Head of School - Computing

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head of School – Computing is a key academic and administrative leadership position at Curtin University Dubai. The role involves overseeing the development, implementation, and management of the School of Computing, ensuring alignment with Curtin’s global academic standards and institutional goals. The Head of School will work closely with the Director Learning and Teaching at Curtin University Dubai, faculty members, professional staff, Curtin University Perth and students to foster a collaborative and high‑quality learning environment while supporting the growth of computing programs at Curtin Dubai.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and School Ownership

• Provide overall leadership of the School of Computing. Take ownership of the school’s academic performance, strategic direction, growth, and market positioning, in line with Curtin Dubai’s objectives and strategy.
• Develop and implement a 3-5 year roadmap for the school covering enrolment growth, program development, research, student outcomes, and industry engagement.
• Work closely with the Pro Vice-Chancellor & President, Director – Learning and Teaching, other Heads of School, professional services teams, and Curtin Perth faculty leadership to support institutional and school priorities.
• Build effective working relationships with Curtin Perth Faculty leadership, Heads of School, Deans, Unit Coordinators, and other academic staff.
• Identify emerging and high-demand areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Digital Transformation, and related fields to strengthen the School’s program portfolio.
• Support the expansion of postgraduate programs, micro-credentials, executive education, and other industry-aligned offerings.
• Be accountable for the school’s overall performance, including enrolment growth, academic quality, student satisfaction, progression, retention, graduate outcomes, and industry relevance.

School and Program Management

• Oversee the day-to-day academic and administrative operations of the School of Computing.
• Liaise closely with Curtin Perth on operational matters, program delivery, unit coordination, curriculum, academic governance, and quality assurance.
• Manage faculty, including teaching allocations, workload planning, and effective program delivery across the School.
• Coordinate curriculum structures, course offerings, units, and academic schedules in consultation with Curtin Perth and relevant internal stakeholders.
• Ensure all programs meet accreditation, regulatory, and quality assurance requirements, and participate in related activities as required.
• Conduct program reviews, evaluations, and performance analysis to identify improvements and support continuous enhancement.
• Monitor the overall health, performance, and sustainability of programs, including enrolments, progression, resourcing, and student outcomes.
• Identify academic, operational, regulatory, and reputational risks affecting the School, and implement appropriate mitigation measures.

Academic Leadership

• Lead the delivery and continuous improvement of programs within the School of Computing.
• Develop, implement, and monitor School-level academic procedures and operating practices in line with Curtin and local regulatory requirements.
• Provide leadership in academic delivery, academic quality, and term‑by‑term readiness.
• Ensure the school maintains a high standard of academic quality in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and external or professional accreditations.
• Participate in curriculum review and academic planning before each study period in collaboration with Curtin Perth and internal stakeholders.
• Lead the School resource planning, including staffing, laboratories, equipment, and other academic infrastructure needed in collaboration with other stakeholders to support growth and quality delivery.
• Mentor and support faculty in their teaching, research, and scholarly activities, while actively supporting their continuous professional development and career progression.
• Strategically manage School resources and departmental staff to meet and/or align with school, campus, and university‑wide strategic objectives.
• Facilitate School meetings, academic discussions, and collaborative initiatives that support alignment, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of academic excellence, collegiality, innovation, accountability, and student‑centred practice.

Teaching and Learning

• Deliver lectures, tutorials, practical sessions, workshops, seminars, demonstrations, and laboratory classes in the relevant subject area.
• Administer and assess examinations, quizzes, assignments, projects, laboratory work, and other assessment tasks in line with approved academic requirements.
• Provide constructive and timely feedback to support student learning and progression.
• Maintain regular consultation hours and provide academic guidance, mentoring, and support to students.
• Contribute to improvements in teaching quality, the learning experience, assessment practice, and academic support within the School.
• Oversee and support faculty in the implementation of high-quality teaching practices and the effective management of unit-level administrative requirements.

Student Support, Success, and Employability

• Provide academic advising, mentoring, and guidance to students across the student lifecycle.
• Address student concerns appropriately, support academic success and engagement, and refer wellbeing matters where needed.
• Develop and support initiatives to improve student engagement, retention, progression, and the overall student experience.
• Coordinate and promote internships, industry placements, capstone projects, applied learning opportunities, guest lectures, seminars, workshops, competitions, and other experiential learning activities.
• Support strategies that strengthen student employability, career readiness, and graduate outcomes.
• Encourage a strong School identity and student community through academic, professional, and co‑curricular engagement.

Research and Scholarly Activities

• Maintain an active research and scholarly agenda relevant to the role and discipline.
• Promote research collaboration across Curtin Dubai, Curtin Perth, and external academic and industry partners.
• Encourage interdisciplinary and applied research, funded projects, industry-supported initiatives, and scholarly outputs that strengthen the School’s profile and impact.
• Support the development of a strong research culture within the School, including mentoring faculty in research and scholarly development.

Industry Engagement, Marketing, Growth, and Outreach

• Cultivate a culture of innovation and industry engagement, driving the integration of work‑integrated learning and professional connectivity across the School’s programs and activities.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with technology companies, start‑ups, innovation hubs, professional bodies, community organisations, government stakeholders, and academic institutions.
• Strengthen industry engagement through internships, advisory boards, applied projects, certifications, guest speakers, research partnerships, and employer collaboration.
• Work with Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions, and Student Services to support recruitment, conversion, retention, and growth across the School’s programs.
• Contribute to School growth strategies, including outreach initiatives, lead generation activities, enrolment campaigns, and new market opportunities.
• Represent the School and Curtin Dubai at open days, school visits, webinars, exhibitions, industry events, and corporate meetings.
• Act as an academic ambassador for the School with prospective students, parents, schools, agents, alumni, employers, regulators, and other stakeholders.
• Support the development of promotional content, thought leadership, market‑facing academic messaging, and other initiatives that strengthen the School’s reputation and visibility.

Relationships

• Work closely with the Director – Learning & Teaching, Curtin Dubai.
• Engage with the other Heads of Schools at Curtin Dubai.
• Manage full‑time and part‑time computing faculty.
• Build good relationships and work well with Curtin Perth Faculty PVC, Head of Schools, Deans – Teaching & Learning, Deans – International, Unit Coordinators and other Perth and Dubai academic and professional staff.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, industry, employers, schools, students, parents, alumni, and prospective students.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• PhD in Information Technology, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in higher education with teaching and program leadership/coordination.
• Research publications in reputable journals and conferences.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Commitment to academic excellence and collaboration.
• Proficient with accreditation and regulatory requirements in the UAE.

LOCATION AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position is a full-time on‑campus role.
• Flexibility for remote work based on operational requirements and approved workloads.
• The role includes offsite and cross‑campus university engagement opportunities such as conferences, meetings, and industry partnerships.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Competitive compensation package.
• Cross‑campus collaboration and research opportunities within the Curtin network.
• Strong opportunity to grow in a fast‑growing organization.
• Freezone company sponsored visa.
• Health insurance with a quality provider under the company’s group medical policy.
• Annual air ticket for self after the completion of one year.
• Annual leave as per the UAE Labour Law excluding public holidays.
• Gratuity and end‑of‑service benefits as per the UAE Labour Law.
• Staff discounts on university programmes and university’s short courses.