Head: Academic

Direct Reporting Line: Campus Deputy Head

Varsity College is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE). The IIE enjoys the reputation of being at the forefront of private higher education in South Africa, and is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to provide higher education qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

The IIE's Varsity College, Durban North Campus has a vacancy for a Head: Academic.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Academic Management

• Creates and manages the implementation of the campus academic delivery plan with Head of Faculties, Teaching and Learning Specialist, Educational Technologist, Lecturers, Academic Support Co-ordinators, Information Specialist and Assistant Information Specialist.
• This will be achieved through the following:

1. The achievement of greater student success (by achieving set targets) via an ongoing analysis of academic results, reporting on and addressing areas of risk;
2. The improvement of student retention rates through the management of the quality student support interventions and strategies to improve student perseverance/resilience;
3. The measurement of the effectiveness of student support interventions on an ongoing basis;
4. The management and development of the lecturing team with a focus on lecturer upskilling and scholarship, allocation of modules and lecturer workload.

• Ensures equity of academic delivery across schools.
• Accountable for compliance to the policies and procedures of The Independent Institute of Education.
• Responsible for engagement with the relevant National portfolio heads regarding campus Academic performance and compliance.
• Builds and promotes an active community of best academic practice on campus.
• Interacting with evidence and data to fully understand the status quo of the campus.
• Handling of student disputes and complaints relating to any academic matter.
• Handles lecturer queries.
• Actively engaging in action research in response to academic queries and issues raised.
• Co-ordinates and plans for annual lecturer awards.
• Supports the coordination and planning of student awards events.
• Manages the academic support and lecturer budgets.
• Works with other Senior Managers to ensure overall customer satisfaction.
• Assists the National team with academic projects.
• Manages internal and external academic audit processes.
• Attends management meetings.

Academic Staff Management

• Recruits permanent academic staff and part-time staff.
• Ensures that new permanent academic staff have been trained sufficiently in order to understand their role, processes, policy and procedure.
• Responsible for the line management of the Head of Facilities, Teaching and Learning Specialist, Educational Technologist, Lecturers, Academic Support Co-ordinators, Information Specialist and Assistant Information Specialist. Within this, the clear communication of roles and responsibilities of each permanent academic team member.
• Co-ordinates the development of the permanent academic team.

Lecturing

• Teaches 1 undergraduate module per semester OR 1 postgraduate degree module in a year or supervision of Postgraduate students (campus capacity dependent). If engaged in approved formal research activity then the Head: Academic will be required to lecturer 1 undergraduate module per year.

Research and Scholarship

• Plans, manages and reviews the research target deliverables on campus, and makes the necessary adjustments throughout the year to ensure that the required research outputs are achieved.
• Responsible for the annual reporting to the National Academic Manager on the research points achieved and qualifications completed by the permanent Academic staff and part-time staff.
• All designated academic employees are required to promote a culture of scholarship within their practice, discipline and campus/team and are also required to contribute towards The IIE’s Varsity College achieving its annual research output targets. Individual research output unit/s will be set in consultation with the line manager on an annual basis (Informed by The IIE 018 Academic Conditions of Service Policy).

Competencies Required:

• Interpersonal, listening and communications skills
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Leadership abilities to guide, influence, motivate and develop team members
• Organisational, planning and time management skills
• Project management skills
• Budget management skills
• Quality orientated
• Advanced Computer Literacy with a focus on online teaching skills and technologies
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of Teaching and Learning
• Adaptive Thinking
• Tolerance of operating in a pressurised and stressful environment and industry

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

• Minimum of a Masters Degree (NQF Level 9).

Minimum Experience Requirements:

• Minimum 3 years management experience with 6 years teaching or lecturing experience within a tertiary environment.
• Must have management experience in an academic setting and an understanding of the current regulatory framework and its impact on higher education and private colleges.

Salary:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Application Response:

• Due to the high volume of CVs received, please note that personal contact with all applicants may not be feasible. Only candidates whose qualifications and skills closely align with the position requirements will be contacted for interviews.