Department: Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, HKUST(GZ)

Job ID: 6772

Job Posting Details

Formally established in June 2022, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) has obtained approval from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and become the first legally-independent educational institution co-established by the Chinese Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR since the announcement and implementation of the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” and the “Overall Plan for Deepening Globally Oriented Comprehensive Co-operation amongst Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in Nansha of Guangzhou.” With a spirit of pioneering innovation, HKUST(GZ) charts new territories in cross-disciplinary education and explores new frontiers in pedagogies, aiming to serve as a role model of the mainland-Hong Kong integrated educational development and become a world-class high-level university, endeavoring to nurture future-oriented, high-level and innovative talents.
In response to the increasingly complex challenges faced by the rapidly changing world, HKUST(GZ) adopts a brand-new and cross-disciplinary academic structure featuring “Hub” and “Thrust” to substitute the conventional one characterized by “School” and “Department,” facilitating cross-disciplinary integration while vigorously developing emerging and frontier disciplines. This is a ground-breaking move in the higher education community across the globe. HKUST(GZ) comprises four Hubs, namely Function Hub， Information Hub, Systems Hub, Society Hub, and 16 Thrusts. The admission of undergraduate students will begin in 2023, with the first batch of programs covering artificial intelligence, data science and big data technology, and smart manufacturing engineering.

Responsibilities
The Vice-President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) will be responsible for overseeing areas including curriculum development, academic programs, faculty hiring and evaluation, and academic policies. The VPAA is also responsible for ensuring academic quality and promoting academic excellence throughout the university and ensuring that they are aligned with the university's mission and goals. The VPAA will work closely with other VPs to ensure that all academic-related areas are integrated, and that teaching, research and academic affairs are linked in a coherent and effective manner.

The VPAA will also work with the HKUST Clearwater Bay Campus (CWB) to support “Unified HKUST, Complementary Campuses” framework providing an encouraging atmosphere for faculty to collaborate across campuses.

The VPAA should possess the skills and experiences necessary to guide the academic direction of the university, while also working collaboratively with other university leaders to promote its overall success.
Reporting to the President, the major role of the VPAA is to oversee academic matters of four academic hubs, which include the following responsibilities:
1. Work closely with other VPs to integrate their respective responsibilities to promote academic excellence.
2. Provide leadership and support for the development of new academic programs and initiatives.
3. Develop and implement strategies to attract and retain high-quality faculty members.
4. Promote cross-disciplinary collaborations among faculty, staff, and students to enhance academic excellence and innovation.
5. Maintain academic standards and ensuring academic integrity.
6. Develop and foster partnerships with other academic institutions, government agencies, and industries.
7. Oversee the accreditation process for the university and its academic programs.
8. Develop and manage the budget for academic affairs under his/her office.

Requirements
The VPAA should have a deep understanding of academic affairs, experience in academic administration, strong leadership skills, and the ability to think strategically, and have an outstanding academic background and rich experiences in academic leadership, such as serving as a dean or department head. The incumbent should also possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as a deep understanding of the needs of both students and faculty.

1. Academic Achievements: The candidate should have an outstanding academic track record with international visibility.
2. Experience: The candidate should have a proven track record of success in academic administration including the development of academic programs, research initiatives, and faculty development.
3. Leadership Skills: The candidate should possess strong and visionary leadership skills, be able to work collaboratively with faculty and staff, and be able to inspire and motivate others towards the achievement of shared goals.
4. Communication Skills: The candidate should possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and be able to effectively communicate with various stakeholders, including faculty, students, and the broader community.
5. Strategic Thinking: The candidate should possess the ability to think strategically, be able to identify emerging trends in higher education, and be able to develop and implement plans to address these trends.
6. Network: The candidate should possess good network and relationship with government, industry, and other research institutions nationally and globally.