SL-Fall 2026-RPD*6030 International Rural Development Planning: Principles and Practices

Sessional Lecturer Work Assignment
Sessional Lecturer, Unit 2
Academic Unit: 
School of Env. Design and Rural Dev.
Semester(s) of Assignment(s): 
Fall 2026
Number of Available Work Assignment(s) / Sections: 
1
Level of Work Assignment(s): 
1
Right of First Refusal (RoFR)
A Sessional Lecturer holds a RoFR (i.e., for a particular course) if they have successfully taught the course in the past six (6) semesters. A SL who holds a RoFR to this course is required to exercise their right by way of the online hiring system. Also see: What is Right of First Refusal (RoFR)?
A Sessional Lecturer Currently Holds a Right of First Refusal for this Course: 
No
Course Details
Course Number: 
RPD*6030
Course Name: 
International Rural Development Planning: Principles and Practices
Course Format: 
In-Class
Course Description: 
See Course Calendar
Other Course Description or Assignment Information: 
This seminar examines the theory, policy, and practice of rural planning and development in the Global South. It integrates critical perspectives on rural transformation, governance, land systems, and agrifood policy with applied case studies and contemporary methodological approaches. Students will engage directly with flagship institutional reports, recent peer-reviewed literature, and thematic debates.
Projected Class Enrolment: 
20
Anticipated Duties and Responsibilities
Anticipated Duties and Responsibilities: 
Office Hours
Preparation
Student Consultation
Lecturing
Email Correspondence/Monitoring
Grading
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Degree: 
PhD related to field
PhD and expert in course content
Prior Teaching Experience: 
Many years of successful teaching related to contents of the course.
Required competence, capability, skill and ability related to course content: 
The successful candidate should demonstrate strong competence in international rural development planning, with specialized knowledge of rural transformation, agrarian systems, and sustainable development in the Global South. Required expertise includes critical understanding of rural governance, land tenure and land-use planning, agrifood systems, water governance, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management. The candidate should possess the capability to analyze and teach complex socio-ecological systems using interdisciplinary and systems-thinking approaches, as well as the ability to connect theory, policy, and practice through applied case studies. The candidate must demonstrate skill in participatory planning methodologies, policy analysis, and sustainability assessment, with experience in designing integrated rural development strategies. Strong research and scholarly capacities are essential, including critical engagement with peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and contemporary policy debates. The ability to facilitate seminar-based learning, mentor graduate students, and foster critical discussion is required. Intercultural competence, ethical awareness, and sensitivity to Indigenous and local knowledge systems are highly desirable, along with demonstrated excellence in academic writing, communication, and collaborative teaching practices.
Preferred Qualifications
Degree: 
PhD related to field
PhD and expert in course content
Prior Teaching Experience: 
Successful teaching related to field at college or university level.
Research Experience: 
Quality and or Recent Research activity in areas relevant to the course demonstrating knowledge of current developments in course content.
Days Required and Wages
Days and Times Required: 
T 2:30 PM - 5:20 PM
Period of the Work Agreement (Start Date and End Date): 
September 8, 2026 to December 24, 2026
Wages (per semester, per full-load): 
minimum $8,838.51 (effective 2025/26)
Other Posting Information
Application Deadline (All postings will automatically expire at 11:59 pm on this day): 
Friday, July 24, 2026
Posting Email Contact: 
edrdpost@uoguelph.ca
Hiring Contact Information: 
Kaitlin Milley, Administrative Officer, sedrdadmin@uoguelph.ca

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution. For more information, the Office of Diversity and Human Rights (DHR) is a welcoming, safe and confidential one-stop shop for information, training and support on issues relating to diversity and human rights on our campus.
SL work assignments are unionized with CUPE3913 and their terms and conditions of work are covered by the Unit 2 Collective Agreement between the University and CUPE 3913 (email contact: president@cupe3913.on.ca).

All applicants must be eligible to work in Canada specifically at the University of Guelph before applying for an academic work assignment. All successful applicants must perform their work in Ontario and must be able to attend on-campus in-person meetings as required.