Associate Professor in Sustainability Education Dubai -School of Geography Earth and Environmental SciencesGrade 9

The University of Birmingham is hiring an Associate Professor in Sustainability Education for its Dubai campus. This full-time position involves teaching and leadership in the new BSc Sustainability program, engaging with sustainability issues and practitioners in the MENA region. Candidates will contribute to course development and support the administration of related programs. The role requires academic citizenship and collaboration with students and staff to enhance the educational experience.
Description

PositionDetails

School ofGeography Earth and EnvironmentalSciences

University of Birmingham Dubaicampus

Salary:Competitive

Grade: 9

No. ofpositions: 1

Fulltime

Location: DubaiUAE

Closing date: 14th May2025

UK and International travel may be requiredfor thispost

Universityof BirminghamDubai

Having establishedourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we have nowmoved to our new stateoftheart campus which opened in Sept 2021.These posts represent an excellent opportunity to join an ambitiousWorld Top 100 University as we continue to grow our longtermstrategic mission in Dubai the UAE and the wider region. Our campusreflects the very best of Birmingham through our presence inDubai.

Background

Weare recruiting an Associate Professor inSustainability (Education) who will join the highlyinterdisciplinary School of Geography Earth and EnvironmentalSciences (GEES). The position offers an exciting opportunity tosupport the launch teaching and leadership of our new BScSustainability programme on our Dubai campus.

Weare keen to attract candidates whose work engages with contemporarysustainability issues from interdisciplinary perspectives across arange of Sustainable Development Goals. Our BSc Sustainability isthe first such programme in the United Arab Emirates and the postholders will work on the creation of new content programmedevelopment as well as enabling the launch and running of the newprogramme. We also wish for post holders to work closely withsustainability practitioners and relevant government officials inthe greater MENA region to ensure that our teaching engages withliving projects and that in demand green skills are embeddedthroughout our modules.

As well as contributingto BSc Sustainability the post holders may also provide widersupport for the teaching delivery and administration of GEES Dubaiand Edgbaston based programmes. As part of the broader School thepost holder 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.

Successful applications will receive acompetitive package and play a key role in our ambitiousUniversitys expansion as we enhance our international reputationand global footprint.

RoleSummary

Contribute at asenior level on a sustained basis to the whole range of teachingleadership and administration though mainly in support of our BScSustainability programme. In addition you will be expected todemonstrate academic citizenship developing and maintainingmutually respectful and supportive working relationships with allstaff and students and ensuring the way you carry out your roleimpacts positively on how others carry outtheirs.

Teaching is likely to include: (a)development and leadership of major teaching programmes orequivalent; and (b) enhancement of the student experience oremployability that are of manifest benefit the is expected that youwill demonstrate a significant contribution to the advancement ofteaching (policy practice standards) of the subject provideleadership in teaching and learning that is innovative to thesubject area or institution with a significant contribution to thedebate nationally about teaching

Management andadministration is likely to include School level leadership andmanagement activity with University wide involvement for examplethrough sustained high value impact knowledge transfer enterprisebusiness engagement public engagement or similaractivities.

MainDuties

Education

Youwill contribute across the range of teaching and learningactivities:
• making a significantcontribution to the pedagogical knowledge base of the subject thatadvances teaching through the enhancement of practice thedevelopment of teaching resources and/or through practicebasedresearch;
• leading on the management and thedevelopment of approaches to teaching and learning includingdesigning innovative approaches and supporting colleagues to usethem in the subject area orinstitution;
• leading on curriculum design atmodule and programme level to ensure it is contemporary inclusiveengaging and academically challenging;
• activelyengaging students in curriculum design;
• makingan impactful high quality contribution to debates about educationpolicy methods and practices through internal and externalpublications subject societies and conferenceactivity;
• developing an external profileevidenced through engaging in external quality assurance activitiesrelated to teaching eg. external examining and engagingwith/supporting education in otherinstitutions;
• where appropriate playing animportant and sustained role in the recruitment and admission ofstudents;
• cosupervising doctoral students tocompletion;
• leading the development of teachinglearning and assessment policies andstrategies;
• acting as an education mentor tocolleagues in the School/College or morewidely;
• leading the development of new andappropriate approaches to learning andteaching.
• leading sustained high value impactin knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagementpublic engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or oremployability and is of manifest benefit to learning and teachingin the College and the University;
• undertakingown teaching which will include teaching and examining courses at arange of levels planning and reviewing own teaching approachesdeveloping programme proposals supervision marking and examining.You will ensure that your teaching practice is informed bydiscipline based research through participating in the researchculture of theSchool.

Management/Administration

Leadactivities in the School and represent the School on College/University committees or working groups. This mayinclude:
• teaching and examiningmodules at a range of levels with teaching activities also takingplace during weekends and evening;
• making animportant contribution to the development and running of the Schoolfor example leading activity on teachingassessment;
• leading a successful internationalengagement at School level;
• developing andmanaging staff and resources in support of major teachingactivities;
• making important contributions tothe development of the schools learning and teachingstrategy;
• contributing significantly to thedevelopment and delivery of knowledge transfer enterprise businessengagement and public engagement activities with sustained highvalue impact of manifest benefit to the College and the Universityin a teaching/education context;
• develops andimplements a culture (including policies and procedures) thatpromotes Equality and values diversity andinclusion;
• leading serving on and assisting thework of committees and task and finish groups beyond School e.g.Senate Council University Education or Research Committeeetc.;
• leading external committees e.g. thoseassociated with public/professional bodies ordelivery of activitiesfor an external body at an appropriate level e.g. chairing subcommittees associated with large elements ofwork;
• leading/project managinga team to deviseand implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or arecruitment drive);
• making a sustainedcontribution to widening participation schools outreach and/orpublic understanding of thediscipline;
• contributing to administrativeactivities within the University (e.g. appeals panels workinggroups).

Citizenship

Contributingto an inclusive workingenvironment:
• identifying wellbeingissues within the School/College/University and developingappropriate solutions to address these;
• takingcollective ownership of challenges faced by the School or Collegeand working with colleagues to developsolutions;
• mentoring and coaching of colleaguesparticularly those in the early stages of theircareer.

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.
• Demonstrated excellence in Learning andTeaching and Management andadministration.

Learningand teaching requirements

Anexcellent teaching profile and performance in terms of both impactand quality. Teaching quality demonstrated to be informed by anappropriate level of scholarship.

Evidence ofsuccess under the followingheadings.
• High national reputation forthe development of teaching and learning excellence within thediscipline.
• Successful and sustained use of arange of appropriate teaching methods and assessment strategiesthat promote high quality learning including learning that isflexible distinctive and current and stimulates learners naturalcuriosity.
• Significant and sustainedcontribution to one or more of the following: strategic developmentof new programmes approaches to learning the development oflearning resources.
• High quality and sustainedcontributions to fostering excellence in teaching activities morewidely i.e. in the School or College and/orexternally.
• Mentoring and expert advice whichdevelops the skills of colleagues in teaching and in fosteringlearning.
• Sustained high value impact knowledgetransfer and enterprise that is of manifest benefit to the CollegeandUniversity.

Managementand administrationrelatedrequirements

Demonstratedsignificant achievement in management and administrationrelatedactivities which may include leadership of activities/ of successunder the followingheadings.
• Successful and sustainedperformance in significant administrative/managerial role(s) (e.g.exams officer).
• Significant and sustained highquality innovative contributions to the management/administrationof the Department/School/College orUniversity.
• Successful and sustainedcontribution to the corporate life of the School/College/Universitydisplaying willingness to contribute actively to committeescollaborative teaching and administrativetasks.
• Actively promotes equality and diversityto internal and external stakeholders.
• Able touse data to identify equality and diversityissues.
• Experience of developing interventionsto address equality and diversityissues.

Forinformal enquiries please contact Mohammad Radfar email:(Dubai Campus) or John Round email: (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 foreveryoneon ourwebsite.

RequiredExperience:

IC

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