Director- Center for Educational Innovation- Abu Dhabi/ Dubai

at  Zayed University

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Educational Innovation will provide academic leadership for design and implementation of innovative curricular and faculty development programs across the university. Using a project-based approach developed in consultation with the provost and the deans, the director will develop and oversee programs supportive of the institutional mission to lead in higher education through innovative, technologically sophisticated, outcomes-based teaching and learning. Focused on the needs of Arabic-speaking students who are studying in English, and with educational programs delivered by a multi-national faculty, these programs will be designed to assure that the university’s classroom environments are student-centered; its curriculum is effective in helping students achieve outcomes, and its technology support systems support student learning. The Director will be the institutional champion of quality and innovation in the classroom, laboratory and studio and bring market best practices in teaching and curricular improvement for student learning.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE:

Faculty Development
This is the primary accountability of the position and comprises of three key dimensions as follows:

a) Faculty promotion to teach in an outcomes-based environment: -

• Planning, organizing, and implementing innovative faculty development programs supportive of outcomes-based teaching and learning in partnership with the academic leadership.
• Provides leadership and professional development opportunities for faculty members by spearheading and facilitating teaching and learning consultation to faculty related to effective contemporary teaching practices, and planning and implementing relevant faculty development programs.
• Collaborates with administrators, deans, department chairs, and faculty to understand current and future needs and encourage faculty participation in faculty development and training programs as well as teaching and learning initiatives.

b) Program of teaching and learning oriented towards Students Assessment:

• Works in close consultation with Director-Educational Effectiveness to ensure the educational and assessment tools related to the mission of faculty development meet organization’s standards of education and technology.
• Collects information from students learning assessment and presents proposals to Deans and Chairs for improvements in faculty development programs.
• Collaborates with the Director, Educational Effectiveness to strengthen the ongoing faculty development and training programs.

c) Technology Assisted Students Learning:

• Provides leadership, senior level expertise and stewardship of the institution’s educational innovation policies, plans and programs for designing, evaluating and implementing technology-based solutions that enhance student learning.
• Develops and spearheads design and implementation of annual work plans on technologically assisted student learning solutions emerging from student assessment and in deep consultation from the Deans and university administration.
• Develops and implements an evaluation plan to regularly assess the efficacy of CEI services and resources through multiple sources of data. Creates and implements multiple mechanisms for continual feedback, and makes informed and data-driven decisions.
• Provides a framework for developing technologically assisted solutions to enhance students learning at the university. Offers strategies to encourage involvement and ownership by university administration, faculty and students.
• Develops challenging academic and assessment standards and integration of contemporary technological solutions in academic instruction .

Best Practices and Team Management

• Carries out planning and budgeting on behalf of a comprehensive teaching and learning agenda for the University.
• Keeps abreast of current research, technology, trends, methods, and practices in educational innovation to introduce and lead advances in teaching and curricular improvement for student learning.
• Provides leadership, hire s, trains, evaluates and effectively oversees the work of CEI staff and affiliated faculty.
• Fosters a flexible, cooperative and collaborative team-based work environment that encourages CEI employees to effectively engage and meet the needs of the University.
• Inspires and supports faculty group internally and externally and generate enthusiasm across the university

Promotion and visibility of CEI:

• Provides direction to ensure CEI is highly visible on campus and in the region and develops a reputation for outstanding and responsive services, innovation, collaboration, and sound practices.
• In alignment with the university strategic plan, provides leadership on planning, implementation, and promotion of programs, initiatives and activities designed to meet CEI goals and mission.

THE REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess a doctoral degree and a demonstrated record of success as a college/ university faculty member and academic administrator.
• A track record of success in designing and implementing collaborative faculty development programs.
• A thorough knowledge of current developments in outcomes-based curriculum development and the assessment of student learning.
• A track record of developing and implementing technology-supported solutions designed to enhance student learning.
• Significant knowledge and ability to effectively share, discuss and apply theories, models and best practices in higher education teaching, learning, instructional technology, assessment, and faculty development.
• Highly qualified visionary with demonstrated strength in technologically assisted solutions for faculty professional development and learning technologies.

Answering to the Office of the Provost and working closely with the Deans, the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, and the Director of Educational Effectiveness, the Director will provide leadership and administration for the institution’s faculty professional development and learning technologies.