Job Description

The University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education exists to serve adult learners across their life course, studying primarily on a part-time basis, providing access to Cambridge\'s expertise and resources, delivering accessible transformational learning experiences. In 2023 the Institute marks its 150th anniversary, as the first university-led provider of open access higher education.

The Institute\'s students include those studying at higher education level for the first time, often accessing courses without prior qualifications. Many learners return to higher education after an extended break seeking to renew knowledge and skills or explore new disciplines. Those adults undertaking professional courses aspire to enter the knowledge economy, change careers or accelerate their current career trajectory. Other learners are studying as part of an active retirement.

All our adult learners are seeking intellectual challenge and growth, and a sense of belonging within a meaningful community of learning. Peer learning is a central component, with every participant encouraged to bring their life experiences into the classroom, with views aired and networks shared. Classes are facilitated by skilled academics, tutors and practitioners and supported by professional services course teams including dedicated technology enhanced learning and quality assurance offices.

Employed academics lead in each of the main academic disciplines, partnering with cognate University departments, Colleges and a diverse pool of hourly-paid panel tutors drawn from other universities, industry and the third sector to enrich the quality of curriculum design, provision of inclusive teaching and coordination of course administration. The Institute of Continuing Education\'s course portfolio is a large and complex range of pathways. It is comprised of 60 undergraduate and postgraduate award-bearing courses, including apprenticeships, which result in a University of Cambridge qualification. Courses span the arts, sciences and professional disciplines and we are currently undertaking work to modularise the portfolio.

In a typical year, over 1,300 adult learners studying on a part-time basis enrol on these qualifications for personal and professional development. These qualifications are complimented by a substantial portfolio of short courses, including a suite of fully online courses, with an increasing number on the edX platform. These courses have generated over 80,000 registrations in the past academic year.

We now seek to appoint two Directors of Academic Programmes. Reporting to the Director of Continuing Education (Head of Institute), playing a central role in the Institute\'s Senior Leadership Team, the Directors will have joint lead responsibility for curating and delivering a vibrant, welcoming and market-relevant high-quality course portfolio for adult learners.

The postholders will ensure the portfolio responds to the needs of adult learners and innovative pedagogies and assessment methodologies are consistently deployed to optimise the learning experience for adult life-wide learners. They will collectively assume overall responsibility for the quality of teaching and the learning experience (including TEF-relevant metrics), promoting access and supporting social mobility.

Working with the Institute\'s Directors of External Engagement, Educational Services, Summer Programmes and Lifelong Learning, Finance and IT and Governance, the Directors of Academic Programmes will endeavour to undertake an entrepreneurial approach to meet key performance indicators targeting enrolment numbers and financial sustainability.

The Directors will act as line managers for employed academics and work to support their colleagues to continuously improve the taught offer and enable their career development. With subject leads and course teams, they will also oversee the quality of teaching delivered by hourly-paid panel tutors.

The successful applicants will have demonstrated experience of leadership and management within UK higher education settings, being able to evidence a collaborative and effective approach to strategic planning and operational delivery. They will have an advanced awareness of key issues in lifelong learning (e.g. Lifelong Loan Entitlement, Higher Technical Qualifications, Apprenticeships) and serving non-traditional student audiences, contemporary methods in teaching and learning and a mature understanding of quality assurance and continuous improvement within regulated higher education settings. They will also be able to articulate an inclusive and transparent approach to line management and performance management.

The appointed candidates will have a doctoral level qualification and, preferably, a postgraduate teaching qualification. While the roles are primarily focused on leadership, management and administration, there may be limited scope for the Directors to undertake teaching their areas of expertise. They will be expected to chair relevant committees and working groups, and professionally represent the Institute across the collegiate University and externally at relevant fora and conferences. It is anticipated the role holders will work in-person from the Institute\'s offices and other University sites for a minimum of 40% of their contracted hours.

The role holders will be appointed to the University\'s Teaching and Scholarship pathway at Associate Teaching Professor level, with a progression route available to a full Professorship subject to performance.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.

Click the \'Apply\' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please quote reference EA38265 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Further information

University of Cambridge