Dean of Graduate School of Development

Dean of Graduate School of Development

Department:            Graduate School of Development
Duty station:             Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Reports to:            Rector of the University of Central Asia

UCA Background
The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 as a private, not for profit, secular university through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan; ratified by their respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons of the University and His Highness is the Chancellor. UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognized standard of higher education, and enabling the peoples of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future.

UCA consists of three schools including the Undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Development (Institute of Public Policy and Administration, Mountain Societies Research Institute, Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit), and the School of Professional and Continuing Education. UCA also includes the Central Asian Faculty Development Programme, and the Aga Khan Humanities Project. UCA’s undergraduate programmes are located at its residential campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, and Khorog, Tajikistan. The Tekeli campus in Kazakhstan is expected to start classes in 2021/2022. UCA brings with it the broader commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network. For more information: www.ucentralasia.org. 

Summary of Position 
UCA is seeking an experienced and visionary Dean to provide academic, intellectual, and administrative leadership to its Graduate School of Development (GSD) that consists of the Institute of Public Policy and Administration, Mountain Societies Research Institute, Civil Society Initiative, Cultural Heritage and Humanities Unit, and the Aga Khan Humanities Project.  
GSD's mission is to generate and disseminate research on issues facing societies' development in Central Asia, especially its vast mountain regions. It aims to enhance civil society actors and public authorities' ability to search for solutions to complex problems and nurture a new generation of thought and policy leaders. The Dean should, thus, have a keen understanding of societal and environmental change in the region, especially challenges facing the low-and lower-middle income countries, and approaches for engaging critical audiences in disseminating research.  

The Dean would be a recognized authority in a field relevant to understanding socio-economic and environmental issues and have a distinguished record of research that includes inquiry seeking solutions to real-world problems. The Dean would be a successful fundraiser, leading major research initiatives and having a strong international network.  The candidate should have experience designing and teaching post-graduate programmes and demonstrate a keen appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches.

Key Responsibilities Include
Research: Conducts, promotes, encourages, and supports in-depth analysis on current and emerging policy and environmental issues in the region, as well as trans-disciplinary research to help inform and contribute to the work of the institutes and constituent units of GSD.  

Development: Oversees implementation of activities to enhance the analytical capacity of governments and civil society to use evidence in decision-making processes. Support Visiting Fellows Programme, Post-Graduate Certificate and post-graduate degree programmes that help build human resource in the region.   

Work with civil society: Facilitates learning networks around key themes of good governance, health, education, rule of law and the environment to foster a more enabling policy and administrative environment for civil society in Central Asia and assist the development of a broad spectrum of civil society actors. 

Work with partner institutions: Guides the development of partner university and research institute linkages to enhance the work of GSD.  
Preservation of cultural heritage: Oversees activities to preserve and promote the rich and diverse cultural heritages of the region through research, documenting, archiving and support of regional scholars. 

Staff: Leads recruitment, development and retention of research fellows and other academic staff with a particular focus on Central Asia. The Dean will guide professional development of staff and make recommendations on their promotions.  

Funding: Lead the development of discipline focused, as well as, multidisciplinary proposals for funding to support research and development activities of GSD. 

Required Qualifications and Experience 

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant field, together with a distinguished record of scholarly accomplishments. 
• A demonstrated track record spanning more than ten years of administrative experience in academic/research leadership positions.  
• Experience in university academic policy planning, development, and administration. 
• Previous experience of work in the region.
• Advanced English is required.  
• Knowledge of Russian would be an important asset.  

 
How to Apply 
Please send your cover letter, CV and contact information of three references to hr.recruitment@ucentralasia.org. Regular deadline for application is 1 May 2021, however applications will continue to be accepted thereafter until selection of candidate. Kindly write “Dean, Graduate School of Development” as your application e-mail's subject.   

A competitive remuneration package to attract best candidate would be provided. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.