Assistant Professor, Design with AI - Dubai Campus

Heriot-Watt University; Dubai; On-site; AED 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious academic institution in Dubai is seeking an Assistant Professor in Design with AI. This role involves teaching and mentoring in a dynamic environment, emphasizing innovative pedagogy and industry engagement. The successful candidate will need a PhD and proven teaching experience, particularly with AI practices relevant to contemporary design. Join a vibrant team dedicated to high-quality education and research in a rapidly evolving discipline. Strong communication skills and fluency in English are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• Experience of reviewing and updating teaching materials.
• Well-developed knowledge and understanding of contemporary AI practices across creative or design businesses.
• Fluent in English (verbal and written).

Responsibilities

• Undertake teaching and assessment duties on academic programmes.
• Mentor and supervise students, including PhD students.
• Develop and maintain strong links with creative design industries.

Skills

Teaching experience

Experience with Adobe software suite

Understanding of AI practices

Fluent in English

Education

PhD or equivalent in an appropriate discipline

Teaching qualification

Job description

Description

Role: Assistant Professor in Design with AI

Contract Type: Teaching & Research

Contract Duration: Open Ended

Grade: 7

Location: Dubai Campus

About the Team

We have staff across two campuses and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate degree education taught and research degrees. We have a vibrant research culture and an increasing design research funding portfolio.

You would join an international team at our Dubai Campus where our staff contribute to a vibrant environment for teaching, learning, research, enterprise and knowledge exchange. You will further enhance a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our industry‑facing focus on careers delivers results and we have an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

The design portfolio on the Dubai campus is growing. We focus on industrial, social, smart and sustainable cities and systemic design. Currently we offer Communication Design, Fashion Branding and Promotion, Interior Architecture Design and Design Management. They are delivered by passionate and dedicated academics from various backgrounds with distinctly diverse specialisms. As a discipline design is a creative practice with innovative methods. It has many forms of innovation from cultural and environmental to social and technological. Our community is committed to understanding design in contexts such as Climate Change, Health Care and Well‑Being, Net‑Zero and Future Mobility. All programmes and courses are delivered cooperatively within our Dubai campus and collaboratively with our UK campuses.

About the Role

The School of Textiles and Design on the Dubai campus is seeking to recruit enthusiastic academics with experience in teaching and scholarship. Candidates will be expected to build research over time and showcase innovative teaching pedagogies. Successful candidates will also be expected to develop strong links to colleagues at the Scottish campuses to deliver high‑quality learning and teaching, to contribute to the continued development of the programmes offered to students and to develop external engagement endeavours in association with the Academic Schools in Edinburgh, Dubai, Galashiels and Malaysia.

Job Description

The successful candidate will possess a broad practical and theoretical knowledge of a range of topics within the spheres of 21st Century Design but we are particularly interested in applicants with practical expertise in the full Adobe software suite, Artificial Intelligence, Design Ethics and its place in today’s business world. Preference will be given to those with research interests in these areas and the potential to publish in high‑quality scholarly journals.

Teaching and research should be grounded in 21st‑century design studies with appropriate input from historical, theoretical and practical perspectives. The role will be based at the University’s campus in Dubai. Courses and programmes will be delivered in English, so fluency in English is essential.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake teaching and assessment duties on academic programmes, support colleagues in the School of Textiles and Design and other Schools at Heriot‑Watt University in the delivery of courses and other activities.
• Develop relevant materials in appropriate formats for the future of design as a discipline, contribute to the content design and delivery of the curriculum, and support the accreditation processes of professional bodies.
• Mentor and supervise students, including PhD students, providing effective, well‑documented and timely feedback, and provide pastoral support when necessary.
• Develop the level of subject expertise in line with the latest developments in business enterprise scholarship, research and innovation, and ensure these developments are reflected in teaching materials and methods.
• Build and conduct scholarship or research in one or more of the Design and/or Dubai Campus areas at internationally competitive levels.
• Develop and maintain strong links with creative design industries, external organisations and the education sector.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the UK and with external networks for the exchange of information and for future collaboration; conduct and engage in peer review of teaching and research locally, nationally and internationally.
• Promote and market design at the University, ensuring effective recruitment of students and achievement of recruitment targets; play a full role in Open Days and other student recruitment events and in research impact community events and public engagement.
• Undertake a proactive role in programme and course planning, preparation for examination boards and progression boards, and participate in relevant committees.
• Undertake continuous professional development and participate in staff development activities.

Education and Qualification

Essential

• PhD, Masters Degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline.
• Teaching experience.
• Experience of reviewing and updating teaching materials.
• Clear communicator with good presentation skills, explaining concepts well.
• Well‑developed knowledge and understanding of contemporary AI practices across creative or design businesses and practices.
• Research experience.
• Fluent in English (verbal and written).
• Ability to apply knowledge acquired from research or professional practices into teaching materials and methods.
• Willingness and potential to identify and develop an independent or collaborative portfolio of research and scholarship.

Desirable

• Member of an appropriate professional body.
• Teaching qualification or in the process of obtaining one or committed to achieving this within two years of appointment.
• Teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Experience maintaining and developing new links with industry.
• Strong understanding of industry needs and the skills required by graduates for employability.
• Evidence of interdisciplinary practice.
• Flexible in approach with excellent communication, digital literacy and report‑writing skills and willingness to adapt to the duties associated with the role.
• Mentoring and personal tutor experience and PhD supervision.
• Single‑authored or co‑authored conference papers or journal articles.
• Funded research experience, independent and/or team based.
• International or national peer reviewing of research.

Application Information

Interested applicants must send a cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post and an updated CV via the Heriot‑Watt online recruitment system.

Important Notes

Successful candidates must provide terminal degrees attested from a UAE institution accredited by the CAA or, if the degree is not from a UAE institution, the candidate will need to have MoE (Ministry of Education) equivalency. The candidate is responsible for getting their degree attestations done, completed within six months of joining.

The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities.