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Director: Academic Planning

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) is one of the foremost higher education institutions in the heartland of South Africa, dedicated to quality education and training, mainly in science, engineering and technology. Over the past 30 years CUT has developed into a leading institution able to take its place in the national as well as the international higher education landscape.

The CUT invites suitably qualified persons to apply for the following position:
Director: Academic Planning (Ref. 258)

The successful candidate will direct, manage and integrate academic planning processes at institutional and faculty levels in alignment with Vision 2020 strategic imperatives to favourably position the Central University of Technology, Free State as a university of technology that offers a range of quality educational opportunities, conducts research, supports social and technological innovation and offers a range of socio-economic development services. In addition, the incumbent will support the Academic Portfolio in the key performance areas listed below.

Key performance areas: • Lead and manage the conception, design and implementation support of an academic plan and appropriate academic programme portfolio to facilitate the strategic positioning of the University • Lead and manage processes to maintain an accurate and continuously updated Programme and Qualifications Mix (PQM) in liaison with relevant internal stakeholders and the Department of Higher Education and Training as well as with other relevant State departments and agencies • Ensure, in liaison with DVC: Academic and Deans, that processes to promote alignment of academic focus areas, academic programmes and curricula in response to Vision 2020 institutional planning priorities, national policy requirements and global imperatives are adhered to • Support the monitoring, in collaboration with senior management in the Academic Portfolio, of enrolment targets of the University • Support the monitoring collaboration with Academic Development and Support Section, Quality Promotion Unit and other, with a focus on the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the accurate preparation and timely online submission of new academic programmes, in accordance with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), CHE’s Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirements for programme approval, accreditation and registration • Lead and manage the development and implementation of policies, procedures and technology-enabled systems to track new academic programme approvals and changes to existing programmes/modules, including records of all applicable official correspondence with the DHET, HEQC and SAQA • Coordinate all academic-related activities and special projects • Support the DVC: Academic in strategic projects related to the academic portfolio • Undertake policy research and trend analyses relevant to the integrated management of the academic portfolio, focusing on institutional, national and international trends • Collaborate and support the University’s quality assurance as well as its monitoring and evaluation functions.

Competencies: The incumbent must possess: • A relevant Doctoral degree • At least five (5) years of experience in a higher education academic planning environment • Solid understanding of critical higher education scholarship issues • In-depth knowledge of the higher education regulatory framework • Excellent analytical and research skills • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report-writing and presentation skills • Facilitation and networking skills, including the ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders at various levels • Project coordination, time management and the ability to adhere to tight deadlines.

Please apply for the above position online: visit our website at www.cut.ac.za

Enquiries: Prof H de Jager, tel. (051) 507 3005 or e-mail: hdejager@cut.ac.za

Closing date: 5 November 2012