SCHOOL/UNIT

School of Arts and Social Sciences

SPECIALISATION

Environmental Humanities and/or Social Sciences

CLASSIFICATION

Level E

WORK LOCATION

Main campus

Organisational context Monash University is Australia’s largest university and a member of the prestigious Group of Eight. We’ve been consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, rising in the QS World Rankings to rank 37th globally, reflecting our strong commitment to academic and research excellence.

Monash is a global university with four local campuses throughout Australia, as well as international locations in Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Italy and India. A unique alliance with the University of Warwick (UK) sits alongside an array of international collaborations with leading universities and corporations around the world, expanding the University’s global network.

Established in 1998, Monash University Malaysia is Monash’s third-largest campus and one of Malaysia’s most respected universities. We were awarded a six-star SETARA rating by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia in 2017 and once more in 2019, cementing our position in the very top cohort of outstanding universities in the country. In 2020, we received a five-star rating for research excellence from the Malaysia Research Assessment.

As a self-accrediting University, we attract students not just from Malaysia, but from all over the world. More than 9300 students representing approximately 79 nationalities are currently enrolled at Monash Malaysia, and they enjoy a quality study experience supported by over 860 staff members.

We’re Monash’s platform for scholarly engagement with Southeast Asia, offering degrees in arts and social sciences, business, engineering, information technology, medicine, psychology and health sciences, pharmacy, and science across seven schools.

Our campus is located in Greater Kuala Lumpur, one of the region’s industrial hotspots. We sit in the heart of the rapidly developing economic corridor linking Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and beyond. Our education and research are oriented towards deep engagement with this dynamic social and economic landscape.

In 2023 Monash Malaysia celebrated 25 transformative years of making change. Since welcoming our first cohort of 417 students, we have built a reputation for quality, credibility and integrity, and is held in high esteem by our students, alumni, industry and government. We maintain a long and proud tradition of excellence in education, combined with liberal values of enquiry, providing a fertile environment for bright young minds to flourish and lifelong opportunities for those wishing to enhance their education and career. Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students, alumni and staff, and look towards an exciting future.

For further information, please visit www.monash.edu.my.

The School of Arts and Social Sciences

The School of Arts and Social Sciences, established in May 2008, is one of the premier humanities and social science research and teaching institutions in Malaysia. The School offers studies at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate levels. It oversees three undergraduate degree programmes: the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (with majors in Communications, Gender Studies, Global Studies, and Film, Television, and Screen Studies), the Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and a specialist communications degree in the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communication. In addition, the School offers a specialist communications postgraduate degree, the Masters in Communications and Media Studies (by coursework), as well as a Doctoral degree by research.

Academic staff within the School hail from various disciplinary backgrounds: Anthropology; Communication and Media Studies; Film, Television and Screen Studies; Gender Studies; History; International Relations; International Political Economy; Literary Studies; Political Science; and Religious Studies. These disciplinary strengths underpin both the education (teaching) focus of the School as well as its research. The School harbours a large number of Asia and Southeast Asia experts, and has built a reputation around its mission of excellence in research and education that incorporates a socially engaged and diverse Global South perspective on the challenges facing the world. Our research activity takes place within research “strengths”: Geopolitics, Development and Governance; Thriving Communities; the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub (MCCCRH) Malaysia Node; the newly established Southeast Asian Centre for Digital Tech and Society; and an emerging cluster of research in migration and mobility.

For further information: https://www.monash.edu.my/sass

Position purpose The Professor of Environmental Humanities and/or Social Sciences is expected to exercise a special responsibility in providing leadership and in fostering excellence in research, teaching, professional activities and policy development in the academic discipline within the School, within the university and within the community, both scholarly and general.

A Level E academic is expected to contribute to ongoing teaching and curriculum development. They will supervise dissertations at all levels and publish high-quality research in leading outlets in accordance with Faculty and University research expectations. As a senior member of the School a professor is expected to offer significant service and mentorship in areas required by the School and University. As an academic leader a Level E academic will lead in grant applications and research, and establish external engagement with relevant industry, government and community organisations.

Specifically, the appointee to this position will be expected to provide leadership of the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub (MCCCRH)’s Malaysia Node. The MCCCRH’s researchers are based across Monash’s Australian, Malaysian and Indonesian campuses, with a Director based in the Caulfield campus in Melbourne. The Malaysia node investigates effective communication methods and broader societal contexts in order to understand and adapt to a changing climate and to implement climate solutions. It is dedicated to: Malaysian-focused research on public attitudes towards climate change; investigating the communication of science and solutions geared to Malaysia’s unique demography and geography; and producing evidence-based findings to infirm the nation’s climate communication initiatives.

The appointee will have a demonstrated record of excellence and leadership in research, grant success, and publications in the field of the environmental humanities and/or social sciences, with a focus on climate change. This can include, but is not limited to, climate change and: communication; politics and policy; film; literature; history; sociology; gender and justice; race and justice; ethics. Given the focus of the MCCCRH Malaysia node, research expertise and profile in the Malaysian or Southeast Asian context is highly desirable. 

The appointee will also have a record of curriculum development; a record of curriculum development and innovation in relation to issues of climate change and/or environmental sustainability is desirable.

Reporting Line: The position reports to the Head of School

Supervisory responsibilities: As assigned by the Head of School

Financial delegation and/or budget responsibilities: As advised by the Head of School or Deputy Head of School (Research)

Key responsibilities

The key result areas of Research and Education, Leadership and Management and External Relationships are the basis for the primary duties and responsibilities of the role. The appointee will be expected to contribute to their discipline every effort will be made to assist with the development of personal and professional links with the appropriate groups of researchers.

A workload will be agreed annually with the Head of School in the Performance Development Plan process. Other duties may be required from time to time as directed by the Head of School.

1. Lead curriculum development, innovation, enhancement and quality assurance in the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum.
2. Lead the development and delivery of innovative and excellent teaching, learning and assessment experiences for undergraduate and postgraduate students
3. Conduct world-class research, maintaining an active record of high-quality publication, grants, and PhD student supervision
4. Lead the development and implementation of a research strategy for the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub’s Malaysia node, consistent with the wider Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub and School of Arts and Social Sciences, and consistent with the research priorities of Monash University Malaysia and Monash University
5. Lead the development of strong collaborations with other universities and with government, industry and/or civil society to drive research impact and educational excellence
6. Play an active leadership role in the management of education, research and/or administration in the School, including coaching, mentorship, leadership and effective performance management

Key selection criteria

• A doctoral qualification (PhD) or equivalent qualification
• A strong record of successful and innovative curriculum development, with possible emphasis on climate change and/or environmental sustainability
• An outstanding record of teaching, and educational leadership, which demonstrates a commitment to innovation and excellence
• An outstanding record in research leadership, including generating research income, leading major research projects and, where relevant, building research teams, with expertise in the environmental humanities and/or social sciences (especially climate change)
• .A strong track record of peer-reviewed publication in high-quality outlets as appropriate in the relevant field or discipline
• Proven ability to promote the discipline internally within the university as well as externally, both nationally and internationally
• High level collaborative leadership skills that unite and inspire people creating a culture of high performance and collegiality, with capacity for executive administrative responsibilities
• Evidence of sustained relationships with industry, government agencies and professional bodies coupled with a vision for the future needs and development of climate communication research and education in Malaysia and internationally  

Legal Compliance

Ensure you are aware of and adhere to legislation and University policy relevant to the duties undertaken, including: Equal Employment Opportunity, supporting equity and fairness; Occupational Health and Safety, supporting a safe workplace; Conflict of Interest (including Conflict of Interest in Research); Paid Outside Work; Privacy; Research Conduct; and Staff/Student Relationships.