Situated in the bustling economic and cultural capital of the region, the University of Groningen is a research-intensive university with a truly global outlook that attracts a large number of staff and students from the Netherlands and internationally.

Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has established an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative university offering high quality teaching and research. Its 30,000 students are encouraged to develop their own individual talents through challenging study and career paths.

The University of Groningen is an international center of knowledge: it belongs to the best research universities in Europe and is allied with prestigious partner universities and networks worldwide. The University of Groningen has a strong commitment to the principles and practices of diversity and inclusion throughout the University community and welcomes candidates who enhance that diversity.

Department
University College Groningen (UCG) was established in September 2014, and currently hosts an English-taught Liberal Arts and Sciences programme. Staff and students are highly internationally diverse.

UCG aims to develop as a distinctive faculty of the University of Groningen, with an annual enrollment of 150 students in the programme that marks a unique footprint in the international arena of academic Bachelor education.

UCG is looking for a new Academic Director of Education. The Academic Director of Education at UCG is expected to be the key figure in assuring the UCG’s mission of creating horizon, scholarship and leadership for each individual student of the Liberal Arts and Sciences bachelor programme. To that purpose, preferred candidates have a strong commitment both to interdisciplinary research and education. The new Academic Director of Education is expected to have a strong and comprehensive vision on effective academic education of global challenges and strong capabilities to develop liberal learning as an effective vehicle to address those challenges in the context of University College Groningen. The Academic Director of Education is assisted in these tasks by a policy advisor, reports to the Faculty Board, and supports the development and implementation of the overall mission, strategy and positioning of the college.

As the UCG Academic Director of Education you are responsible for:

● preparing strategic proposals with respect to education policy, curriculum and organization, and to participate in management consultation meetings with the Dean and supervisor of organizational units within UCG
● assuring the quality of the UCG curriculum, i.e. the development and coordination of the system of course evaluations, curriculum evaluations, and on the basis of this, the implementation of improvement measures (including advice concerning the professional development for academic staff), as well as the fulfillment of accountability requirements, i.e. annual reports, and accreditation reports
● initiating and assuming responsibility for the development of new learning lines or educational units, in terms of content, assessment and didactics, and further development of the existing programme.
● developing, planning, implementing, managing and evaluating the UCG curriculum
● developing, updating and adapting guiding documents such as the Teaching and Exam Regulation (OER), the Course Catalog, Assessment Plan
● assuming responsibility for the teaching of academic course components
● the organization of class enrolment per semester, i.e. course planning, scheduling, and the assignment of students to courses, as administered in the course management system
● evaluating and monitoring the faculty’s teaching performance and encouraging teaching innovation
● closely collaborating with other parts of the quality management system of the faculty, like the Programme Committee and the Board of Examiners
● actively participating in the management team of UCG
● representing, as well as stimulating, the dissemination of the particular areas of expertise in various media, such as project education and contacts with the civil society
● representing UCG at other UG faculties and outside the UG
● participating in University-level meetings, consultations (e.g. UCO) and representing the faculty.

For this role, we are looking for an academic who:

● Is an inspiring academic educator;
● Is committed to developing excellence and innovation in teaching and learning
● Possesses a doctorate (PhD) and an extensive track record in interdisciplinary research
and has considerable experience of teaching in interdisciplinary undergraduate contexts with commitment to teaching (SKO)
● Can demonstrate a particular interest in interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and research
● Can maintain a strong international network and a good understanding of liberal arts and science education (LAS education)
● Has an excellent English language proficiency, as well as proficiency in Dutch
● Is willing to engage with students, and to join a multidisciplinary and international team
● Is able to reach out to external stakeholders to enrich the curriculum and the student learning experience
● Is an excellent collaborator and possesses organizational sensitivity
● Is willing to be an integral part of the community and able to work mostly on location
● Values diversity and inclusiveness as elements of professional relationships in academia.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- depending on academic record and experience a salary from a minimum of € 5,506 to a maximum of € 6,702 gross per month (scale 13), based on 38 hours per week
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% end-of-the-year allowance
- a temporary contract for one year will be offered in the first instance, with the possibility of a permanent contract after one year. Depending on the current position of the candidate, 0.2 FTE research time will be included in the position.