Assistant Professor Education in Sustainability Dubai

The University of Birmingham is hiring an Assistant Professor in Education for Sustainability at its Dubai campus. This full-time position involves supporting the launch of a new BSc Sustainability program, engaging with sustainability issues, and collaborating with practitioners in the MENA region. Candidates will also contribute to teaching and administration within the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, with opportunities for professional development and promotion.
Description

PositionDetails

School ofGeography Earth and EnvironmentalSciences

Discipline: College of Life andenvironmental sciences

University of BirminghamDubai campus

Salary:Competitive

Grade: 8

No. ofpositions: 1

Fulltime

Location: DubaiUAE

Closing date: 12th May2025

UK and International travel may be requiredfor thisrole.

AcademicDevelopment Programme new Assistant Professors willundertake a 5year development programme at the end of which theyare expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programmeconsists of a variety of development opportunities and the time toreflect anddevelop.

University ofBirmingham Dubai

Havingestablished ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018we have now moved to our new stateoftheart campus which opened inSept 2021. These posts represent an excellent opportunity to joinan ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow ourlongterm strategic mission in Dubai the UAE and the wider region.Our campus reflects the very best of Birmingham through ourpresence inDubai.

Background

Weare recruiting an Assistant Professor in Sustainability (Education)who will join the highly interdisciplinary School of GeographyEarth and Environmental Sciences (GEES). The position offers anexciting opportunity to support the launch and teaching of our newBSc Sustainability programme on our Dubaicampus.

We are keen to attract candidates whosework engages with contemporary sustainability issues frominterdisciplinary perspectives across a range of SustainableDevelopment Goals. Our BSc Sustainability is the first suchprogramme in the United Arab Emirates and the post holders willwork on the creation of new content programme development as wellas enabling the launch and running of the new programme. We alsowish for post holders to work closely with sustainabilitypractitioners and relevant government officials in the greater MENAregion to ensure that our teaching engages with living projects andthat in demand green skills are embedded throughout ourmodules.

As well as contributing to BScSustainability the post holders may also provide wider support forthe teaching delivery and administration of GEES Dubai andEdgbaston based programmes. As part of the broader School the postholder will also be expected to contribute to our ongoinginnovation of teaching and assessment.

TheUniversity of Birmingham is an equalopportunity employer wishing torecruit talented individuals from anywhere around the world. Weencourage applicants from all sections of thecommunity.

RoleSummary

You willcontribute to a range of educationrelated activities though mainlyin support of our BSc Sustainability programme. In addition youwill be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship developing andmaintaining mutually respectful and supportive workingrelationships with all staff and students and ensuring the way youcarry out your role impacts positively on how others carry outtheirs.

Teaching is likely to include asubstantial contribution to: (a) the management development anddelivery of teaching and assessment and (b) enhancement of thestudent experience and employability. The role will typically alsoinvolve developing and advising others including: (a) providingexpert advice to staff and students and (b) developing and advisingothers on learning and teaching tasks and methods with a particularfocus on approaches suitable to distance / onlinelearning.

You will be expected to advanceteaching and learning practice in your modules within the Schooland play an important role in student academic and pastoral willdeliver excellent teaching that inspires students and is informedby disciplinebased research or professional experience in the fieldof sustainability.

Management and administrationactivities will focus on the development and leadership of our BScSustainabilityprogramme.

MainDuties

Education

Youwill contribute across the range of teaching and learningactivities:
• contribute to leadingcurriculum development and/or renewal;
• developand manage approaches to teaching and learning that are bestpractice in the subject area;
• advise others onaspects of learning teaching andassessment;
• play an important role in studentacademic support;
• inform your teaching practiceby disciplinebased research and/or professional practice in thefield of sustainability;
• frequently update yoursubject expertise and undertake personal professional developmentin teaching including selfreflection on own teaching using studentand peer review feedback to enhance own teaching and learningprocesses;
• you may play an important role inthe recruitment and admission ofstudents.

Using a variety of methodsin teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduatesand postgraduates (contact and online settings) including (asappropriate):
• teaching and examiningmodules at a range of levels with teaching activities also takingplace during weekends and evening;
• planning andreviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to dothe same;
• designing contemporary inclusiveengaging and academically challenging curriculumcontent;
• working collaboratively withcolleagues to design and deliver teaching learning andassessment;
• using digital resources (e.g. GIS)/environments effectively to support learning andassessment;
• developing programme proposals andmaking substantial contributions to the design of teachingprogrammes more widely;
• where appropriateundertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities inrelation to supervision marking andexamining;
• developing and advising others onlearning and teaching tasks andmethods;
• devising and supervising projectsstudent dissertations and practicalwork.

Management/Administration

Tocontribute to School administration. This mayinclude:
• contributing to theadministration/management of teaching within theSchool;
• where appropriate leading and managinga team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process programme or a recruitment drive);
• making acontribution to administrative activities within the University(e.g. appeals panels workinggroups);
• developing and making substantialcontributions to knowledge transfer enterprise public engagementwidening participation schoolsoutreach;
• promoting equality diversity andinclusion through monitoring and evaluation and activelychallenging unacceptablebehaviour.

Citizenship

Contributingto an inclusive workingenvironment:
• pursuing your activitiesin a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectivelyand efficiently;
• demonstrating a willingness tobe involved in a variety of activities supporting University life(e.g. participation in graduations Schoolcommittees);
• demonstrating support forcolleagues such as sharing resources providingadvice;
• willingness to volunteer for oneoffduties (such as supporting Schoolprojects);
• proactively supporting and engagingin activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusivecommunity spirit across theSchool/College/University.

PersonSpecification
• Normallya higher Degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) orequivalent qualifications and/or professional experience inGeography Environmental Science or Sustainability. The post holdersmust be able to create and contribute to/lead on modules includingGlobal Environmental Issues Climate Justice and SustainabilityTheory Sustainability Assessment Methods Research Methods andGIS.
• Teaching experience and scholarship and/ortraining within subject specialism.
• Provenability to devise advise on and managelearning.
• Excellent interpersonal skills withthe ability to work effectively in a team environment collaboratewith colleagues and communicate ideas clearly toothers.

Teaching
• Experienceof delivering sustainabilityeducation.
• Experience and demonstrated successin developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching andadvising colleagues.
• Experience usinginnovative teaching methods.
• Experience orunderstanding of teaching diverse studentcohorts.

ManagementAdministration
• Abilityto contribute to School managementprocesses.
• Ability to assess and organiseresources effectively.
• Understanding of andability to contribute to broader management/administrationprocesses.
• Experience of championing EqualityDiversity and Inclusion in own workarea.
• Ability to identify issues with thepotential to impact on protected groups and take appropriateaction.

Forinformal enquiries please contact Mohammad Radfar email:(Dubai Campus) and John Round (EdgbastonCampus)

Webelieve there is no such thing as a typical member of University ofBirmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strengththat underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at theheart of University life. We are committed to proactivelyaddressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our communityand are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter andDisability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversityand Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving theUniversity as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone hasthe opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainabilitywhich is a key part of our strategy .You can find out more about our work to create afairer university foreveryone on ourwebsite .
Key Skills
Early ChildhoodEducation,Classroom Experience,Education Administration,LessonPlanning,Special Education,Adult Education,Teaching,CurriculumDevelopment,Administrative Experience,Leadership Experience,ProgramDevelopment,Supervising Experience
EmploymentType : Full-Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1