Associate Lecturer - Digital Direction (0.14FTE, Fixed term)

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is the world’s largest community of postgraduate art and design students. It is also the oldest art and design university in continuous operation and has been ranked as the world ‘s number 1 art & design university for a remarkable nine consecutive years, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 – the largest world-wide survey of academic and industry opinion.

School of Communication

In the RCA's School of Communication, we are interrogating the fundamental ways in which communication shapes our lives and using this knowledge to develop new ways of communicating and shaping the world through experimental and sometimes radical communication practices.

As a School, we are inspired by practices of communication that are culturally informed and historically aware, that encourage dialogue and are robust enough to celebrate and make space for new ideas, different voices, and other ways of thinking and making. We have a distinctive research and knowledge exchange culture based upon a dynamic interplay between communication practice and theory, encompassing a broad range of subjects and approaches.

Digital Direction

Digital Direction addresses our urgent need for inclusive and relevant storytelling. Our programme examines the emergence of new technologies for telling stories, such as VR, AR and mobile platforms, alongside the future of storytelling itself. Our purpose is to inspire communication practitioners to approach contemporary communication critically, and to discover new and meaningful ways to tell stories in our world today. The programme is not just open to practitioners from the arts but aimed at journalists, writers, musicians, theatre makers and anyone who wants to experiment creatively and collectively with new narrative approaches driven by ethical, environmental, epistemological and social imperatives. It is for students who want to use emerging storytelling tools and technologies critically, working with others to assemble and amplify stories that should be told and heard.

Purpose of Role

The Associate Lecturer will be responsible for contributing to high-quality teaching and tuition to complement and enhance core teaching delivery of the study of digital storytelling, including social and ecological concerns and intersectional practices.

Applicants should demonstrate knowledge and experience of current approaches to addressing social and/or ecological issues within the global context and within the field of digital storytelling, including working critically with emerging digital technologies (e.g. AI/ML, XR, games).

Associate Lecturers (ALs) at the Royal College of Art (RCA) contribute high quality, postgraduate teaching and tuition to complement and enhance core teaching delivery of Programmes across Schools and Directorates. ALs bring leading industry expertise and specialism, often from diverse disciplines and sectors, ensuring students receive depth and diversity in their Programme learning, and multi-disciplinary input during their studies. Depending on the specific scope of your employment you will be required to fulfil elements of the following as appropriate, directed by your Tutor, Senior Tutor, Head of Programme, or Dean.

For more information on the role please see the Info Pack.