Vice-Dean: Teaching and Learning (Health Sciences) (post level 5) - (962) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Strive for excellence in all aspects of health sciences with a focus on teaching and learning.
• Responsible to ensure the achievement of the mission of all faculty-based programmes with a main focus on teaching and learning and also other areas of community and stakeholder engagement and accreditation.
• Responsible to provide effective and appropriate academic and scholarly teaching and learning direction and to develop and implement the teaching and learning mission of the faculty within the broader university context. Also, to focus on community and stakeholder engagement and accreditation included with the teaching and learning drive within this strategic direction.
• Responsible to ensure improving and maintaining all academic standards for programme accreditation across all programmes in terms of teaching and learning initiatives and graduate and research output.
• Support the Dean to ensure oversight of all internal and external relations and assist in securing strategic collaboration and third-stream income.
• Participate in committees both at faculty and university level and chair the faculty teaching and learning committee.
• Participate predominantly in the teaching and learning portfolio that will include aspects of ethics, medical writing, quality assurance and community and stakeholder engagement but also in accreditation, employment equity and areas of education and community service that link up with research.
• Develop a comprehensive agenda for the development and offering of credit-bearing and non­ formal short learning programmes.
• Manage strategic projects as deemed relevant by the dean, relating to the faculty and the UFS' overall strategy.
• Participate in community service and engagement initiatives pertaining to the teaching and learning portfolio.
• Manage all student-related undergraduate matters.
• Take responsibility of enrolment planning, management, exclusions and rule revisions.
• Manage staff allocated to the portfolio and also other teaching and learning staff in partnership with line managers.
• Provide direction to Health Sciences Education.
• Stand in for dean at graduations where needed.
• Take responsibility for open day activities.
• Act as dean and report to the Deputy Vice Chancellors and Rector when the Dean is not available and appointed in the capacity of Acting Dean.

Inherent Job Requirements:

• A doctoral degree on NQF Level 10, in any discipline related to health sciences.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience on management level.
• Proven experience in the leadership of Teaching and Learning, such as curriculum development, design and renewal, and assessment in basic and academic clinical health sciences education.
• Proven experience in supervision of master’s and PhD students.
• Proven evidence of publishing in peer reviewed journals.
• Must be appointable as an Associate or full Professor at the University of the Free State.

Recommendations:

• An NRF rating.
• A post graduate qualification in Health Science Education
• Proven academic stature and teaching and learning record.
• 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 the implementation of a composite strategic plan for T&L in his/her department.
• 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
Key Competencies Required:

Results orientated:

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

Strategic thinking:

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

Business acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.
• Maintain sound relationships and forge collegiality in the faculty.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent grant writing skills
• Managerial skills with a focus on teaching and learning management. 

Leading:

• The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others.
• The ability to be cooperating with others, display good-natured attitude, and encourage people to work together.
• Building coalitions:
• The ability to negotiate, sell, influence and to persuade others.
• The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Assumption of duties:

• As soon as possible.

Closing date:
18 June 2023