Assistant Professor (Education) in Psychology (Dubai) - School of PsychologyGrade 8

Position Details

School of Psychology

Discipline: Psychology

University of Birmingham Dubai campus

Salary: Competitive

Grade: 8

No. of positions: 1

Full time

Location: Dubai UAE

Closing date: 8th June 2025

Academic Development Programme new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5year development programme at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

University of Birmingham Dubai

Having established ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we have now moved to our new stateoftheart campus which opened in Sept 2021. These posts represent an excellent opportunity to join an ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow our longterm strategic mission in Dubai the UAE and the wider region. Our campus reflects the very best of Birmingham through our presence in Dubai.

Background

We are looking for creative thoughtful and collaborative colleagues with a passion for delivering highquality education and enhancing the student experience. This is an opportunity to join our growing Psychology team based in Dubai. We welcomed our first student cohort onto our undergraduate BSc programme in 2020 and by autumn 2024 we will be supporting well over 150 undergraduate students. We are also starting a new MSc in Mental Health in September 2024. To underpin this growth we will grow our staff base ideally from no later than early in 2025.

While we will consider appropriately qualified applicants with expertise in any area of our discipline applications from candidates with an appetite and aptitude for supporting undergraduate research methods teaching will be looked on favourably as will applicants with expertise in mental health neuroscience or human cognition and perception.

This post is an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow our longterm strategic mission in Dubai the UAE and the wider region.

Our School has an international reputation for the knowledge and skills we develop in our graduates and for research that answers important questions stimulates new ideas and makes a difference to individuals communities and societies. We are committed to working across our campuses to meet our linked education and research ambitions and to operate as one School on two sites.

Colleagues joining us will be expected to make a significant contribution to the advancement of teaching (policy practice standards) of Psychology and to provide leadership in teaching and learning and teaching innovation. Management and administration will involve coordinating and supporting activity on the Dubai campus with extensive collaboration and liaison back to our Edgbaston Campus and with colleagues in our School at both locations.

Across all of your activities we will expect exemplary academic citizenship and a persistent emphasis on developing and maintaining generous mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others can carry out theirs.

Summary of Role

Main Duties

Education

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

• contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal;
• develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in the subject area or institution;
• advise others on aspects of learning teaching and assessment;
• contribute (where appropriate to the discipline) to specific professional programmes;
• advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school and play an important role in student academic support;
• inform your teaching practice by disciplinebased research;
• frequently update your subject expertise and undertake personal professional development in teaching including selfreflection on own teaching using student and peer review feedback to enhance own teaching and learning processes;
• you may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students; and cosupervise doctoral students to completion.

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates postgraduates or CPD students including (as appropriate):

• teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
• planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
• designing contemporary inclusive engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
• working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching learning and assessment;
• using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
• developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
• where appropriate undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision marking and examining;
• developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
• 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;
• devising and supervising projects student dissertations and practical work.

Management/Administration

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

• contributing to the administration/management of teaching across the Department/School;
• 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);
• advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels working groups);
• managing enterprise business development and public engagement activities;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer enterprise business engagement public engagement widening participation schools outreach;
• promoting equality diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

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

Person Specification

• Normally a higher Degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.
• Evidence of aptitude for teaching and scholarship within subject specialism.
• Evidence of ability to devise advise on and manage learning.
• Evidence of ability to manage motivate & mentor others.

Teaching

• Ability to design deliver assess and revise teaching programmes.
• Aptitude for developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching and advising colleagues.

Management Administration

• Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes.
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Motivation to champion Equality Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation policies procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Adam McNeillemail: (Dubai Campus) and Suzanne Higgs email: k (Edgbaston Campus)

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.