Assistant Professor (Education) in Digital Media and Communication (Dubai) - School of English,[...]

Position Details

School of English, Drama and Creative Studies

Discipline: Department of Linguistics and Communication

University of Birmingham, Dubai campus

Salary: Competitive

Grade: 8

No. of positions: 1

Full time

Location: Dubai, UAE

Closing date: 27th April 2025

UK and International travel will be required for this post

Role Summary

We seek to recruit a programme lead for our BA Digital Media and Communications (BA DMC) programme which will launch on the University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus in September 2025. The BA DMC launch in Dubai follows the programme’s successful launch on the University’s Edgbaston campus in 2023.

The post holder will have demonstrable expertise in one or more of the following subject specialisms:

1. Business Discourse
2. Marketing Communications
3. Linguistics and Communication Studies
4. New Media

The post holder will lead and deliver teaching, and hold organisation and management responsibilities. The post holder will be expected to contribute to academic citizenship demonstrated through engagement with a range of activities which establish the smooth running of the programme and the growth of Digital Media and Communications on the Dubai campus. Strong and supportive links will be developed, enriched by regular visits to the University’s Edgbaston campus to undertake in-person scholarly activities with colleagues.

Teaching will include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment; and (b) enhancement of the student experience and employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

You will be expected to advance teaching and learning practice and take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic and pastoral support. You will deliver excellent teaching that inspires students, and is informed by discipline-based research.

The post holder will manage a Technical Teaching Tutor who will provide substantial input to the programme too.

The post holder will also demonstrate ability to establish strong and productive links with industry partners in the UAE which will benefit students on the programme and establish the presence of Digital Media and Communications more broadly on the University’s Dubai campus. The programme will be sector leading in the UAE, and we seek the right individual to realise that vision.

Main Duties

Education

You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:

1. contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal;
2. develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in the subject area or institution;
3. advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment;
4. deliver (where appropriate to the discipline) specific professional programmes;
5. advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school, and play an important role in student academic support;
6. inform your teaching practice by discipline based research;
7. frequently update your subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance own teaching and learning processes;
8. you may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students; and co-supervise doctoral students to completion.

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of students:

1. teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
2. planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
3. designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
4. working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
5. using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
6. developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
7. where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
8. developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
9. developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;
10. devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work.

Management/Administration

To contribute to Departmental /School administration. This may include:

1. contributing to the administration/management of teaching across the Department/School;
2. where appropriate, leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
3. advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
4. making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
5. managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
6. developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach;
7. promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

1. pursuing your activities in a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectively and efficiently;
2. demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);
3. demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice;
4. willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
5. positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
6. proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

1. A higher degree relevant to the discipline (usually PhD);
2. Extensive teaching and scholarship experience at HE level within subject specialism;
3. Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning;
4. Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels;
5. Ability to play an active role in the development of new modules and programmes.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Joe Spencer-Bennett, Head of Department in Linguistics and Communication, email: j.a.bennett.1@bham.ac.uk.