Assistant/Associate Professor in Visual Arts Education (VPA) [NIE]

Overview

The Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) Department at the National Institute of Education, prides itself on its diverse and wide-ranging expertise. Consisting of visual arts, music and drama units, VPA has been an integral part of Singapore’s arts teachers’ education with its provision of pre-service teacher education, professional development and extensive educational research in arts and arts education.  VPA is committed to educating our students to be independent, critical and creative thinkers, as well as competent practitioners in the fields of arts education. Students and faculty have access to well-equipped studios and professional gallery that support teaching and learning.  The academic department also hosts the Centre for Arts Research in Education (CARE) which is an established research hub in the institute that explores issues related to the arts and education.

We invite applications for a full-time tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in Visual Arts Education. We welcome both experienced academics and promising early-career scholars who demonstrate strong potential in teaching, research, and educational leadership.

This position offers an exciting opportunity for scholars committed to expanding the boundaries of art education through critical inquiry, creative practice, and pedagogical innovation in schools and communities. Join our socials #friendsofvpa on Facebook and NIE CARE .

Requirements

Successful candidates must have:

• A PhD in Visual Arts Education or a closely related field. Candidates who have recently completed or are nearing completion of their doctoral studies are encouraged to apply.

• A developing or established record of scholarly work that advances the field of art education. This may include:

  • Peer-reviewed journal publications

  • Practice-based research

  • Artistic research outputs

  • Innovation in pedagogy and curriculum design

  • Exhibitions, public programming, or arts-based community engagement

• Demonstrated interest in research that bridges theory and practice, and that contributes meaningfully to educational transformation.

• Capacity or potential to secure competitive research funding.

• Experience in tertiary-level teaching, particularly in visual arts education or related disciplines. Prior experience teaching in Primary or Secondary school contexts is advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain a research agenda that may include traditional scholarship, creative outputs, and practice-based or participatory research.

• Contribute to the advancement of art education through:

  • Publications, exhibitions, and arts programming

  • Develop approaches to curriculum and pedagogy

  • Cross-sectoral or interdisciplinary collaborations

• Seek opportunities for external funding and engage in NIE’s strategic research clusters or thematic initiatives. See thematic initiatives of the NIE Office for Research

• Supervise or co-supervise Master’s and Doctoral students in art education or related fields.

• Design, coordinate, and teach undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma-level courses in visual arts education, including pre-service and in-service teachers.

• Contribute to curriculum development aligned with evolving educational practices and Ministry of Education (Singapore) initiatives.

• Serve as a mentor and practicum supervisor, fostering reflective practice and professional growth in aspiring educators.

• Participate actively in the academic and administrative work of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and NIE.

• Contribute to programme development, governance, and quality assurance processes.

• Collaborate with schools, arts organisations, and community partners to enhance NIE’s outreach and impact.

• Uphold values of inclusion, collaboration, and ethical engagement in all academic and service contributions.

Application

Please submit your application together with the following documents to us:

• A cover letter indicating the ways you meet the criteria for the position

• A detailed curriculum vitae including a publication / exhibition list and grant records, names and email addresses of three academic referees

• A research statement

• A teaching statement

• List of your publications / exhibitions

• Any other document beyond those stated on the application form that demonstrates your qualifications and credentials such as samples or links to your published writings and exhibitions.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 31 July 2025 or until the position is filled.

Other Information

More information on VPA Department can be found at https://www.ntu.edu.sg/nie/about-us/academic-departments/visual-and-performing-arts

For enquiries, interested applicants may write to Mr Paul Lincoln at paul.lincoln@nie.edu.sg

Note to applicants

We regret that only successful candidates will be notified (via email).

Hiring Institution: NIE