University Of The Free State (UFS) Associate Professor/Professor: Childhood Education Vacancy 2026

Opportunity Overview

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications for the position of Associate Professor or Professor in the Department of Childhood Education, part of the Faculty of Education. This role is based at the South Campus in Bloemfontein.

This significant academic opportunity involves contributing to the development of future educators and researchers in Childhood Education. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in teaching, research, curriculum development, and mentorship within the university environment.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must meet specific criteria for either the Associate Professor or Professor level.

General Requirements:

• A relevant Doctoral degree (NQF Level 10) in Education with a specialisation in Childhood Education and/or Foundation Phase.

For Associate Professor candidates:

• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in a Higher Education Environment.
• Experience as an external examiner for postgraduate students.
• Proven experience in presenting peer-reviewed research papers at national conferences.
• Acted as an editorial board member of high-quality national scholarly journals.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research leadership in a specific scientific area.
• An NRF rating or demonstrated potential for rating.
• Proven experience in the supervision of graduated master’s degree students.
• A proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals.
• Served as a member of a national scholarly society OR a national committee or agency concerned with research at higher education levels OR showed evidence of service as an active member of an international equivalent.
• Proven experience in curriculum and/or programme development.
• Evidence of attracting research and/or training grants within the past 5 years.
• Proven experience in co-leading one or more collaborative research projects within the past 5 years.

For Professor candidates:

• At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in a Higher Education Environment.
• Experience as an external examiner for master’s-degree and doctoral students.
• Acted as an editorial board member of high-quality international/ISI/IBSS journals.
• Proven international recognition for specialist expertise.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will undertake a range of duties focused on academic excellence and departmental contribution:

• Provide formal teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes within the Department of Childhood Education.
• Act as a supervisor for postgraduate students in the relevant field.
• Engage in the Work Integrated Learning Programme of the faculty, specifically Teaching Practice.
• Ensure active involvement in research within a relevant field of Childhood Education and publish research articles in accredited national and international journals.
• Actively contribute to curriculum development relating to the relevant field of Childhood Education.
• Apply for external funding grants for research and/or teaching and learning projects.
• Mentor and support junior colleagues within the department and faculty.
• Contribute to leadership and administrative tasks in the department and faculty.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online only through the official UFS vacancy website. Applications submitted via any other platform will not be considered.

• Visit the official UFS vacancy website: https://ufs.hua.hrsmart.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/viewAll
• Locate the "Associate Professor/Professor: Childhood Education" vacancy (Job ID: 6572).
• Ensure your application is complete by submitting ALL required documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues, it is recommended to merge some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.

Required Documentation:

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Copies of your qualifications, or official proof of qualifications obtained. (If you hold foreign qualifications, please include SAQA accreditation).
• A copy of your identity document (South African ID or passport for foreign nationals).
• Confirmation of employment in the form of a letter, appointment contract, service certificate, or a recent payslip from your current or most recent employer (applicable to external applicants only).

The closing date for applications is 27 August 2026.