University College London

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Academic Director: UCL Global Citizenship Programme

Department/Unit: Office of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs)

Faculty/Division: n/a

Location: To be confirmed (office-based)

Reports to: Vice Provost (Education and Student Affairs)

Direct reports: None

Grade: At the level of the successful candidate’s current grade

FTE: 0.4

Duration: Permanent (beginning October 2017, with some shadowing of the current Academic Director from April 2017)

Working context

The Office of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs) supports the Vice-Provost to discharge his responsibilities for the management, development and delivery of the following institutional strategic priorities:

  • Teaching, Learning and Assessment (as set out in UCL’s 2034 Strategy and the Education Strategy 2016-21);
  • Education for Global Citizenship (as set out in the Education Strategy 2016-21);
  • Widening Participation and Access (as set out in the Access Agreement);
  • Education Partnerships (including the UCL Academy, Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre and the Partnership for Excellence with City and Islington College).

The Vice-Provost also has responsibility for the Centre for Advancing Learning and Teaching (CALT), the Volunteering Services Unit (VSU), Life Learning and Student Mediation.

The post holder will be a key member of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs)’s team, carrying important academic responsibilities and playing an activerole in the work of the office.

Education for Global Citizenship at UCL

Citizenship describes our responsibilities towards our community and those around us; global citizenship extends that responsibility in the context of a shrinking and ever more closely connected world.

UCL believes the education we provide must take into account – and promote – the increasing importance of global citizenship and educate our students not just as experts in their disciplinary fields, but students who are global citizens, those who:

  • look beyond their individual and local interests and see the complexity of an interconnected world;
  • understand the nature of the challenges that face that world;
  • are aware of their social, ethical and political responsibilities;
  • are ready to display leadership and work together to change the world for the better;
  • are able to solve problems through innovation and entrepreneurship;
  • prosper in a global jobs market that values the skills UCL provides.

This is what we mean by education for global citizenship: studying at UCL equips our graduates to face the complex problems of the modern world. These are the principles that inform all that we do at UCL – from our commitment to student volunteering, the way we conduct ourselves as an organisation to the way we work with other institutions.

The UCL Global Citizenship Programme

The Programme is a cornerstone of UCL’s education for global citizenship.

A keyfeature of the undergraduate and postgraduate taught year, it takes place for two weeks after the end of summer exams.

Each part of the UCL Global Citizenship Programme complements students’ in-programmeeducation, and helps prepare them for the world beyond graduation.

The Grand Challenges strands, open to first and second year undergraduates, enable them to tackle the same key global questions as UCL’s world-leading researchers. The strands are multidisciplinary, accessible andchallenging.They are delivered by staff and postgraduate students from academic departments across the university.

Second and final year undergraduates and PGT students choose one of four strands - Employability, Volunteering, Enterprise and Active Citizenship, delivered by the UCL Careers Service, Volunteering Services Unit, UCL Advances and the IOE respectively. These options are more practice-focussed than the Grand Challenges strands, preparing students for the world of work. The focus is still on working in small groups to tackle real-world problems.

Further information on the Programme can be found at

KEY TASKS

In consultation with key stakeholders, including the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs), the Head of Global Citizenship Programmes and the Global Citizenship Steering Group, to give academic direction to the UCL Global Citizenship Programme as it develops. This includes taking lead responsibility for the structure and delivery of the Programme and for projects associated with the Programme.
To support strand leaders across the Programme to ensure a coherent and rewardingacademic experience for all participants, to identify new strand leaders as required, including peer observation of teaching.
To work with the Head of Global Citizenship Programmes to strengthen the UCL Global Citizenship brand and participation in the programme.
To identify and facilitate linkages between all years of the Programme.
To ensure that the programme is appropriately resourced across all strands of the academic programme, by providing advice and guidance on the roles and responsibilities of strand leaders and other teaching staff, within delivering departments.
To be the academic champion of the UCL Global Citizenship Programme, working alongside the Head of Global Citizenship Programmes and the Global Citizenship Programme Manager to promote it within departments and faculties across the institution and externally.
To assess opportunities for internal and external partnerships and links in regards to the UCL Global Citizenship Programme, and to negotiate collaborations as appropriate.
To sit on the Global Citizenship Steering Group. This meets 3 times per year to agree the strategic direction of the UCL Global Citizenship Programme (including the identification of new strands), and reports annually to the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs) and Academic Committee via the Student Experience Committee.
To Chair the Volunteering Services Unit (VSU) Steering Group. This meets 3 times per year and sets the strategic direction of the VSU.
To establish and maintain effective working relationships acrossUCL.

The post-holder will report directly to the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Affairs). On a day-to-day basis, s/he will work closely with the Head of Global Citizenship Programmes, and the Global Citizenship Programme Manager, who have responsibility for the successful administration of the programme (including budget, marketing, student administration and logistics).

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post, and as duties and responsibilities change/develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post-holder.

The post-holder will carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the Vice Provost (Education and Student Affairs).

The post-holder will actively follow UCL policies including Equal Opportunities policies, and be expected to give consideration within their role as to how they can actively advance equality of opportunity and good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

The post-holder will maintain an awareness and observation of Fire and Health and Safety regulations.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Academic Director: Global Citizenship Programme

This is a specification of the qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge and abilities that are required to effectively carry out the responsibilities of the post (as outlined in the job description) and forms the basis for selecting a candidate.

Knowledge, education, qualifications and training
Essential
  • Experience of effective innovation in curriculum development, course design and the development of teaching materials and methods of delivery;
  • Evidence of sharing skills and experience in relation to teaching and learning at an institutional level;
  • Evidence of a substantial contribution to the management or administration of an academic programme;
  • Extensive knowledge of the higher education sector, in particular relation to the challenges facing undergraduate and PGT students before and after graduation;
  • A PhD.
Desirable
  • Evidence of having led, or made a substantial contribution to, a co-curricular, undergraduate and/or PGT level academic-related programme;
  • Experience of chairing committees;
  • Project management experience.

Skills and/or abilities and attitude
Essential
  • A commitment to higher education and a demonstrable ability to advocate for and champion education for global citizenship at UCL;
  • An aptitude for collaborative work including within a multi-disciplinary environment;
  • Organisational skills appropriate to higher education;
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills;
  • A proven ability to understand and articulate complex projects and programmes;
  • Collaborative and energetic;
  • A combination of sensitivity, creativity and tact
  • The ability to work well with people at all levels in the organisation;
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary working.

Other
Essential
  • Evidence of a commitment to professional skills and knowledge development.

September 2016