SENIOR POSITIONS WITHIN THE ACADEMY OF FILM AND CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

Title of Position: Professor and Dean, the School of Film and TV Arts

Title of Position: Professor and Dean, the School of Cultural Technology

Reports to: The Dean, the Academy of Film and Creative Technology

Job ID: 2078

Salary: Competitive

Contract Type: Full-Time for an initial 3 years, renewable.

Location: Suzhou.

Applications are invited for two senior positions within the Academy of Film and Creative Technology; the Dean for the School of Film and TV Arts located within the Suzhou SIP campus, and the Dean for the School of Cultural Technology located within the Suzhou Taicang campus.

About the University

Located in Suzhou, within the Yangtze Delta area, China, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is a young, dynamic and English Medium Instruction university founded in 2006. It is a unique collaborative institution, and the first joint-venture university in China to offer both UK (University of Liverpool) and Chinese (Ministry of Education) accredited undergraduate degrees for more than 100 programmes. XJTLU has ambitious aims to become a world-class research-led institution, and has committed significant investment into research development and the expansion of master’s and PhD student numbers on campus. The university has over 18,000 students and nearly 1000 academic staff representing in excess of 90 nationalities, and plans to grow to about 25,000 students by 2025. 

XJTLU’s initial and main campus is located in the Higher Education Town of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), well-connected via nearby airports to cities such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei, and via high-speed rails to other major cities in China, including nearby Shanghai. Greater Suzhou is now the fourth largest concentration of economic activity in China in terms of GDP.

XJTLU is finalising the building of a new teaching, research and entrepreneurial campus in Taicang, part of Greater Suzhou. Opening in September 2022, Industry-themed schools and entrepreneurial degrees have been established through collaboration with the Taicang Municipal Government and industry partners, and will be a central pillar of the university strategic priorities for the next ten years.

For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn

About the Academy of Film and Creative Technology (AFCT)

The newly created Academy, launched on 22^nd May 2021, is the result of bringing together the two existing schools of Cultural Technology, and Film and TV Arts, under one academic roof. Uniquely within XJTLU, the Academy is multi-locational, providing cross-site opportunities for students, staff, industry and society.

Building on the core values of the university, the academy brings together the areas of media, creativity and technology within the context of society to establish an international cultural ecosystem, driven by knowledge generation to advance industry and shape future society. The Academy is located in both the SIP campus, through the School of Film and TV Arts; and on the new campus in Taicang as part of the new Entrepreneur College, through the School for Cultural Technology. There are also ambitious plans to develop further educational, research and creative technology facilities in both Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, and the Great Bay Area.

AFCT offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes through its schools, non-degree short term professional training programmes, research and knowledge transfer services, and establishes partnerships and interacts with industries and society. 

About the School of Cultural Technology

The School is one of the 6 – 10 industry-themed Schools within the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang) campus. The School consists of an Education, Research and Development Institute (“ERDI”) for teaching and university-business research collaboration, a professional services centre supporting daily activities of students, staff, and business partners, and a School Affiliated Company, jointly established by XJTLU and the School’s industry partner for practical on-the-job learning and teaching. 

The Dean of School oversees the School Management Team as well as contributing to the leadership of the Taicang campus. The Dean of school has a daily reporting line to the Dean of the Academy, and is a member of the Academy SMT.

The first degree programme that the School has launched was for the Academic Year 2019/2020 and is a BA Arts, Technology and Entertainment with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism. The School is currently developing a two-year master degree programme, building on the success of its initial degree programme, as well as expanding its research and business engagement portfolio.

Key responsibilities of the Dean:

The role of Dean of the School of Cultural Technology is to provide effective direction in all aspects of School-wide activity, delegating responsibility within the School when appropriate. The Dean is expected to represent the School within the Academy, within the University, and externally. The Dean will also be part of the XJTLU Academic Management Group.

The Dean must provide the sort of professorial academic leadership needed to take the School through its current growth phase, especially once it moves to the Taicang site. Emphasis rests on the development of the School’s new degrees and its research endeavour and so candidates must not only be highly accomplished in their own right, they must also have clear collaborative commitment and the ability to develop and implement teaching and research strategies. Additionally, given the University’s pace of expansion, the Dean must provide wider academic leadership in matters such as staff development and recruitment, programme development and quality assurance within the School.

The Dean is responsible for:

• Providing visionary academic leadership in the strategic development of the School;
• Developing appropriate strategies for Learning and Teaching, Research and Impact, and Business Engagement in line with University and Entrepreneur College (Taicang) strategies;
• Enhancing and developing the profile of the School and Academy locally, nationally and internationally;
• daily operation and administration in the School;
• reporting to and implementing decisions made by the Academy Council and/or Academy of Film and Creative Technology;
• reviewing and developing the portfolio of programmes at all levels, including the development and delivery of new and innovative educational initiatives;
• preparing both the annual budget and report on financial accounts of the School for the School Council approval;
• developing School infrastructure, regulations and rules for the School Council approval;
• delivering excellent learning and teaching, research, and enterprise engagement activities in the School;
• personnel decisions including recruitment, discipline, retention, contract termination, etc. in the School;
• coordination and communication between the School and the University; and,
• any other work-related tasks assigned by the Charter of School, the Academy Council, or the (Associate) Principal.

About the School of Film and TV Arts

The School of Film and Television Arts was built on the departmental strengths in communication and culture. With the addition of trainings in making creative content and arts, the School has been constantly developing a mix of practice, research, creativity and industry engagement with the cultural and creative industry sectors in China and internationally. The School currently offers programmes in Digital Media Arts, TV Production and Filmmaking at UG level.  The School is currently developing a two-year master degree programme in Creative and Cultural Technology, building on the success of its initial degree programme, as well as expanding its research and business engagement portfolio.

The Dean of School oversees the School Management Team as well as contributing to the leadership of the Academy, with a daily reporting line to the Dean of the Academy.

Key Responsibilities of the Dean:

The role of Dean of the School of Film and TV Arts is to provide effective direction in all aspects of School-wide activity, delegating responsibility within the School when appropriate. The Dean is expected to represent the School within the Academy, within the University, and externally. The Dean will also be part of the XJTLU Academic Management Group.

The Dean is expected to lead the development and implementation of the overall vision and academic development of the School, working closely with senior Academy staff to promote innovative developments in the delivery of its programmes, highlighting its strengths through the recent opening of a new purpose built building. The School has a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and original creativity, with programmes delivered over a number of locations.  

The Dean must provide the sort of professorial academic leadership needed to take the School through its current growth phase. Emphasis rests on the development of the School’s new degrees and its research endeavour and so candidates must not only be highly accomplished in their own right, they must also have clear collaborative commitment and the ability to develop and implement teaching and research strategies. Additionally, given the University’s pace of expansion, the Dean must provide wider academic leadership in matters such as staff development and recruitment, programme development and quality assurance within the School.

The Dean is responsible for:

• Providing visionary academic leadership in the strategic development of the School;
• Developing appropriate strategies for Learning and Teaching, Research and Impact, and Business Engagement in line with University strategies;
• Enhancing and developing the profile of the School and Academy locally, nationally and internationally;
• daily operation and administration in the School;
• reporting to and implementing decisions made by the Academy Council and/or Academy of Film and Creative Technology;
• reviewing and developing the portfolio of programmes at all levels, including the development and delivery of new and innovative educational initiatives;
• Ensuring effective systems of communication and representation within the School and creating a vibrant and productive community;
• preparing both the annual budget and report on financial accounts of the School for the School Council approval;
• leading on the development of multi-site delivery of degree and non-degree programmes;
• developing School infrastructure, regulations and rules for the School Council approval;
• delivering excellent learning and teaching, research, and enterprise engagement activities in the School;
• personnel decisions including recruitment, discipline, retention, contract termination, etc. in the School;
• coordination and communication between the School and the University; and,
• any other work-related tasks assigned by the Charter of School, the Academy Council, or the (Associate) Principal.

Qualifications (for both positions):

1. Candidates must be a Ph.D. holder in a relevant subject from a world renowned university, or be able to demonstrate an equivalent professional practice and engagement.
2. Candidates must demonstrate a strong academic background, preferably with knowledge of practice-as-research.
3. Candidates must demonstrate a willingness and enthusiasm to embrace and manage change, and actively engage with new educational models such as Syntegrative Education (SE).
4. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of successful outcomes in building productive partnerships among other higher education institutions, industry, and with wider society.
5. Candidates shall become familiar with and observe Chinese and UK rules and regulations of higher education.
6. Candidates shall have management experience with good people skills and have the ability or experience to form and develop a new academic unit.
7. Candidates must have an international reputation and demonstrate impacts in the creative industries ideally with a strong focus on creative thinking, idea development and industry practice, especially from a technology perspective.
8. Candidates must have rich experience in research, academic leadership, financial management, strategic planning, people management, as well as senior academic management experience in a university, research institution or similar functions/areas.
9. Candidates must demonstrate a good track record of engagement with students and industry.
10. Candidates must have a high level of communicative competence in English; an equivalent knowledge of Chinese would be an advantage.
11. Candidates with administration and management experience in international universities or Sino-foreign joint universities are preferred.
12. Some experience of working in a relevant industry would be an advantage.

TO APPLY：

Please submit your applications online
https://career15.sapsf.cn/career?career_company=xjtlu

Applications must be submitted in a single PDF file that includes 3 parts in the order of:

• A cover letter specifying your suitability for the role
• A current CV, including date of birth, country of citizenship, and highest degree level
• Contact details for three references (at least a reference from current or most recent employer. Preferably current employer *and* last employer)

Informal enquiries may be directed to the Associate Principal of the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) at XJTLU and chair of the Academy Council, Professor Stuart Perrin (Email: Stuart.perrin@xjtlu.edu.cn).

If you are unable to apply on-line please contact the Human Resource Office. 
Email: yiting.xu@xjtlu.edu.cn