Creative Arts, Business and Social Sciences
Part time/Fixed term: 2 days per week, every week starting on the first of December 2026 until end of April 2027. Subsequently, they will work for 1 day per week from May 2027 until 20 August 2027 (16 weeks).
Unfortunately, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship in line with Home Office requirements. Applicants will therefore be unable to secure a Skilled Worker visa for this role and will require an alternative source of right to work in the UK."
Please note that the information provided in this advert is correct at the time of writing. The University cannot guarantee sponsorship, and we encourage you to keep up to date with any changes that the Home Office may introduce.
“Applicants should be aware that this role is fully funded externally so is offered as fixed term for 16 weeks. Any further extension would be considered on the renewal of that external funding”
THE POST – REQ000615 - Research Assistant – Community Art Researcher
We are seeking an enthusiastic and creative Community Art Researcher to join an exciting international research and engagement project connecting communities in Gdańsk, Poland, and Govan and Greenock in Scotland. Working with academics, artists, heritage organisations, community partners and software developers, you will undertake archival research, facilitate community engagement activities, and capture project stories through film and digital media. You will play a key role in exploring local heritage, collective memory and community narratives, helping to transform research findings and community-generated content into innovative digital and creative outputs.
The successful candidate will have a postgraduate qualification in Cultural Studies or a related discipline, alongside a background in filmmaking, documentary production, film and television, or a related field. You will bring experience of archival research, community-based research and engagement, audio and video production, digital storytelling, and content creation. Fluency in both English and Polish is essential, as is the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of partners and stakeholders across Scotland and Poland. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a unique project that combines research, creativity, community engagement and digital innovation to bring heritage and lived experiences to new audiences.
The successful candidate should have the following:
- MSc Cultural Studies or equivalent and Bachelor of Arts in Filmmaking or a closely related field including documentary filmmaking, and film and TV.
- Experience in archival, heritage, or community-based research, including the collection, analysis, and interpretation of historical and cultural materials.
- Experience designing and delivering community engagement activities, participatory arts projects, workshops, and/or creative research methods with diverse community groups.
- Experience in filmmaking, camera operation, audio recording, interviewing, and the production of digital content for research, heritage, educational, or creative purposes.
- Experience collecting, documenting, and managing qualitative research data, including audiovisual materials, oral histories, community narratives, and archival content.
ABOUT US
University of the West of Scotland is a placemaking institution that is proud to be an integral part of its local communities, with a national and international reach: the University has four campuses in Scotland in Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Paisley, as well as a campus in London Docklands. UWS has almost 100 international partnerships and its student community comprises more than 100 nationalities.
UWS is committed to providing education opportunities for all, empowering individuals to reach their full potential. The University creates meaningful impact locally, nationally and globally through innovative learning and teaching, pioneering research, and transformative partnerships. UWS is committed to the UNSDGs and was ranked joint 1st in Scotland and joint 4th in the UK for quality education (SDG4); and 1st in the UK and 39th globally for our contribution to decent work and economic growth (SDG8) in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.
90% of UWS research was classed as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally in the REF (Research Excellence Framework) 2021.
UWS is fully committed to the UK Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers which sets out clear standards that research staff can expect from the University. It aims to improve the employment and support for research careers in the UK and provides a framework for career development based around the Concordat principles.
We offer our staff a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes:
- 35 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays
- An additional days leave on your birthday
- Defined benefit contribution pension scheme (including death in service benefits upon joining the scheme
- A flexible approach to working pattern and work-life balance
- Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
- Fitness facilities across our campuses
- Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Professional, career and research development opportunities.
Closing Date: Monday 7th September 2026
Interview Date: Week commencing 14th September 2026
Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception, where evidence would need to be provided)
The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.
You can find out more about how the University uses your personal data as part of the recruitment process by looking at the UWS HR Applicant Privacy Notice at www.uws.ac.uk
UWS are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant.
UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.
UWS is a “Disability Confident” employer.
University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520.
