Research Officer

at  Bangor University

Applications are invited for the above temporary, part time post working in the School of History, Law and Social Sciences. Duties will include performing some scoping searches, simple statistical analysis, administering a review of good practice, some report writing and project administration. Candidates should be educated to doctoral standard (or equivalent) and have previous experience of using statistical data. The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible. The ability to communicate in Welsh is essential for this post. This role will be located on campus at Bangor.
Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview. Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis. Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.
Closing date for applications: 26/01/2025
Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Dr Myfanwy Davies, Dean of Welsh CAHB, Myfanwy.davies@bangor.ac.uk.
Committed To Equal Opportunities
The Project
The Welsh Government aims to deliver one million Welsh speakers by 2050, with tertiary education playing a crucial role in reaching this goal. Supported by the Coleg Cenedlaethol, Welsh institutions have increased the percentage of students studying some of their course in Welsh from 6% in 2008/09 to 29% by 2021/22. While the number of students receiving some education in Welsh has grown, the proportion of bilingual students choosing Welsh-medium study has plateaued during the last 5 years.
Key factors influencing this choice include location, university reputation, employability, and finances, though financial incentives are less effective. Many students recognize the employability benefits of Welsh-language skills, yet concerns about inadequate Welsh writing abilities remain a barrier for bilingual students. Little research has examined how Gen Z’s learning preferences and factors like gender, deprivation, previous education and sense of belonging may affect Welsh-medium study choices.

Promoting flexible Welsh-medium teaching, assessment, and support could encourage positive language choices. This 12-month study across Bangor and Cardiff Met Universities focuses on five key activities:

• Exploring what teaching, assessment and support models are attractive to bilingual students who currently avoid Welsh-medium study, considering their characteristics and sense of belonging.
• Identifying successful educational interventions that boost confidence in using Welsh in higher education.
• Piloting these interventions at Bangor and Cardiff Met, evaluating and reporting on their impact.
• Developing a compendium of effective interventions and guidance for educators.
• Designing a larger-scale pilot for implementation across multiple institutions.

This post will support the research team during the second half of the study period. Accordingly, the review of good practice will be well underway, and the two pilot schemes ready to be implemented by the research team. The role will focus primarily on supporting the study of preferred teaching models which will use a survey approach and on developing and implementing the evaluation of the pilot schemes. The post holder will also contribute to the project outputs.
Purpose of the Job
The post is part of a new international team working in the area of tertiary teaching in lesser used languages. The project involves identifying teaching methods and models that are attractive to bilingual Welsh speaking students, designing and testing interventions to support their confidence and their intention to continue to study at least partially in Welsh.
The study will also assess and describe impactful interventions in the field across Wales and in comparable contexts. Outputs will include a project report, a compendium of good practice together with guidance for practitioners and an intervention to be used within and across subject areas. The research will provide a better understanding of models and methods for teaching bilingual students in a lesser used language which may be subject specific or applicable across a range of context.
It will also explore patterns of belonging and the role of demographic factors in students’ preferences. The post holder will be responsible for reporting the results of the survey study and some qualitative elements, aspects of project management and liaising with external and internal partners.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Gathering and analysis of data:
1. reporting quantitative data relating to a survey study.
2. collaborating with a specialist researcher exploring relationships between demographic variables, student preferences, perceptions of belonging and other factors.
3. designing and analysing 2 simple surveys to evaluate small-scale interventions under supervision.
4. reporting the results of scoping surveys in collaboration with the research team.
Delivering research outcomes:
1. prepare regular updates on progress to the project funders and other stakeholders.
2. prepare an evaluative report on two small-scale interventions.
3. contribute sections to the final report.
Administration of the research project:
1. participate in project meetings.
2. maintain and develop the project website and compendium.
3. liaise with stakeholders (external and internal).

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification
Qualifications/Training

Essential

• PhD (in a relevant subject area), or be close to the completion of or possess equivalent experience relevant to the role.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• The ability to report on quantitative analysis and undertake simple survey design and analysis.
• The ability to summarise and present information including some complex information.
• A sound understanding of basis statistical methods in social research.

Desirable

• Proven track record of publications in quality journals.
• Proven track record of conference presentations.
• Experience of maintaining websites and liaising with staff and partners involved in website development and graphic design.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Demonstrate good verbal and written skills.
• Demonstrate good analytical skills, ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
• Demonstrate the ability to prioritise work load and work to deadlines.

Desirable

• Demonstrate proven project management skills.
• Demonstrate good computer skills, including Sway, MS Office, Powerpoint, Excel, Google forms.
• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team.
• Any other skills / abilities relevant to the duties and responsibilities.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills.

Other

Essential

• the ability to speak Welsh fluently and carry out tasks such as writing emails in Welsh to a variety of audiences is essential for this post.

General
The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.
We are a member of Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University’s policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact. All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references. We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us.
When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas.
If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment. Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme) from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme
Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University’s Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.

• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post