Dean: Faculty of Education (5-year fixed-term, performance-based contract) Re-advertisement

Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,700,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Cape Peninsula University of Technology invites applications for the Dean: Faculty of Education. The role focuses on strategic academic leadership, resource stewardship, and driving teaching excellence, research growth, and community partnerships.

The Dean will lead two campuses and report to university governance structures. The successful candidate will have a doctoral degree, extensive senior academic leadership experience, and a strong record in research and postgraduate supervision, with a

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Education with discipline relevance.
• At least 8 years in senior academic management roles.
• Proven track record in postgraduate supervision and research leadership.
• Experience in DHET-aligned publications and industry partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead academic and administrative operations of the Faculty of Education.
• Drive strategic planning, budgeting, and resource management.
• Foster teaching excellence, research, and engagement with partners.
• Represent the faculty on university committees and external bodies.
• Oversee human resources, governance and service delivery within the faculty.

Skills

Doctoral degree in Education

8+ years academic management

Research leadership

Postgraduate supervision

Strategic planning

Education

Doctoral degree in Education

Job description

Dean: Faculty of Education (5-year fixed-term, performance-based contract) Re-advertisement - (8885)

Job Title

Dean: Faculty of Education (5-year fixed-term, performance-based contract) Re-advertisement

Faculty

Education

Department

Cape Peninsula University of Technology -> Education

Campus/ Location

Mowbray Campus - Mowbray, Cape Town, WC ZA (Primary)

Job Type

Contract

Occupational Function

Number of Positions

1

Annual Salary Package (incl. Medical Aid rate based on principal member only)

Advert Closing Date

6/9/2026

Job Purpose

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is the largest higher education institution and the only University of Technology in the Western Cape. With over 40,000 students distributed across five campuses and six academic Faculties, it offers over 70 academic programmes. CPUT is One Smart University striving to be a formidable and futuristic institution. Central to this vision are institutional characteristics of Oneness and Smartness, demonstrated through a culture of ethics and integrity, restoration, unity, passion, accountability, and technological astuteness. CPUT’s focus is on excellence, which is articulated through its Strategic Plan, Vision 2030, of One Smart CPUT across dimensions of Oneness (human-centricity, shared identity and values, and a smart society that values unity in diversity) and Smartness (smart people, technological developments and innovations). Vision 2030 articulates our ambition to be a Smart institution through our offerings and operations, and calls for a pragmatic, strategic visionary, inclusive and ethical leader to sustain and preserve the University’s incredible legacy, and the drive towards a One Smart CPUT.

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) seeks to appoint a reputable, values-led, and a strategic visionary who is passionate about a student-centred approach to academic leadership. The successful candidate will have a commitment to deepening and expanding the University’s academic and research agenda, the contribution of their role to its success, and the uniqueness; and importance of CPUT in the socioeconomic, technological, and digital landscape of South Africa’s Higher Education.

The Faculty of Education (FEd), based on two campuses, Mowbray and Wellington, is the largest teacher education provider in the Western Cape, with a wider catchment area from which its students are drawn. The Faculty prides itself in growing what is known as a ‘noble profession’ – a service-oriented profession critical to future generations. The Faculty’s core business is teacher education, through undergraduate, postgraduate, and further education and training qualifications. The FEd hosts a research entity, namely, Global Institute for Teacher Education and Society; and also, two NRF Research Chairs, namely, Research Chair in Teacher Education, and Research Chair in Transformative Education, Social Justice, and Innovation. It focuses, amongst others, on science and mathematics, early-childhood development, language in the curriculum, education policy and implementation, educational technology innovation, and inclusive education, all within the diverse social contexts and realities in South African education.

The successful candidate for the Dean: FEd, will be an established, ethical, strategic, student-centred academic leader bearing a scholarship profile at the full Professor/ Associate Professor level, and in alignment with CPUT’s Academic Staff Promotion Policy. The incumbent will have a commitment to the University’s academic and research agenda, and the uniqueness and importance of CPUT’s socio-economic and technological advancement in South Africa.

The ideal candidate will, amongst others, drive the following:

• The University’s strategy, mission, and vision, and the associated values of ethical, sound, strategic and operational leadership, as well as effective administrative management;
• Quality teaching through our Smart Learning and Teaching agenda;
• Smart Research, Technology/technological Innovation and Partnerships;
• Incorporating the University’s smart engagement agenda, technological development and innovation in meaningful ways;
• Sustaining and advancing a vibrant, high-quality and expanding postgraduate programme environment; and
• Transformation and employment equity imperatives.

Job Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• A Doctoral degree in the field of Education in one of the disciplines offered at the Education Faculty at CPUT.
• At least 8years of proven experience in academic management and administration at senior faculty management level (e.g. Assistant/Deputy Dean, Head of Department/ School, etc.) or equivalent academic structure.
• Experience in learning and teaching, research, technology innovation and creative scholarship, community engagement and partnerships, leadership management and administration commensurate with the CPUT professorial level (Full Professor/ Associate Professor).
• Proven track record in successful postgraduate supervision.
• Proven track record of research excellence inclusive of fundraising experience.
• Demonstrable track record of DHET-accredited publications in recognized peer reviewed journals.
• A track record of developing and maintaining relationships with the industry, professional bodies/ associations, national and international communities.
• A thorough understanding of the South African Public Higher Education landscape.

Key Performance Areas / Principal Accountabilities

1. MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

Plans, organises, co‑ordinates and controls the human and physical resources of departments, faculty office and programmes offered within the faculty.

• Determines staff needs and requirements resulting from strategies objectives and priorities.
• Provides, allocates and monitors the effective utilisation of the physical resources of the Faculty.
• Manages the resources of the faculty in such a manner that the mission, aims and objectives are achieved; uses surveys and analyses of the external and internal environment as well as the setting/utilisation of resources, (space and equipment).
• Deploys resources to achieve faculty goals and institutional goals.
• Provides leadership in monitoring and administration the operations of the faculty office in respect of student applications, registrations, record keeping, examinations and application of results and in-service-training.
• Suggests, develops, recommends and promotes new programmes as circumstances change or in anticipation of changes in demand, the environment (social, political, economic, geographical), competition and regulations and government policies.
• Makes strategic decisions regarding continuation/deployment of resources and programmes.

2. ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP

Demonstrates as an acknowledged specialist in recognised field, academic and professional leadership in the faculty, institution and higher education field

• Actively serves on bodies representative of/ relating to the relevant field of study, preferably in an executive capacity in recognition of expertise.
• Participates in conferences, inter alia as guest/key note speaker to present/ address contemporary academic issues.
• Contributes to recognised academic journals.
• Lectures and/or provides research guidance at the higher academic levels in a relevant specialist field, demonstrating subject mastery and teaching/research expertise.
• Keeps abreast of current trends in curriculum design, NQF/SAQA developments, etc., motivating staff by acting as role model.
• Sets examples in lifelong learning and keeps abreast of developments in relevant fields of expertise.
• Imposes on the academic staff the need and drive for creating, obtaining and maintaining high academic standards and achievements in teaching, research and cooperative education and enforcement of policies and procedures of the University and the faculty in terms of the vision and mission of the University and the faculty.

3. PROFESSIONAL LIAISON AND COMMITTEE WORK

Represents the faculty and the University and participates in professional bodies and internally in various committees including the Senate and chairs the Faculty Board.

• Represents the faculty’s interest on committees and outside bodies and contributes to particular specialist knowledge.
• Liaises regularly with the business sector (commerce and industry) to keep abreast of the latest market trends, development in environment, competition, technology development, information technology and regulatory measures.
• Liaises with institutions, higher education committees/representatives, commerce and industry to project and promote the University image, status and services and contributes to symposia and conferences. Serves on executives of professional bodies.
• Chairs the Faculty Board, serves on the Senate to represent the interest of the faculty. Serves on institutional committees.

4. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

Accountable for strategic planning related to institutional rolling plan in terms of the vision and mission of the University. Ensures the success of the faculty measured in terms of survival, growth, profitability and stature by setting priorities and standards such as reliability, adaptability, quality, cost effectiveness and productivity.

• Creates organisational, faculty/functional strategies.
• Translates corporate objectives into faculty objectives.
• Establishes priorities for various dimensions and evaluates effectiveness of developed strategies.
• Exercises control in conjunction with management team of the faculty, develops aims and objectives, goals and strategies and action plans for the faculty.
• Initiates, coordinates, controls and identifies trends influencing the faculty informed by SWOT analysis.
• Analyses the different courses offered in terms of the contribution of each to the realisation of the mission, aims and objectives.
• Ensures by means of the overall product strategy continued growth of the faculty a guaranteed high return on investmentmaintenance of sales growth and capture the largest possible relative market share.
• Creates alternative scenarios and tests these in relation to planned budgeted achievements and the three year rolling plan.
• Produces a three year rolling plan taking all strategic influences and factors into consideration, making the necessary adjustments as the year progresses.

5. FACULTY MANAGEMENT

Accountable for general administration, human resources, financial, marketing and the strategic planning functions of the faculty.

• Collates reports from all the faculty departments
• Compile one comprehensive report for the faculty.
• Presents reports to the Executive Management and the Senate on regular basis.

6. ADMINISTRATION

• Ultimately is responsible for the integrated faculty office and academic administration requiring records, reports, statistics, management information, research and research finance reports.

7. HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

• Monitors, directs and leads staff affairs of the faculty by means of staff support, motivating staff to achieve higher levels of performance by providing advanced studies.
• Serves on selection panels for new appointments and promotions, confirmation of permanent appointments, staff