Appointment of Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design Candidate Brief

Transcription

1 Appointment of Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design Candidate Brief chi.ac.uk

2 02 The Opportunity The Opportunity Welcome to the University of Chichester and thank you for your interest in the post of Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design How to apply Applications should be submitted using the University s on-line application. Please contact the Recruitment Co-ordinators on or , should you need advice and support in relation to submitting your application. Closing date: Friday 13th May 2016 Interview date: Monday 23rd May 2016 The new Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design will play a pivotal role in shaping undergraduate and postgraduate provision within a new department as part of the launch of an Engineering and Digital Technology Park at our Bognor Regis Campus. This is a unique opportunity to lead from the outset, one of the launch departments for STEM provision at the University of Chichester. Background Business engagement has been developing at the University since 2008 when Strategic Development Funding (SDF) was secured from HEFCE to develop the Bognor Regis Campus with a view to supporting regional economic growth. In January 2015, the University won funding of 8m from the Government s Local Growth Fund through its partnership work with the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Coast to Capital, to establish an Engineering and Digital Technology Park on the Bognor Regis Campus. The first part of this development will include the launch of both a Department for Engineering and Design and a Department for Creative and Digital Technologies to be housed within a state of the art purpose built and multidisciplinary facility to open early The breadth of programmes to be offered will reflect a crossboundary approach towards a wide range of creative and digital technologies for the industries of tomorrow. The launch of undergraduate programmes spanning a spectrum from digital music technology and animation - through to digital marketing, games animation, product design and a range of engineering programmes within the same facility, mirrors our collaborative working with industries that need highly skilled and practically oriented graduates. These graduates of tomorrow will be trained within a culture of cross-disciplinary working to develop skills that are actively transferable and adaptable to a changing world of work. It is our intention to foster crossboundary thinking and adaptable problem solving skills within our graduates who will be trained in a facility designed to foster creative ways of working. This launch of the Department of Engineering and Applied Design aligns centrally with one of the University s core strategic goals within its strategy: Twenty-Twenty Vision strategy that the University should be inspirational agents for social, cultural and economic regeneration. We will teach students via innovative pedagogies based around both team working and problem solving approaches so as to train students with industry ready skills for employment to become innovative, creative thought leaders of tomorrow - thereby contributing to a lasting impact upon our regional economy and beyond.

3 Our University Strategy: Twenty-Twenty Vision 03 Our University Strategy: Twenty-Twenty Vision Our University Strategy provides the route map for the Board and the Executive for the next few years. The Strategy is accompanied by high level Key Performance Indicators and other Performance Indicators that support each Strategic Goal. Our mission is to be: A university community that inspires and enables individuals to exceed their expectations. Our Twenty-Twenty vision is that: By 2020 the University of Chichester will be internationally recognised as a beacon of good practice for high quality, student-centred higher education within a supportive community of learning. These are our strategic goals: 1. Every student will have an outstanding learning experience. Our learning community will inspire and empower our students to exceed their expectations. Learning and teaching will be based on research and pedagogy that is of national and international repute. For us, our pedagogy is not just an approach to teaching but a commitment to inform and inspire. We will, therefore, work in partnership with our student community to ensure that our learning and teaching reflects excellent practice and recognises the opportunities presented by new technologies. A focus on employability and enterprise skills will mean our graduates are equipped to thrive in a global economy. 2. We will be inspirational agents for social, cultural and economic regeneration. We believe in the power of education and knowledge to inspire and act as a catalyst for change and that is why we will become the regional leader in education-led social, cultural and economic renewal and growth. This means playing an active role through strategic partnerships with schools, businesses, and civic organisations so that we can jointly make a lasting impact upon our regional community. It also means we recognise and embrace the responsibility we have to engage positively with our surrounding communities to extend access to higher education. 3. All staff engaged in learning and teaching will have a research profile that is of national or international repute. Research is an inclusive concept at Chichester that includes: pushing forward the frontiers of academic knowledge, refining pedagogy, developing applied consultancy, as well as sector leading professional and creative practice. The courses in our academic portfolio will continue to be rooted in this research and will strengthen our academic offer within an increasingly competitive marketplace. All academic members of staff will be supported to develop or maintain a research profile. 4. Our academic portfolio will be developed to ensure that it remains relevant for those seeking to access higher education. What students want to study, and the needs of the economy, will change in the coming years. We will build upon our strengths and reputation for quality, adapting both our portfolio and our delivery, to ensure that we respond to the requirements and aspirations of the domestic and international market. We will maintain full recruitment of students and maintain our position as the university of first choice for 95 per cent of our intake. 5. Enhancing the student experience will be the cornerstone upon which we develop our campus environment. Our Chichester and Bognor Regis campuses will be further developed to enhance the sense of a cohesive community of learning and encourage a defining sense of belonging and shared endeavour. This will include residential accommodation for all students wishing to live in as well as high quality teaching, learning, social and recreational spaces. This endeavour will be supported by the continued investment and improvement of systems, processes and solutions that underpin the student experience. 6. Embrace the opportunities presented by the new education landscape in a way that is coherent with our strategic direction. The period to 2020 is widely anticipated as a period of significant change for education. We will draw upon our heritage, leading and participating in the agenda of academy schools and colleges. In the new higher education landscape, we will develop sustainable partnerships with strategic providers and work more closely with the private and voluntary sector to develop additional income streams and increase our Home/EU and international numbers. 7. Generate levels of surplus, sufficient to secure sustainability and create funds to support the delivery of our vision. Chichester has always been financially well-managed. We will continue to seek to secure income from a number of sources and achieve surplus budgets in order to fund our growth, development and continued investment in the student experience. In pursuing these goals we will maintain our focus on creating an environmentally sustainable future. 8. Achieve a shared sense of mission and belonging across our community so that our vision is owned by the whole institution and understood by our partners. The entire University, staff and students, will work together in order that this strategy becomes the shared vision of our learning community. Our staff body, academic and professional service, is our most important asset in delivering services to students and we commit to leading, managing and investing in a manner that reflects this outlook.

4 04 Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design This is a unique opportunity to shape the development of a multi-disciplinary and industry focussed department with an emphasis of training industry ready graduates with high levels of transferable innovative and creative skills. The full-time post holder will report directly to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Enterprise). This new department will be focussed towards training graduates with the needs of industry and employers in mind. The post holder will develop and lead programmes focused towards the needs of industry (through for example a CDIO approach) with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary teaching and research. Working closely with other heads of department, the role holder will create and launch a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to include data science and analytics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, material science/engineering, digital electronics and product design technology. The successful applicant will bring to this post substantial experience of curriculum development across traditional academic boundaries to forge new innovative and multi-disciplinary pedagogies, academic management, and leadership of research along with publishing and securing research income in relevant areas. The post holder will take the lead in all of the partnership activities with employers and businesses that the department engages in. We are committed to teaching all of our Engineering based programmes around a problem based learning framework so that students will develop employment ready skills tailored for the needs of industry. Our chosen pedagogy is the Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate (CDIO) approach an initiative originating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US and Linkoping University in Sweden; candidates should demonstrate familiarity with the CDIO programme or similar problem based learning approach. The Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design, will take responsibility for the following principal accountabilities: Managing people Provide academic leadership to those working within a substantial subject area by co-ordinating the work of others to ensure that programmes and/or routes are delivered effectively. Take responsibility for the overall management of the work of the department area, ensuring that procedures are in place for: a. Recruitment and induction of students including open days and admissions. b. The provision to students of academic information and advice. c. Monitoring student progress and pastoral support. d. Student experience within the area. e. The recruitment, appraisal, induction and development of staff within the area. f. The development of syllabuses, structures and methods of assessment for taught programmes. g. Cross-faculty co-operation including communication of information about the University, its policies and procedures, to all staff and students within the subject area. Assign teaching and other duties to members of academic and other staff assigned to the subject area having regard to the University s Strategic Plan and the need to balance each individual contribution between teaching, research, employer engagement, consultancy and administration. Advise and provide support to less experienced colleagues, and conduct Performance and Development Reviews (Performance, Review Development Plan PRDP s). Act as line manager and personal mentor to peers and colleagues working in the same or cognate areas, providing advice on personal and career development plans. Planning and Managing Resources Take responsibility for the allocation and use of resources, including staff, space and finance made available to the Department by the Chief Executive s Team. This includes the management of all subject area income and expenditure in line with University financial and budgetary procedures and in a manner consistent with agreed budgets. Contribute to the overall management of the subject in areas such as resource management, budget management, business and programme planning and the University s strategic planning processes. Contribute to department and University-level strategic planning and development. Chair department or University Committees, and participate in University decision-making. Take responsibility for risk management, quality, audit and other external assessments in own areas of responsibility. This includes setting standards and monitoring progress against agreed criteria for own area of responsibility.

5 Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design 05 Plan or deliver research, scholarship, consultancy or similar programmes within designated resources, ensuring that required income levels are achieved. Undertake administrative duties, as required by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Enterprise). Initiative, problem-solving and decision-making Take responsibility for the development of the subject area in line with strategic plans and identify opportunities for strategic development of new courses or appropriate areas of activity and contribute to the development of such ideas. Make decisions regarding the operational aspects of own subject areas and/or routes and contribute to decisions which have an impact on other related subject areas and/or routes. Provide advice on issues such as student recruitment, staff appointments and the achievement of significant performance indicators identified by the Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Sustainability and Enterprise). Act to resolve problems affecting the delivery of subject areas and/or routes in accordance with University regulations, including quality assurance processes. Teaching and Learning Support Play a leading role in the design, development, implementation and delivery of high-quality teaching programmes at all levels including CPD. Demonstrate innovation and initiative in all aspects of learning and teaching and engage in student recruitment and admissions as required. Ensure that students within the department receive the highest quality student experience possible and that the University s Learning and Teaching Strategy is implemented. Adopt an approachable and accessible attitude towards students, offering advice and guidance. Work within the University s quality assurance framework, e.g. for the validation and re-validation of courses, ensuring that programme and route design and delivery comply with the quality standards and regulations of the University. Design, develop and deliver a range of programmes and/or routes at various levels reviewing on a regular basis course content and materials, ensuring that they remain up-to-date and relevant, incorporating advances in the subject area and utilising appropriate technology. Develop and apply appropriate teaching techniques and material which create interest, understanding and enthusiasm amongst students. Research and income generating activities The post holder will play a leading role in identifying and exploring opportunities for enterprise activity, knowledge exchange income and/or consultancy. The post holder will develop successful links with external contacts such as employers, professional bodies and other providers of funding and research initiatives. Act as a leading authority in the field or specialism, developing new knowledge understanding and innovation in the area. Play a leading role in the development and implementation of department research strategies and themes, and lead and coordinate research activity. Develop proposals for major research projects which will make a significant impact. Disseminate research knowledge through presentations, exhibitions or publication at national and/or international levels. Identify sources of funding and contribute to the process of securing funds for research and scholarly activities, ensuring that academic staff meet individual targets for research and consultancy. Provide academic leadership and inspiration to those working within own research area, and foster inter-disciplinary teamworking. Engage in pedagogic and practitioner research and other scholarly activities and contribute to peer assessment internally and/or externally. Contribute to the development of subject teaching and learning strategies. Work in conjunction with others to apply subject knowledge to practice. Promote research grant and contract procurement and the generation of income from non-hefce funds in-line with the University s strategic plans. Communication Disseminate conceptual and complex ideas to a wide variety of audiences using appropriate media and methods to promote understanding. Liaison and networking Develop links with external contacts such as other educational and research bodies, employers, professional bodies and other providers of funding and research initiatives to foster collaboration. Act as external examiner to other institutions and/or provide professional advice. Lead and develop internal networks for example by chairing and participating in University committees and lead and develop external networks with external examiners and assessors. Teamwork Lead teams within areas of responsibility and foster a culture which ensures that teams within the University work together effectively. Act to resolve conflicts within and between teams. Pastoral care Take responsibility for dealing with student issues within own programmes and/or routes and areas of responsibility. Provide first line support for colleagues referring them to sources of further help if required.

6 06 Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design Principal Attributes and Person Specification: Essential Desirable Evidenced through Knowledge and Qualifications The post holder will be expected to have a successful track record in UK Higher Education or an equivalent level of seniority or experience. A professorial title is available for a suitable candidate. PhD in a relevant engineering/design subject, with relevant professional qualifications and/or equivalent level of experience. Chartered engineer or scientist with an engineering or science based professional body. Evidence of quality in teaching and learning in a range of measures, including student satisfaction; of thoughtful and effective innovation in the development of new courses and/or programmes; and of leadership in the promotion of teaching and research. Evidence of relevant continuing professional development. In-depth knowledge of specialism to enable the development of new knowledge, innovation and understanding within the field. Externally recognised scholar or teacher in the subject area - a strong profile in research activity. Excellent IT skills, with the ability to produce high-quality learning support materials. Application Documentary evidence. Interview Skills Evidence of providing academic leadership, development, mentoring and career management advice for academic and professional services colleagues at all levels. Excellent communication, interpersonal, influencing and motivational skills, with a proven ability to engage with students and staff using a variety of different methods. Able to foster creative approaches when responding to teaching, learning and scholarship challenges and contribute to the development of a culture of innovation and enterprise. Sound organisational, time management, administrative and presentation skills. Application Interview Presentation References

7 Head of Department Engineering and Applied Design 07 Essential Desirable Evidenced through Experience Evidence of commitment to improving the student experience and thereby student satisfaction and/or leadership of a major change project designed to improve the student experience. Successful experience of teaching in Higher Education including supervision of research. Demonstrable success at building and leading sustainable University/industry collaborative partnerships. Successful track record of competitive income generation. Experience of successfully managing and co-ordinating teams of staff. Application Interview References Personal attributes Commitment to collegiality and to work closely with colleagues across the department and in other departments in the University to set up and participate in cross-discipline initiatives. Strong communication and negotiation skills in working with people at all levels. Evidence of leadership in the discipline, demonstrating an ability to inspire colleagues to develop their own potential. Prepared to work flexibly, including occasional weekends/evenings. Able to work successfully with a variety of different post holders at different levels of the organisation. Pro-active and self-motivated, able to show initiative as well as work well with others. Interview Presentation References

8 08 Other duties and responsibilities Other duties and responsibilities Data protection: The post holder is responsible for ensuring that workplace responsibilities within the subject area are carried out in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and the Employment Practices Data Protection Code, especially concerning confidentiality, treatment of personal information and records management. Inclusivity: The University believes that everyone has the right to be treated equally and that the diversity of individuals and groups should be embraced, valued, and respected. The University is committed to eliminating any form of discrimination be it direct, indirect, harassment or victimisation, and to support this the University has a number of policies that you should ensure you are familiar with and compliant to. All policies are available on the University s Intranet. Any breaches may lead to termination of employment. The post holder will take responsibility for their own learning and engagement with equality issues and actions and will consider the impact of their actions to ensure that they do not have a detrimental effect on achieving equality of opportunity. Right to Work: The current British and European Law states that the University cannot employ a person who does not have permission to live and work in the UK. Immigration guidance information is available on the HR Website for further information. Consultancy The University s Consultancy Policy recognises that a thriving consultancy environment can bring substantial benefits to individual members of staff, to departments, and to the University as a whole. For individuals, the benefits can include enhanced reputation and expertise, financial reward and the opportunity to sustain business relationships and networking opportunities. For the University, consultancy has a beneficial impact on the student experience, enhancing academic programmes and research, as well creating student employment opportunities. Consultancy is seen as an important part of the University s activity and staff are encouraged to increase activity in this area. The University values consultancy and the links and benefits it brings and welcomes applications from individuals with a strong background in business/industrial collaborations. Health and Safety: The post holder is responsible for ensuring that workplace responsibilities within the department are carried out with full regard to, and in support of, the University s Health and Safety Policy (available on the Human Resources page on the University s Intranet). This might include acting as Health and Safety Co-ordinator, Fire Warden, Risk Assessor, First Aider or other Health and Safety Representative, as agreed with the Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Sustainability and Enterprise). Sustainability and Environment: The University is fully committed to sustainable development and environmental initiatives. It accepts its environmental responsibilities and recognises the contributions it can make to the resolution of global, regional and local environmental issues. The University will continuously seek to improve its environmental performance and will comply, as a minimum, with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations and codes of practice. All staff are required to support the aims of the University's Environmental & Sustainable Development Strategy. Disclosure Service Certification from the Disclosure and Barring Service: University staff may be required to hold Disclosure Service certification from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The University is a registered body with the Disclosure Service, reference number New members of staff will be required to apply for Disclosure Service certification as part of the University s staff recruitment process. Further information about the Disclosure and Barring Service is available from the DBS website at or from the University s Human Resources Department. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1075, applicants for teaching or academic posts are among those who are not entitled to withhold information about any previous criminal conviction.

9 Terms and conditions of appointment 09 Terms and conditions of appointment Salary/terms: The Head of Department will report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Enterprise). The salary offered will be commensurate with the seniority of the post and the experience of the successful candidate, in line with other Heads of Academic Departments. Pension: The post holder can opt to join the Teachers Pension Scheme. Existing members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme can continue their contributions. Annual leave: Generous holiday entitlement - 35 days, plus University closure days (such as those between Christmas and New Year adding an additional 3 to 4 days), plus 8 bank holidays per year. Benefits: The post holder will be provided with appropriate personal mobile equipment (e.g. laptop) to enable flexible working across and beyond campus. Access to an extensive staff development programme, a range of discounts and retail offers negotiated on behalf of University staff, parking on campus, cycle to work/bike purchase scheme, childcare vouchers, access to fitness centres/gyms, supportive working arrangements including occupational sickness pay scheme and family friendly policies.

10 10 About us About us The University of Chichester is a successful modern University. The cornerstone of our success is our focus on our students and their satisfaction and achievements, and ensuring that they graduate with the skills necessary for them to succeed in their chosen careers; this guides all that we do and how we operate. We are committed to providing excellent teaching within a high quality learning environment. This commitment to our students is reflected in the National Student Survey results, which regularly place the University in the Top 25pc of universities in the country, and towards the top of the modern universities (institutions established after 1992). We are a friendly, community-based organisation, and are proud to uphold our values of high levels of integrity, openness and levels of service. People matter to us, whether they are students, stakeholders, academic staff or professional service staff. We are committed to equality of opportunity, and are proud that we have one of the highest levels of completion rates for students from non-traditional higher education backgrounds in the country. The University is a major presence within the region and is recognised as such by local stakeholders and employers. The University plays a key role in the economic, social and cultural regeneration of West Sussex, and in the growth plans of the Local Enterprise Partnership. Our programme of estates development and improvement has brought and will continue to bring significant investment to the area. The University is financially sound with an ambitious revenue growth strategy to ensure that major strategic investments in the portfolio and infrastructure can continue to be made in support of our business objectives. The University of Chichester is a vibrant, growing institution; over the past five years, our full time student body has grown by 26pc and our income has grown from 35m to 47.6m. The University is proud of the experience that we provide for students. Some statistics demonstrate the reasons for our success: Top Twenty for Student Satisfaction (Sunday Times/Times Good University Guide 2015) Ranked 12th place for Teaching Quality (Sunday Times/Times Good University Guide 2015) Ranked 17th place for student satisfaction with teaching (National Student Survey 2015) Best University for student retention (The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014) Ranked 7th out of 142 universities for student satisfaction (The Independent Complete University Guide 2014) Ranked 15th out of 119 for satisfaction with teaching (The Guardian League Tables 2014) Ranked 15th out of 199 for satisfaction with assessment and feedback from lecturers (The Guardian League Tables 2014) The University has a widening participation mission, expressed as a commitment to economic, social and cultural regeneration. By implementing one of the most supportive bursary offers in the HE sector, Chichester has extended its mission through the funding changes of the last four years. Evidence of its success is reflected in the following: 34% of students come from households with an annual income of under 25, % of students come from low participation neighbourhoods. 52% of students are from the first generation to go to University. 90% of students select Chichester as their UCAS first choice. We believe that the community nature of the University, the partnership of students and staff (academic and professional services) and the sense of belonging that students feel are key elements in our success. All members of staff are expected to play their part in this. The Executive Team who we are The Executive Team comprises the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Clive Behagg; the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Dr Sarah Gilroy; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Enterprise), Professor Seamus Higson; and the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience), Dr Mark Mason. Other Officers attend meetings of the Chief Executive s Team, for example Directors and Heads of academic areas, the Strategic Development Manager, Director of Finance and Performance, Director of Marketing, Communications and Access, Director of Estate Management, Director of Human Resources, Director of Learning and Information Services.

11 The University s academic offer 11 The University s academic offer The University has just over 5,000 students on programmes in the following areas: Business Childhood, Social Work and Social Care Dance Education English and Creative Writing Music, Film and Media Fine Art History and Politics Media Psychology and Counselling Sport (Adventure Education, Physical Education, Sports Development and Management and Sport and Exercise Sciences) Theatre Theology, Philosophy and Religious Studies Areas of the portfolio under development include General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Product Design, Software Development, Animation, Data Science and Mathematics, and Creative Digital Technology.

12 12 The University s campuses The University s campuses The University operates from two attractive campuses, one in Chichester and one in Bognor Regis. Both have benefited from total capital investment of 24m over the past five years. The continued growth of the University means that further investment is required to meet student needs and future expansion plans. In addition to these campuses, the University has a number of partner institutions both within the UK and overseas teaching our programmes on either a franchised or accredited basis. This post will primarily be based at our Bognor Regis campus but will work across both campus locations and externally, as required.

13 People Strategy: people matter to us 13 People Strategy: people matter to us The University s People Strategy Working for our Future sets out the direction that the University will follow in relation to supporting and developing individuals and teams of staff to deliver a sustainable and successful University. The strategy supports a culture within which staff can continue to develop, flourish and contribute to our community in order to achieve our strategic goals. The University has a well-deserved reputation for the friendliness and hospitality of its people. This means that all of our staff work to create a supportive community that is built upon relationships. It is these positive relationships that enable staff to exceed their expectations and it is this ethos that governs how we behave and our approach to corporate social responsibility. The desired characteristics of all staff working within the University are: Working for the University rather than at the University Committed to widening participation and diversity. Understanding of the collegial environment and its importance. A student-centred approach in all things. Commitment to innovation. Willingness to work as part of tight-teams, accepting personal responsibility and supporting others Flexible over role. Accepts need for feedback on performance and personal development. Our Values Soon after we, as Bishop Otter College, became one of the first training colleges to accept women, Disraeli advocated a view that A University should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning. We hold true to that view today. It is a fundamental tenet of our values that education can transform people and society as well as having a profound impact on social mobility. This is why we believe passionately that higher education should be open to everyone who has the ability and desire to benefit. We also know that our community, and learning itself, is enriched by the perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds and it is this knowledge that underpins our commitment to reducing the real and perceived barriers to accessing university. The University has a good employment reputation and continues to attract high quality applications for posts and large numbers of speculative enquiries. The dedication, commitment and skills of all staff working at the University are fundamental to the University s success and critical to delivering an excellent experience for our students.

14 Please recycle after use chi.ac.uk