Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Education Management and Leadership (1-year)
- Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Education Management and Leadership (1-year contract, renewable up to 3 years)
- Job ID: 6454
- Institution: University of the Free State
- Faculty and Department: Faculty of Education
Department of Education Management, Policy and Comparative Education - Campus: University of the Free State
- Contract Type: Contract Position (Temporary)
- Closing Date: 31 May 2026
- Assumption of Duties: 01 July 2026
- Fellowship Value: Annual fellowship: R220,000, Additional research funding: R30,000
Job Description
The University of the Free State invites applications from qualified candidates for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Education Management and Leadership.
The fellowship is intended for outstanding doctoral graduates who want to build an academic and research career in:
- Education Management
- Leadership Studies
- School Violence Research
- Learner Discipline Studies
The successful candidate will work under the mentorship of experienced researchers and will gain advanced experience in:
- Research
- Innovation
- Academic publishing
- Community engagement
- Limited teaching and postgraduate supervision
The fellowship focuses on producing evidence-based research related to leadership and management practices that address:
- School violence
- Learner indiscipline
- Educational leadership challenges within South Africa
The fellowship is initially offered for one year and may be renewed annually for up to three years based on satisfactory performance.
Responsibilities and Duties
The successful candidate will be expected to:
Research
- Conduct innovative and high-quality research in:
- Education Management and Leadership
- School violence
- Learner discipline and indiscipline
- Leadership practices in South African schools
Publications
- Produce at least three accredited scholarly publications per year, such as:
- Journal articles
- Book chapters
- Academic books
Research Development
- Initiate new research projects
- Apply for external and internal research funding
Teaching Support
- Participate in limited teaching activities where required
Postgraduate Supervision
- Provide limited supervision or co-supervision for:
- Honours students
- Master’s students
- Doctoral students
Academic Participation
- Register and reside as a postdoctoral fellow at UFS
- Participate in:
- Faculty activities
- School of Postgraduate Studies activities
- Research Development programmes
Residency Requirement
- Spend at least 80% of the fellowship period at the Qwaqwa Campus
Requirements and Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Academic Qualifications
- A PhD (NQF Level 10) with specialization in:
- Education Management
- Educational Leadership
- Related fields
Graduation Period
- The PhD must be within five years of graduation
Employment Status
- Applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship period
Residency
- Must be willing to relocate to the UFS Qwaqwa Campus
- Must participate full-time in the fellowship programme
Nationality
- Open to:
- South African citizens
- International applicants
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Motivation letter
- 1–2 page research proposal outline
- Full academic CV
- List of publications and conference papers
- Certified academic transcripts
- Certified PhD certificate
- SAQA certificate (for foreign qualifications)
- Certified ID or passport copy
- Two manuscripts suitable for publication
- Contact details of two academic referees