Assistant Professor in Architecture - Postgraduate Focus (Dubai Campus)

Heriot-Watt University; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading higher education institution in Dubai seeks an Assistant Professor in Architecture focused on postgraduate education. The successful candidate will develop innovative curricula in architectural design and engage in research aligning with RIBA standards. Join a vibrant academic community committed to excellence in teaching and student engagement. Full-time, including evening and weekend classes, in a collaborative environment that values diversity and inclusivity.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative working environment

Global academic community

Qualifications

• Evidence of creative design pedagogy and a critical design approach.
• Experience in teaching PostGraduate Design thesis Studio.
• Ability to lead a small team and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead innovative teaching for PostGraduate Architectural Design Studio.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of the curriculum.
• Provide effective feedback to students.

Skills

Architectural design

Sustainable design

Digital platforms for design

History and theories of architecture

Construction and technology

Education

Post graduate degree in Architecture

PhD or equivalent terminal degree

Tools

Rhino

Revit

BIM

Autocad

Grasshopper

Job description

Overview

Description

Role: Assistant Professor in Architecture Postgraduate Focus

Grade: 8

School: School of Energy Geoscience Infrastructure and Society

FTE and working pattern: 1FTE Full time 35 hrs per week

Location: Dubai Campus

The School of Energy Geoscience Infrastructure and Society

Architecture was established as an undergraduate programme in Dubai in 2015 in the School of Energy Geoscience Infrastructure and Society. The School is one of the UK's leaders for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity.

On our Dubai campus we teach civil engineering, architectural engineering, architecture, construction management and quantity surveying. We offer a high quality educational experience underpinned by practical and laboratory teaching and informed by contact with professional practice. Our degree programmes hold the appropriate accreditation from the relevant professional body. This educational philosophy ensures excellent employment prospects for all of our graduates.

The Architecture Programme

Heriot-Watt University has a strong global identity and the identity of the Architecture programme is forged through its strategic location in Dubai creating an opportunity for students to study on a recognized UK course while experiencing a global education. The progressive approach of the programme places an emphasis on educating innovative and resilient architecture graduates capable of working as architectural professionals who can both lead and collaborate across teams.

The UAE is located at a crossroads between east and west and offers students of architecture the opportunity to engage with relevant and challenging global issues that include: designing for climate change, resilient cities, environmental needs, resource shortages, growing population and the UAE’s progressive culture with its emphasis on advanced technologies, sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurial culture. The Architecture curriculum is aligned with the criteria set by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for a RIBA Part 1 course.

HWUD Architecture is developing a strong identity as the only RIBA Part 1 accredited programme in Dubai. From September 2025 we will be introducing Master of Architecture aligned with RIBA Part 2. The programme has a strong focus on contextual design and addressing contemporary issues. The Architecture team benefits from diverse international staff including practising architects, academics and built environment specialists with excellent links into practice and the profession. The programme as a part of the School of Energy Geoscience Infrastructure and Society provides students and faculty with opportunities for research and collaborative working. Our programme benefits from close links to architectural practices ensuring the relevance of our teaching and offering exciting opportunities to work in areas relevant to the academic community and employers in the UAE, Gulf region and internationally.

Heriot-Watt University is looking to expand our global team of academics working in the field of Architecture and Sustainable Design. Consequently the School is seeking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Architecture. The successful candidate will be based in Dubai but will engage with a team that spans our global footprint.

Detailed Description

This is an exciting opportunity to develop a leading role in the development and delivery of innovative teaching and scholarship. Heriot-Watt University is known for its research-informed course delivery and the global multi-campus education it provides. The successful applicant will have a student-centred approach to pedagogy and curriculum design and will be encouraged to innovate.

This is an exciting time to join an already successful team. It is expected that the applicant will have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• architectural design
• digital platforms for design
• history and theories of architecture
• sustainable design
• construction and technology

Previous teaching experience and a commitment to the student experience are essential. Evidence of innovation in teaching delivery is desirable. Applicants must also possess demonstrable team working and communication skills. The candidate must hold an internationally recognized post graduate degree in Architecture (RIBA and/or ARB or NAAB or other internationally recognized accreditation).

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The successful appointee will be expected to undertake the following:

Learning and Teaching

• Develop and lead on the delivery of an innovative PostGraduate Architectural Design Studio on the new Master of Architecture (RIBA Part 2) programme and contribute to the BA Hons Architecture (RIBA part 1 accredited) programme.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of the curriculum in the programme. Develop and teach a number of courses(s) appropriate to your area of expertise and as outlined by the programme.
• Work closely with the Global Head of Discipline for Architecture and the Architecture team to develop the programme and explore new innovative courses and learning and teaching methods as aligned with RIBA Professional Criteria for Validation and the graduate attributes.
• Design, prepare and develop a range of learning and teaching materials appropriate to the subject area to meet the learning outcomes for those course/s as aligned to the RIBA educational framework.
• Undertake scholarly activity related to the effective delivery of the curriculum and maintain subject expertise aligned to the latest developments in the field of architecture, technology and contemporary issues.
• Be responsible for providing effective, well documented and timely feedback both formative and summative to students.
• Contribute to the monitoring of the quality of learning and teaching through course monitoring, contributing to quality assurance across the programme, School and University.
• Provide appropriate pastoral support recognising the varied cultural backgrounds of the student cohorts.
• Stay abreast of developments in architecture education and ensure that these developments are reflected in the evolution of the learning and teaching methods employed on the programme.
• Work with the team to develop further opportunities for student placements, Internship and student mentoring with the profession that enhances the existing strong industry engagement within the programme.
• Conduct assessment and moderation across the discipline area ensuring this is rigorous, fair and clear and undertaken within the policies established by the School and University.

Research and Knowledge Exchange

• Carry out self-managed scholarly activity and to make professional contributions to their area of expertise.
• Continue to develop your professional expertise through CPD and membership of either RIBA/ ARB or International Professional membership.
• Exhibit design work at exhibitions and end of year shows. Publish student outputs and enter student work for international prizes and awards such as the RIBA Presidents Medals.
• Contribute technical and research expertise where relevant to potential live and research projects.

Academic Management and Administration

• Undertake administrative tasks associated with programme planning, preparation for examination and progression boards, course development teams etc.
• Provide academic leadership in the key areas of design, construction and technology, representation and history and theories that are the core of the programme course structure.
• Participate fully in admissions processes, selection and induction of students;
• Take a proactive role both internally and externally in promoting and marketing programmes of study ensuring the effective and efficient recruitment of students and the achievement of home and international recruitment targets;
• Participate as a member of appropriate committees as required.

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

We will measure applicants based on the essential criteria not by the key duties. Heriot-Watt Dubai delivers classes during the daytime, evenings and Saturdays. Depending on the schedule for the semester the classes you teach may be in the day, evening or Saturday.

Education Qualifications and Experience (i.e. Person Specification)

Essential:

• A post graduate degree in Architecture (RIBA and/or ARB or NAAB or internationally accredited)
• PhD or equivalent terminal degree
• In depth knowledge of your profession and discipline including relevant academic and professional experience
• Evidence of creative design pedagogy and a critical design approach achieved in student outputs (projects, prizes, buildings) and your personal design projects
• Evidence of your ability and experience to teach PostGraduate Design thesis Studio advanced research and related taught courses
• Evidence of delivering innovation through your teaching /or professional practice design and technology.
• Expertise in delivering courses in one additional area including Architectural Representation History and Theory Professional Practice and Construction and Technology Research Methods and Sustainability in Design
• A good working knowledge of relevant digital technologies (for example one or more of: Rhino/Revit/BIM/Autocad/Grasshopper)
• An understanding of the RIBA educational framework and experience of teaching or learning on a RIBA validated course OR international equivalent.
• Ability to lead a small team across disciplines work independently and /or as part of a team
• A clear research interest aligned with the programme academic position and the research institutes within the school
• Demonstrable oral drawn representation and written communications skills.

Desirable

• RIBA Part 3 Qualification
• Fellow or Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy
• Ability to run a real design student project from inception to completion
• Local knowledge of UAE regulatory codes
• Relevant experience teaching and working as a professional architect
• Experience in or at least an enthusiasm for novel pedagogical approaches
• Understanding and experience of the RIBA Educational framework

About the University

With a history dating back to 1821 Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant leading-edge research and enterprise which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.

We are a vibrant forward-looking university, well known for the quality of our degrees with employers actively seeking out our is also Scotland’s international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to circa 30000 students in 143 countries worldwide have a further overseas campus in Dubai and boast the most significant international student cohort in Scotland.

At Heriot-Watt we’ve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership where our researchers, teachers, staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.

We are proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our focus on careers delivers results and we’ve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

In addition to the Edinburgh campus we currently have campuses in the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. For all our campuses we aim to provide stimulating supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research where staff and students can excel. At Heriot-Watt we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities. Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to value are:

• Belong
• Collaborate
• Inspire
• Celebrate

As a learning living and working institution we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we each conduct ourselves as members of Heriot-Watt University. They represent what binds us together as a university community and help us to become the best at what we do.

For full details on our university please view our website to Apply

Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt online recruitment system. (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full upto date CV (3) Portfolio evidencing design studio teaching.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with wellbeing and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Learn more about our benefits here: Our Dubai Campus HeriotWatt University ()

HeriotWatt University Dubai is (Commission for Academic Accreditation) CAA Licensed; therefore successful candidates will need to either 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. More info on attestation can be found here on the MoE website. The candidate is responsible for getting their degree attestations done and these should be completed within six months of joining.

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