Executive Dean: Humanities and Education

at  University of Venda

Department
University of Venda -> Vice Chancellor and Principal -> Deputy Vice Chancellor: Teaching and Learning -> School of Education
Job Title
Executive Dean: Humanities and Education
Post Level
Grade 3
Job Type
Support - Univen Funded
Closing Date
24/5/2024
Job Requirements
The University of Venda situated in Thohoyandou in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province is a fast-growing higher education institution. Over the past years, the University has experienced tremendous growth and change in terms of its research output, student performance and infrastructure. The university has therefore become an important player in the South African higher education landscape, contributing significantly to the human resources and development needs of the country and region.
The University’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan is geared to position the University of Venda for impact and relevance as an institution of higher learning. Our strategic plan places our students at the centre of our focus and consequently, our academic division was reconfigured in 2021 to comprise four Faculties from the former eight academic Schools. The University of Venda aspires to be the exemplary South African comprehensive institution of higher learning which houses a vital activist community of academics, researchers and students engaged in a spirit of innovation and enterprise. To assist us with unlocking the vast natural potential to excel, which resides in our diverse rural, peri-urban and urban communities, the University seeks to appoint a dynamic leader of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education to lead its academic programme.

REQUIREMENTS

The Executive Dean is expected to have a doctoral degree, wide teaching experience and a scholarly research profile with expert knowledge of Higher Education issues. He/she should be an established academic leader and scholar with an excellent publication and research record and proven excellence in teaching and learning to attract respect and credibility from within the University, national and international scholars and other relevant stakeholders. The candidate should also have a track record of effective, democratic and strategic leadership. The successful candidate should have at least 10 years relevant managerial experience at Higher Education institutions. In order to lead the faculty’s research and innovation agenda, the candidate should qualify for NRF rating and be recognized as a researcher of high national/international standing

The Executive Dean will be expected to, among other things:

• Determine, articulate, implement, and lead faculty-based strategic initiatives to enhance Univen reputation and performance in accordance with its strtategic plan.
• Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the Faculty’s academic programmes across academic departments and disciplines.
• Develop and deepen excellence and innovation in learning and teaching, including online/blended-learning pedagogy, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and Academic Citizenship and Leadership.
• Promote and advance excellence in research and innovation
• Implement policies and develop resources that promote and enhance the research as well as the learning and teaching capacity and capabilities of the Faculty, including raising funds in support of research and learning and teaching, and Continuous Education.
• Oversee an effective, competitive, and responsive Programme Qualification Mix, including joint programmes with international peer universities while ensuring that faculty programmes are, where necessary, fully accredited with the relevant accreditation bodies.
• Ensure the highest level of faculty governance, administration, and systems functioning, including enrolment planning, management of the student’s academic life cycle, and risk management.
• Effectively manage academic, administrative, and professional support staff, including staff recruitment, development, and retention.
• Ensure effective and efficient management of the Faculty’s finances, subsidies, and other resources.
• Promote the reputation and standing of the Faculty within the sector, and generally in broader civil society, industry, and government.
• Strengthen relationships with the public and private sectors, and in particular with professional societies/councils, departments of education, and academic partners in South Africa and internationally.

Executive Deans are expected to play a leading role in the transformation within the University and the Higher Education context in South Africa. The appointee should be able to manage and motivate all staff and students in the Faculty to fulfil the mission of the University, and to guide the Faculty in realizing its goals as defined in the University’s Strategic Plan. The Executive Dean has strategic, operational, and administrative oversight of the Faculty and is expected to steward effectively and collegially the Faculty to achieve sustainable excellence in all aspects of teaching, research, innovation, internationalisation, and community engagement