSE.
4. Qualifications
   (1) Applicants must have research achievements in fields related to information and media, including information literacy, media literacy, journalism, and media studies.
   (2) Applicants must be capable of conducting education in close collaboration with the information and media industry, in order to equip students with the fundamental abilities to accurately comprehend the evolving information and media environment, and to effectively decode and encode information..
   (3) Applicants must be able to teach the courses stated in “3. Courses to be taught” in both Japanese and English.
   (4) Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree or expect to obtain it by the time of appointment.
   (5) Teaching experience in relevant courses at the university level is desirable.
5. Number of positions available
   One
6. Position rank and title
   Professor (tenured), Associate Professor (tenured), Associate Professor (tenure-track), or Assistant Professor (tenure-track)The position rank is determined by such factors as the applicant’s academic and research record, as well as evaluation during the screening process. It will be made known to the applicant at the final interview with the FPSE’s senior dean and other executive committee members.General Idea of Tenure-Track Positions at the FPSE: (Detailed information will be provided after the second round of selection.)

   A tenure-track position at FPSE shall be appointed either as Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenure-track), for three years in the first term, followed by two years of reappointment and an additional two years of reappointment, for a total of up to seven years.As a general rule, the interim review shall be carried out in the second semester of the third year (sixth semester) following the appointment and completed within the first three-year term on the tenure track. When a tenure-track faculty member passes the interim review, the first reappointment of two years shall be confirmed before the end of the initial appointment (three years).By default, the final review shall be carried out in the second semester of the fifth year (tenth semester) and completed by the end of the fifth year on the tenure track. When the tenure-track faculty member passes the final review, the faculty member will become a tenured faculty member from the following semester. The second reappointment of two years may be granted to a tenure-track faculty member who fails the final review. The tenure-track faculty member may request an interim review or a final review at any time in or after the second semester of the second year (fourth semester) following appointment.

   If maternity and/or parental leave is taken before the end of the interim or final review, the period of the tenure-track faculty member may be extended by a period equivalent to the maternity and/or parental leave, subject to the approval of the University, provided that the total period of continuous service does not exceed 10 years.

   If you have had an employment contract with Waseda University (regardless of job title) since April 1, 2013, and there is no period of at least six months without an employment contract with Waseda University at the scheduled start of this position, in principle, there is a limit to the duration of the employment contract. Therefore, the above may not be applied.

7. Working conditions
   ・Salary, allowances, and commuting expenses are commensurate with qualifications and are based on Waseda University pay scales.
   ・The workplace will, in principle, be on a Waseda University campus.
   ・Scheduled working days and working hours (starting/finishing times and rest periods) are based on university regulations. The discretionary labor system for professional work will be applied to research work. Considering the nature of research work, working hours are at the discretion of each faculty member.
   ・Holidays
   Holidays are Saturdays, Sundays, New Year’s holidays, legally recognized public holidays, and compensatory holidays appointed by the University for holding classes on public holidays and the anniversary of the University’s founding. Holidays prescribed as working days determined by the University in advance will be excluded. There may be cases where classes and other types of FPSE work will be scheduled on holidays. Employees may take compensatory holiday(s) for those occasions. For the academic calendar of the university, please see the URL below.
   https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/about/work/organizations/academic-affairs-division/academic-calendar
   ・Leave
   Leave is determined by the Labor Standards Act and other related laws, including days that are designated by the University as leave days.
   ・Social insurance
   Pension, health insurance, labor insurance, and employment insurance are provided based on university regulations.
   ・Research Funding
   Individual research allowance: 210,000 yen (per year)
   Academic conference traveling subsidies: 90,000 yen (per year)
   International academic conference traveling subsidies: 110,000 yen (per year)
   Other competitive research funds are available at Waseda University.
   ・Retirement benefits
   Retirement benefits will be paid to tenured Professors and tenured Associate Professors in accordance with university regulations.
   No retirement benefits will be provided to Associate Professors (tenure-track) and Assistant Professors (tenure-track). However, if they continue to serve as tenured faculty members after the term as tenure-track faculty members, retirement benefits will be provided in accordance with university regulations. The period of service for calculating the retirement benefits of a tenured faculty member is counted from the date of appointment as an Associate Professor (tenure-track) or Assistant Professor (tenure-track).
8. Scheduled start of employment
   April 1, 2025, or September 1, 2025 (or a mutually agreed later date)
9. Application procedure
   All applications must be submitted via the following website: https://www.wasedapse.jp/en/fpse2/eng_input.phpOn the web application form, choose “Information Literacy/Media Literacy” in the “Application Category.”In “References,” please provide contact information for two referees. If the candidate makes it to the second stage, we will ask them to provide us with a letter of recommendation.

   Please prepare PDF copies of the following documents and upload each document to the relevant sections of “Application Documents.”

   Please be sure to read the “Notes for using the Web Application Form” from the link below before filling in the Web Application Form.
   https://www.waseda.jp/fpse/pse/assets/uploads/2020/01/20200128_Notes-for-using-the-Web-Application-Form.pdf

   Templates for the cover letter and curriculum vitae are available from the following website: https://www.waseda.jp/fpse/pse/news-en/2024/05/01/21311/

   1) Cover letter with your contact information
   Download the prescribed form from the above website. Fill out the form and upload it to “(1) Application Form/Cover Letter.”
   2) A curriculum vitae with a list of academic/research accomplishments
   Upload it to “(2) Curriculum vitae with a list of academic/research accomplishments.” Use either a free format or the prescribed formats found on the website. Please put both curriculum vitae and academic/research accomplishments into a single PDF file when you use the prescribed formats.
   3) A research statement
   Either in Japanese (approximately 2,000 characters/kana) or English (approximately 1,000 words). Describe your past research and future research plans. The format is free.
   Upload it to “(3) Additional application material 1.”
   4) A teaching statement
   Put the following(s) into a single PDF file and upload it to “(3) Additional application material 2.”
   • A teaching philosophy in Information Literacy and/or Media Literacy, and (if applicable) teaching experience in the field. Either in Japanese (approximately 2,000 characters/kana) or in English (approximately 1,000 words). The format is free.
   • The results of your course evaluation or a teaching award, and any other evidence of your teaching ability (if applicable)
   5) Three major academic works
   Put them together in a PDF file and upload the file to “(3) Additional application material 3.”
   Should you wish to submit a hard copy of your work (books, book drafts, etc.), please send the material by registered mail to arrive on or before the application deadline. (Please note that items submitted will not be returned.)
   The address is as follows:
   Attn: Application for Faculty Position in Information Literacy/Media Literacy
   Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University
   1-6-1 Nishi Waseda, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-8050 Japan
   6) Summary of your three major academic works
   Provide a summary of each work in approximately 600 characters/kana of Japanese or approximately 300 words of English. The format is free. Upload the summary to “(3) Additional application material 4.”
   7) [Degree holder] Proof of the award of a Ph.D. degree (copy of a diploma or a certificate of degree conferral): Upload it to “(3) Additional application material 5.”

   [Degree candidate] A document/letter which confirms when a doctoral degree is expected to be awarded. Upload it to “(3) Additional application material 5.”

   When uploading each file to the relevant sections, please title each file as follows. Please insert your last name where it says “YOURLASTNAME” in the below file names (e.g. 01_WASEDA.pdf).

   

   When your application has been submitted successfully, you will receive an automatic reply titled “Notification of completion of registration (Waseda University)” to the email address you gave on the Web Application Form.
   Please be sure to check that all the information you submitted and the documents you uploaded are shown in the email.

10. Deadline
    The deadline is 1 p.m., August 29, 2024 (JST).
11. Recruitment process
    There will be three stages to the recruitment process: 1) Shortlisting based on document screening. 2) An interview with members of the search committee, including a mock lecture and a research presentation. 3) An interview with the FPSE’s senior dean and the executive committee members.
    The result of the recruitment process will be made known to the candidate. The schedule of the second stage, including travel and accommodation arrangements, will be made known to candidates who pass the first stage.
12. Inquiries
    Inquiries should be made only by email. The address is as follows.
    Waseda University is committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion. In all matters related to faculty recruitment and promotion, the University prohibits any form of discrimination on the basis of sex, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, creed, and age.
    Waseda University also aims to create an environment in which all members of the University are respected for their dignity and diverse values and lifestyles, and can fully develop their individuality and abilities, by providing various support services such as those for female researchers, childcare, nursing care, etc.
    You can find more information about the support services here.
    Support and Services: https://www.waseda.jp/inst/diversity/en/support/