Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design (Programme Manager)

The School of Fashion and Textiles at De Montfort University is seeking to recruit a programme manager for its newly approved dual award BA Fashion Design/ BA Apparel Design with Xi’an Polytechnic University (XPU). XPU is in Xi’an, once known as Chang’an (Eternal Peace), a large city and capital of Shaanxi Province and the departure point of the Silk Road. The programme manager will be a key person responsible for the effective operation of the DMU aspects of the programme including the delivery of content at XPU. The programme manager will be based at both institutions for extended periods of time each year.

The new dual award with XPU is a 4 year programme taught in Xi’an. It has a broad first year (level 3) which includes English language learning. This is followed by fashion focussed content delivered in years 2, 3 and 4 (levels 4,5 and 6) through a series of modules. In each year the content includes modules designed and delivered by XPU colleagues which are complimented by modules with content designed by DMU and delivered by DMU colleagues in Xi’an. Through this arrangement the programme provides students with the opportunity to study Fashion in a broad context. This starts in year 2 with design concept development, and an introduction to textiles disciplines and is followed in years 3 and 4 with content that progresses the fashion design content and introduces DMU’s specialist subject areas of contour fashion, footwear and fashion buying. Please note it is intended that the delivery of much of the year 3 and 4 content will be the remit of the extended DMU team in Xi’an.

Our initial search is for a creative individual who has a broad fashion and textile knowledge. An individual with a multi-disciplinary approach who can lead the DMU aspect of the programme at XPU and deliver the DMU fashion and textile content at level 4. We are looking for someone who specialises in the design research, concept development part of the design process, with an understanding of 2D to 3D to support sample development. Someone with a good understanding of textile skills development for introductory print and mixed media who can deliver this knowledge in an engaging and dynamic way to students.

Our ideal candidate will have a degree and appropriate industry experience, an excellent understanding of the subject area and a thorough knowledge of the fashion and textile design processes. They will have undergraduate teaching experience, with in country teaching experience an advantage. While it is intended that all teaching is undertaken in English, a working knowledge of Mandarin (or willingness to learn) will also be advantageous. Most importantly we are looking for someone who will embrace the opportunity to spend time and work overseas for a parts of the academic year.

The post holder will be based at XPU for a minimum of two blocks of 8 weeks per year. One block in the Autumn semester and one block in the Spring semester. The post holder will benefit from free accommodation on campus whenever based at XPU. These will be the minimum requirements and further visits maybe required.  

The successful candidate will be required to be eligible to obtain the relevant visas required to support overseas working.

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