In a city renowned for its international outlook and connections, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts plays a unique and influential role in developing future generations of performing artists that include performers, practitioners, designers and technicians. The Academy’s six Schools: Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film & Television, Music, and Theatre & Entertainment Arts create a vibrant centre of practice, production, teaching and practice-as-research. Its outstanding reputation is reinforced by the quality of its performers and its partnerships with other centres of excellence locally, regionally and internationally. With international residencies, visiting artists and alumni, which include some of the most respected professionals in their disciplines, the Academy is committed to the training of future world-class performers and practitioners.

The Academy is unique in that performance and production outcomes are central to its programmes. Practice-as-Research is encouraged for its contribution to enhancing educational and performance outcomes. The Academy established a unit for Performing Arts Research in 2018 to embed Practice-as-Research into the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. The unit also provides professional development to the Academy staff to encourage research into their own practice through the investigative and reflective processes of practice-based inquiry.

The Academy runs five Master’s degree programmes in various performing arts disciplines. Postgraduate students undertake practical research, apply theory to professional practice, make original contributions to their areas of specialisation, and gain the specialised means and assurance to continue in life-long careers.

The postholder will report to the Assistant Deputy Director (Programme Development) in providing leadership in the development of Practice-as-Research (PaR) at the Academy. He/She will oversee the Performing Arts Research Unit in carrying out PaR programmes and coordinating academic studies at the postgraduate level.

Key responsibilities:
(a) To formulate strategic plans for developing a PaR culture amongst staff and students, and across all academic programmes.
(b) To manage the daily operation of the Performing Arts Research Unit and supervise its staff and all its activities.
(c) To lead the development, preparation, implementation and delivery of PaR courses for staff and students.
(d) To mentor and advise students undertaking research projects.
(e) To identify, instigate, undertake and advise on research projects conducted by Academy staff.
(f) To organise PaR events and prepare resource materials and manuals on PaR.
(g) To coordinate the Master’s degree programmes in collaboration with the Schools.
(h) To provide support in postgraduate programme accreditation/review exercises.
(i) To supervise full-time and part-time staff in carrying out their teaching duties and course development work for the Master’s degree programmes.

Required Qualifications:
(a) Advanced academic qualifications and/or a relevant PhD/MA/MFA degree, and/or significant research training/experience specialising in Practice-as-Research, Practice-led-Research or Practice-based-Research.
(b) A minimum of eight years’ experience of teaching in a performing, visual and/or technical arts context, preferably to PhD or Master’s level.
(c) At least four years’ leadership experience in a performing arts, research or pedagogical context or the equivalent.
(d) At least four years’ experience in coordinating, developing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and curricula.
(e) Extensive experience in performing arts research design, writing and implementation.
(f) Experience in working within a multidisciplinary context.
(g) Fluency in spoken and written Chinese and English.