Vice-Dean: Learning, Teaching, Innovation and Digitalisation - (1071) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Take co-responsibility with the Dean to ensure the achievement of the mission of all faculty-based programmes and initiatives.
• Lead the Teaching and Learning (T&L) portfolio of the faculty by guiding T&L policies, teaching approaches, digitalisation and innovation in the field to ensure the smooth running of all T&L activities.
• Provide guidance towards strategic and visionary T&L matters such as course and curriculum development, teaching innovation and hybrid teaching methodologies.
• Ensure that the General Rules and Regulations of the UFS as well as EMS rules related to the academic programmes are adhered to, updated where needed and communicated to all staff in EMS.
• Liaise with top management through the Dean, especially the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, CTL, SAS, and DIRAP.
• Continuously look for new T&L needs from the related market, students and government.
• Take co-responsibility with the T&L Manager of EMS for leading the T&L committee and all initiatives in that field of T&L.
• Take co-responsibility with the Faculty Manager of EMS for consideration of any academic administration aspects, faculty rules, and standard operation procedures.
• Attend all UFS T&L related meetings, formal and informal.
• Ensure the application of the quality assurance framework to all T&L matters in the different departments.
• Engage with Programme Directors on quality management aspects.
• Spearhead curriculum renewal and innovation in the faculty.
• Take responsibility of digitalisation and entrepreneurial projects.
• Coordinate the initiation of short learning programmes.

Inherent requirements:

• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience on management level.
• Proven experience in forming networks and linkages between the UFS and industry.
• Proven experience in supervision of master’s and PhD students.
• Proven evidence of publishing in peer reviewed journals.
• Proven experience in the leadership of Teaching and Learning, such as curriculum development, design and renewal, and assessment.
• Must be appointable as an Associate or full Professor at the University of the Free State.

Recommendations:

• A deep understanding of all UFS policies and rules related to T&L, evident in departmental policies developed and successful implementation.
• A fair understanding of the HEQSF, SAQA and DHET rules and requirements and the development of new qualifications.
• Evidence of curriculum development and innovations and staff development within his/her department in relation with new strategies and innovation. 
• Evidence of SoTL or Teaching Fellowship.
• Evidence of the implementation of a composite strategic plan for T&L in his/her department.
• Knowledgeable about the functioning of the Executive committee of a faculty.
• Analytical problem-solving skills with impeccable attention to detail.
• Evidence of inter-faculty and inter-department collaborations.
• Ability to set an overall strategy and drive process improvement.
• The ability to build relationships with and between faculty and UFS staff.
• Identify, train, and develop leaders within the faculty and setting them on a path for management.
• A deep understanding of national and international trends in current, new and emerging modalities of improving Teaching and Learning in SET and higher education.

Competencies
Required competencies: 
Results orientated:

• Ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.
• Ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.

Strategic thinking.

• Ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.
• Ability to carefully analyse information and use logic to address issues and problems at work.

Business acumen.

• Quality management of programme delivery.
• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.

Leading.

• Ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• Ability to be cooperative with others; display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

Building coalitions.

• Ability to be self-assured and at ease with people in all types of social situations.
• Ability to make decisions through consultation, collaboration and working with close supervision.
• Established leadership and team-building capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate, collaborate, communicate and facilitate in complex environments. 

Closing Date

20/8/2023