Job Information
Organisation/Company: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF VANUATU
Research Field: Management sciences
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), Established Researcher (R3)
Application Deadline: 25 Sep 2026 - 00:00 (UTC)
Country: Vanuatu
Type of Contract: Other
Job Status: Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
Supervisor: Program Leader / Head of School of Tourism & Business Management / Dean of Faculty of Humanities
Background
The National University of Vanuatu (NUV) was established by Act No. 34 of 2019. Located in Port Vila, its mission is to promote higher education and lifelong learning through academic and professional excellence, through training, teaching and learning in English and French, research and international cooperation.
The existing Bachelor of Tourism & Hospitality, delivered at NUV in partnership with the University of New Caledonia, the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès and Taylor’s University of Malaysia since 2018, has laid the groundwork for academic training in the field. However, evolving economic, changing environmental contexts, and policy development call for a locally designed, homegrown Bachelor of Sustainable Tourism that would better align with Vanuatu’s realities and leverages its unique cultural and ecological assets.
Purpose of the position
To deliver high-quality teaching, contribute to curriculum development, undertake applied research, and support community and industry engagement activities that advocate sustainable tourism education and development in Vanuatu and the Pacific region.
Position Summary
The National University of Vanuatu seeks to appoint an enthusiastic and innovative Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career academic to contribute to teaching, research, and community engagement in a nation and region where the sustainable management of tourism is of vital and growing importance.
The workload allocation for this position is 50-60% teaching, 20-30% research, 10% service and administrative and 5% engagement and outreach. The successful candidate will support the delivery and development of a new undergraduate degree in Sustainable Tourism that will be offered at the National University of Vanuatu from 2027. Potential candidates with interests in destination management, climate adaptation, community-based tourism, sustainable development, regenerative systems and island resilience are encouraged to apply. Those with other relevant specialities are also encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will contribute to a vibrant academic environment through teaching, scholarship, and collaboration with key stakeholders in industry, government and community.
Key Responsibilities – Detailed Listing
Teaching
The teaching workload will normally consist of three to four modules per semester.
- Deliver high-quality teaching across the new undergraduate degree program at NUV.
- Develop and update courses in areas such as:
- Sustainable tourism development
- Tourism and climate change
- Tourism in Small Island Developing States
- Destination planning and management
- Community-based and regenerative tourism
- Tourism policy and governance
- Design engaging learning activities using innovative pedagogical approaches.
- Supervise undergraduate projects.
- Contribute to curriculum enhancement and program review activities.
- Support student recruitment, retention, and academic success.
Research and Scholarship
- Develop an emerging research profile in sustainable tourism and/or small island tourism.
- Produce high-quality scholarly outputs.
- Engage in collaborative research projects with colleagues and external partners.
- Seek opportunities to secure external funding and research grants and contribute to the preparation of grant applications, consultancy projects and externally funded initiatives
- Build collaborative applied research relationships that link to and support the local tourism industry and government policy makers.
- Present research findings at national and international conferences.
Knowledge Exchange and External Engagement
- Build relationships with tourism organisations, NGOs, local and national government, donor agencies and communities.
- Contribute to partnerships focused on sustainable tourism and island resilience.
- Support consultancy, professional training, and community engagement initiatives.
- Contribute to public awareness and educational activities related to sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship.
Academic Citizenship
- Participate in program management and quality assurance activities.
- Attend departmental meetings and contribute to degree development initiatives.
- Support open days, outreach activities, and student recruitment events.
- Undertake administrative duties appropriate to an early academic career.
Critical Competencies
- Experience conducting research in island contexts or in areas relevant to Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Vanuatu in particular.
- Initial publications or conference presentations in sustainable tourism or related fields.
- Experience in, or willingness to, work with tourism stakeholders, government agencies, NGOs, and/or community organisations.
- Familiarity with online and blended learning approaches.
- Experience of, or a willingness to engage in, international education or intercultural collaboration.
- Communication Skills – demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively through strong written and verbal communication with diverse audiences
- Collaboration – ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams while building productive relationships with students and external stakeholders.
- Problem solving – ability to analyse issues, apply theoretical knowledge to practical tourism challenges and develop effective evidence-based solutions
- Planning and organization – organization and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and deliver high-quality outcomes.
Qualifications
- PhD or Master's degree completed in Tourism Management, Sustainable Development, Geography, Environmental Management, Island Studies or a closely related discipline.
- A Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, Teaching and Learning, or an equivalent pedagogical qualification.
Preferred Skills and Abilities
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to engage and inspire undergraduate student groups and those looking to enter degree studies.
- Good organisational and time-management skills.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.
- Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams in a new and developing university setting.
Required Experience
- Knowledge of sustainable tourism principles and practices.
- Understanding of tourism challenges and opportunities in Small Island Developing States.
- Evidence of initial teaching, tutoring, training, or student support experience commensurate with recent PhD graduation/early-stage academic development.
- Awareness of contemporary issues including but not limited to climate change, resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, regenerative systems, agritourism, tourism policy and governance.
- An understanding of the challenges facing Pacific Island tourism would be advantageous but is not required.
- Awareness of indigenous knowledge and cultural preservation issues
- Knowledge of sustainable tourism certification systems and global best practice
Language
Fluency in English and French is an asset. Knowledge of Bislama is an advantage.
Equal Opportunity
The National University of Vanuatu is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. All employment decisions within the NUV programme must be based on merit and equal opportunity. The NUV programme is committed to ensuring fair, equal, and impartial treatment of all employees in all aspects of employment. The NUV programme is also committed to respecting gender balance in employment and providing employment opportunities for people with special needs. In carrying out its employment decisions, the NUV programme will not discriminate based on sex, religion, nationality, race, language or disability.
Terms and Conditions of Employment
- Annual salary range: 5 M – 5.3 M VT depending on qualifications and experience + 25% benefit
- Full-time three-year local contract, with the possibility of extension depending on performance.
- Need to meet the Republic of Vanuatu immigration requirements and commit to living and working in Port Vila "full time"
Contact Person
Potential applicants with specific questions are welcome to contact the human resources’ service at apply@univ.edu.vu
Application Procedures
The application must include the following:
- a cover letter providing a comprehensive description of the applicant's teaching, research, and academic leadership philosophy, and addresses the required and preferred qualifications, experience, skills, and competencies relevant to marine studies.
- A complete Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing educational qualifications, professional and academic experience, teaching experience, research achievements, publications, conference presentations, consultancy work, and grants or research funding secured…
- Certified copies of academic qualifications and official academic transcripts
- Contact details of three (3) professional referees who can comment on the applicant's academic, research, and professional capabilities
- NUV_ACADEMIC_APPLICATION_FORM
Please send your application documents in PDF format to apply@univ.edu.vu with the following subject line:
Application [YOUR NAME] NUV – Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism,
This is a Preview Listing…
You must sign in to see the full job description, and to apply.
Manage / Upgrade this job to a Full Job Listing.
Find Your Best Opportunity
Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!