Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Immersive Learning

MacEwan University is where caring faculty help people connect their passions to their future paths. Located in the heart of Edmonton's diverse and dynamic downtown community, and on the traditional lands of Treaty 6 First Nations and homelands of the Métis people, MacEwan is known for exceptional undergraduate learning. With its dedication to teaching excellence, informed by scholarly research, innovation, and creative activity, MacEwan provides an exceptional collaborative and supportive learning environment with a commitment to human rights, environmental sustainability, and opportunities for community engagement. We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community for all peoples, cultures, and identities.

Our comprehensive undergraduate university offers 54 programs to more than 18,000 full- and part-time students in business, communications, community and human services, design, fine and performing arts, health, humanities, natural science, nursing, public safety, and social science. Through a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, and strategic relationships in the community, we partner with others to produce graduates of stature. Along with a robust grounding in their chosen disciplines, MacEwan students are given durable life skills that prepare them to take on the world. 

Opportunity

MacEwan University is seeking applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Immersive Learning commencing January 1, 2023, subject to final budgetary approval. This position will support and build on MacEwan University’s Teaching Greatness: Strategic Vision 2030.

This is a collaborative proposal to create a CRC in Immersive Learning to advance research in how virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and other immersive technologies can benefit teaching and learning in higher education. With MacEwan University’s focus on excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning, breadth of programs, and innovative library services, we would be an ideal home for a leader in the scholarship of Immersive Learning.

The successful applicant will receive a full-time, probationary tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, housed in the MacEwan Faculty or School best aligned with the applicant’s research program and teaching background. The applicant’s work will support and enhance our Centre for Teaching and Learning.

Our Faculties and Schools include: Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Arts and Science, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications, School of Business, and School of Continuing Education. Upon starting the academic appointment, the applicant will work with the University to apply for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair. For further information relating to a Tier 2 Chair, please see: https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx/#.

In addition to establishing a research program, teaching, student mentorship, and curriculum development is expected. The successful candidate will teach courses in their area of expertise, housed in one of MacEwan’s Faculties or Schools, as mentioned above. The position comes with a reduced teaching load in the initial years of the appointment. Contribution to university service will also be incorporated in the workload. Preference will be given to candidates with a commitment to cross-disciplinary work.

MacEwan University is well positioned to support the successful candidate in their CRC appointment. MacEwan’s School of Nursing has experience with virtual reality, the Department of Computer Science has expertise in game design, and the Centre for Teaching and Learning has an active program to support Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research. The City of Edmonton has successful start-ups working in the area of virtual reality (e.g. kovr) and Alberta Innovates has an eXtended Reality Health Economic Acceleration and Development (xR HEAD) Program. The Global Association for VR and AR has an active Alberta Chapter aiming to promote the rate of adoption of AR/VR in Alberta.

This position is included under the Faculty Association Collective Agreement: https://www.macewan.ca/c/documents/hr_fa_collectiveagreement.pdf 

Candidates will have: 

• a PhD in a related discipline (for example, Instructional Systems, Education, Computer Science, Nursing, or Design); 
• an active program of original, innovative, and productive research related to how virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and other immersive technologies can benefit teaching and learning in higher education; 
• experience teaching in a post-secondary institution, and a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate teaching; and,
• the ability to involve undergraduate students in research activities.  

CRC Eligibility Criteria

Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e. candidates must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree, but who have had a career break (such as maternity, parental, or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.,) which may have impacted their record of achievement, may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process.

How to Apply:

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and teaching dossier (including your teaching philosophy and recent teaching evaluations). The cover letter should indicate with which of MacEwan’s Faculties or Schools the applicant’s teaching and research interests would best align.

If you are interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity, please apply to our search partner, KBRS, by submitting your application via email to lwright@kbrs.ca or online through www.kbrs.ca/Career/16245. For more information, contact Katherine Frank (kfrank@kbrs.ca) or Lauren Wright (lwright@kbrs.ca) or call 1866.822.6022.

We encourage Indigenous people, persons living with a disability, sexual and gender minorities, women and members of all minority groups to apply and self-identify. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents are given priority. 

MacEwan is committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and recognizes and addresses barriers to employment. The University values the diverse backgrounds, points of view and identities of its employees. The University recognizes the importance of this diversity in creating a welcoming learning environment for students and an inclusive and equitable working environment for employees. MacEwan’s Employment Equity and Inclusion policy raises awareness of MacEwan’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in recruitment and establishes guidelines regarding the collection and use of Employment Equity Data.

KBRS and MacEwan University will provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca.