Lecturer in Visual Communication and Digital Direction

Hours: Full Time (1.0 FTE)

Basis: Fixed term contract, 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027 (with potential extension on an academic yearly basis) - you will be engaged on a consultancy basis

Renumeration: £31,515 per annum (pro-rata) + Benefits equivalent to £6,200

The University of Lancashire invites applications for a Lecturer in Visual Communication and Digital Direction to teach on its BA (Hons) Degree programmes at HBU-UCLan School of Media, Communication and Creative Industries during the 2026-2027 academic year.

This post is primarily based in China and candidates considering making an application should take into account the requirement to spend 2 x 18-week sessions per year in country, teaching face to face.

HBU-UCLan School of Media, Communication and Creative Industries is a non-independent status Joint School partnership between Hebei University, China and the University of Lancashire, UK (approved by the Ministry of Education China). Located in the historic city of Baoding, approximately 40 minutes from Beijing by fast train, the city is growing fast and becoming a commuter base for Beijing and Northern Hebei Province. 

Established in 2014, the Joint School celebrated its 10^th Anniversary in 2024 and as of March 2026 HBU-UCLan currently has around 800 students which will increase to 1200 over the next few years. Students study the following University of Lancashire degree programmes: 

• International Foundation Year
• BA (Hons) Animation
• BA (Hons) Creative Advertising
• BA (Hons) Film-making
• BA (Hons) Graphic Design
• BA (Hons) Interior Design
• BA (Hons) Media and Television Production 

Two Masters level programmes have been delivered in China since 2022. A new MA in Animation is under development and is scheduled to start in September 2027. Masters programmes:

• MA Interior Design
• MA Music Industry Management & Promotion
• MA Animation (subject to validation) 

The Joint School moved into a new purpose designed Arts, Design and Media building on campus in Baoding in 2022. This provides professional level, state of the art facilities for teaching, research and practice. 

The highly successful University of Lancashire research initiative, ‘Research Centre for Cultural Preservation through Creative Practice’ is now also based out in China with high level research facilities within the partnership. This provides exciting new opportunities for staff to build research profiles within a unique, dynamic and cross-cultural environment. 

THE ROLE

We are now seeking an inspiring and resourceful Lecturer in Visual Communication Design, with strong and transferable digital skills, to join the team delivering undergraduate degree level programmes at the Joint School.

Our degree courses prepare students for careers in this dynamic, rapidly evolving and increasingly cross disciplinary and digital subject domain. This includes Creative Advertising. The digital world more generally is currently being shaped and re-crafted by developments in social, interactive, immersive - and increasingly, AI and other synthetic media – technologies, and driven by mass consumer movements such as influencer persuasion, data profiling and personality preferences and behavioral analytics. Content and fresh ideas generation remains key, and this is an opportunity to work with highly motivated students in a part of the world which is re-imagining global culture. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic, highly motivated team to do something unique and distinctive, and to gain fantastic experience. 

Working with committed and enthusiastic colleagues, you will, through pro-active trend analysis, contribute to cutting edge and future orientated curriculum design, course development, teaching and assessment, and research, as well as providing module leadership where required. We require a forward-looking, research active subject specialist who is future orientated and has a good understanding of future trends, influences, new technologies and media strategies within Visual Communication and Digital Culture.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work as part of a global team to support a high-quality creative industries facility and to nurture new and research-led content, within a unique cross-cultural setting.

This opportunity offers a support package for PhD study at the University of Lancashire (conditions apply). 

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• The successful applicant should have a good honours degree in a Design/Communications or other closely related discipline and a Masters level qualification in a related discipline.
• Candidates who meet our criteria will be highly digitally literate, creative and ideas focused with experience in the operation of successful visual and digital campaigns.
• Two years’ relevant experience of teaching Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a similar discipline in a higher education environment, will be essential to obtaining a working visa in China for this post. 

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS

• £31,515 per annum (pro rata) renumeration
• £2000 – Travel allowance for two return flights per academic year (pro rata)
• £200 – Health Insurance contribution allowance per academic year
• £4000 - Accommodation allowance per annum / pro rata (assistance in arranging accommodation can be provided)
• Visa related costs

VISA REGULATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Lecturing posts at HBU-UCLan are regulated by Chinese Labour Law and Hebei Provincial Government regulations. These regulations stipulate that the post holder must have a Master’s degree qualification (in a related discipline). 

Two years’ relevant experience of teaching Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a similar discipline in a higher education environment, will be essential to obtaining a working visa in China for this post. 

The post holder must comply with Chinese Labour Laws and Hebei Provincial Government regulations to obtain a Chinese work permit and entry Z visa (restrictions apply) - this includes a Police/Criminal Records Check and Health Check. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal work with regards to obtaining work permits and visas. The regulations in this province may preclude people at or over the age of 60 from obtaining a PRC work visa. 

TO APPLY

Informal enquiries about this post can be emailed to Professor Sion Hughes, Academic Head at SHughes17@lancashire.ac.uk 

The specific requirements for the role are detailed in the job description and person specification. Applicants must meet all ‘essential criteria’ to be considered for interview.

Applications must be submitted in pdf format to HBUadmin@lancashire.ac.uk and include:

• Cover letter (demonstrating your suitability for the role)
• Current CV
• Contact details of two referees (with knowledge of your skills capabilities, and work performance. We will only take up references for the selected candidate.) 

This role is offered on a consultancy (independent contractor) basis and does not constitute employment with the University.