Ideally situated on Mid-Vancouver Island with spectacular views of the coastal mountains, Vancouver Island University is a comprehensive teaching university with approximately 15,000 students across four campuses. VIU proudly fosters student success, strong community connections and international collaborations by providing access to a wide range of programs, from academic undergraduate and master’s to industry-responsive trades and vocational training.

Vancouver Island University invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the area of Indigenous Education with a focus in teaching and learning.  Tier 2 Chairs are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. This CRC will aid VIU in achieving the Teaching and Learning and the Equity, Diversity and Social Justice foci of the Strategic Research Plan.

In keeping with regional protocol, Vancouver Island University (VIU) students, staff, faculty and administration would like to acknowledge and thank Snuneymuxw First Nation, Tla’Amin First Nation, Quw’utsun Tribes, Snaw-Naw-As First Nation and Qualicum First Nation for welcoming us to live and learn on their traditional territories where VIU’s campuses are located. We also recognize relationships and program partnerships with the following Nations on whose traditional territory we have the privilege of sharing educational experiences through community-based and off-campus programming: Haida, Tsimshian, Haisla, Heiltsuk, Nuxalk, Oweekeno, Kwakwaka’wakw, Gwa’sala-Nakwaxda’xw, K’omoks, Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish Nations.

The Faculty of Education at VIU offers BEd, post-baccalaureate and Master’s of Education programs for undergraduate and graduate students. We are seeking a candidate whose expertise is in the area of Educational Research, Indigenous Knowledge, curriculum development, or action research applied in education/learning contexts to support our Faculty’s Vision.  Candidates will bring expertise in Aboriginal education or culturally responsive teaching.  

The CRC will have 75% of their position dedicated to research and 25% towards teaching (equivalent to 2 courses annually). The teaching responsibilities will be determined based on the disciplinary and teaching background of the candidate. The CRC will become a faculty member in the Faculty of Education. In addition to the faculty of Education, candidates will be invited to participate in related programming at VIU such as Studies in Women and Gender or our Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Department. Research Chairs are tenable for 5 years and renewable once, after which time, the CRC will become a full-time faculty member. The CRC will be provided with an operating grant for their research program and may apply for Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding. 

VIU’s academic requirements include course delivery, research supervision and institutional service. Duties, responsibilities and expectations of the position will include, but not be limited to:

• ·       Design and lead a highly interdisciplinary research program;
• ·       Contribute to the development of Indigenous research theoretical frameworks and methodologies that would reinforce and illuminate the work of decolonization, Indigenous Knowledge creation and reconciliation;
• ·       Build relationships, solidify connections and generate research partnerships between the University and Indigenous communities that will contribute to the knowledge bases of both and further enhance understanding between the two;
• ·       Provide mentorship to Indigenous students as research assistants and supervise and mentor graduate students in research activities for the Faculty of Education and potentially the Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management, and/or the Master of Community Planning.
• ·       Engage in innovative knowledge mobilization activities to share the results of the research program with a variety of audiences thereby ensuring its impact in society;
• ·       Provide leadership for research and scholarly activity within the University and the Faculty of Education; 
• ·       Participate in the academic programs including the teaching of undergraduate or graduate courses (ideally in areas related to Indigenous Education) and other educational and scholarly activity.

Faculty at VIU, generally, and in the Faculty of Education, specifically, have developed close relationships with several local communities where education initiatives are currently taking place such as language programs in First Nations schools, a literacy initiative in rural schools and embedded teacher education partnerships in local school districts. Depending on the area of the candidate’s research focus, opportunities to collaborate exist within the Faculty of Education. The Faculty and the University have Elders-in-Residence to facilitate relationship building with local First Nations communities.

The Faculty of Education offers two Master’s of Education Programs – Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Master of Education in Special Education. Over 200 graduate students are enrolled in our programs, and provide opportunities for research team collaboration and support. Most of our faculty members maintain close connections to practice and thus, would be potential collaborators depending on the topic area. Finally, there are several other graduate programs offered at VIU and good sources of internal funding are available to facilitate collaborative efforts across campus. 

The Canada Research Chairs program expects Tier 2 nominees to be within 10 years of having received a Ph.D. (or the highest degree in their discipline); be excellent emerging researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity; have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years; be proposing an original, innovative research program of high quality; and, as a chairholder, have the potential to attract excellent students and future researchers as well as research funding. 

Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental, or extended sick leave, clinical training), may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the CRC's Tier 2 Justification Process. Please contact research@viu.ca for more information. VIU recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves can have on a candidate's record of research achievement and will take leaves into careful consideration during the assessment process.

In addition to the CRC requirements, VIU is looking for demonstrated leadership skills in developing solid working relationships with communities locally, regionally, and provincially; research activities using innovative programs and research methods; research network development; demonstrated commitment to knowledge mobilization; demonstrated research ability with a potential for developing new areas of collaborative research; and experience in teaching and supervising students.

Applicants in this thematic grouping are committed to a dialogue on the current challenges and opportunities for Aboriginal students, applying Aboriginal ways of knowing to education, and identifying cultural, community and social development opportunities to support success for Aboriginal students in education. As VIU has a BC Regional Innovation Chair in Aboriginal Early Childhood Development, we encourage applications that build the continuum with a research program in the K-12 or post-secondary education system in this call.

• ·       Curriculum Vitae.
• ·       Cover letter with a statement of the applicant's research highlights, an educational philosophy relating to the position, and the applicant's expected contribution to the University, Faculty and Department.
• ·       A two-page concept paper describing an innovative research plan. The concept paper must include: Project summary (250 words), Context, Methodology, Engagement with research users and communication of results, and HQP training plan. Please include literature cited (not included in 2-page limit).
• ·       Name and contact information for three people willing to provide a reference.

Applications will be accepted until March 27, view the position profile and apply online  by March 27.

This institution is an advocate for equity and is committed to ensuring representation in its community. We welcome applications from members of visible minorities, women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. The institution seeks to maintain its commitment to excellence and recognizes that increasing the diversity of its employees supports this objective.

Vancouver Island University is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. We want to ensure that all participants are able to engage fully in interviews and other activities that are part of the process. If you have any accommodation requests, please email hr@viu.ca. All requests for accommodation will be treated confidentially.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.