Dean of Professional Education and Partnerships

INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

University of Exeter
Dean for Partnership and Professional Education

We are currently experiencing seismic change across all sectors and we can expect this pace of change to continue. Universities and global education and research will no doubt be at the forefront of this change. To ensure that we lead from the front and grasp the exciting opportunities on offer now and into the future, we are committed to ensuring that we have the insights, leadership and capabilities within our university. This is also an exciting time for the University, having launched our ambitious Strategy 2030, which aims to use our outstanding education, research and global connections to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future. The Strategy sets out an agenda for enhancing relationships with business and industrial partners through expanding our educational offerings related to Degree Apprenticeships, Executive Education, and CPD. The Dean for Partnership and Professional Education role is, therefore, strategically vital in achieving our ambitious aims.

The Dean for Partnership and Professional Education will be responsible for the academic leadership and management of our partnership and professional education portfolio, comprising degree programmes and short courses (whether credit-bearing or not) delivered for and in partnership with industry (including Degree Apprenticeships, Executive Education and CPD). The distinguishing characteristic of the portfolio is that our business and industrial partners are the principal sponsors/customers. Under the leadership of the Dean for Online and Postgraduate Education, we will also develop employment-facing short courses and, therefore, you will need to work closely and collaboratively with that role-holder. Similarly, we are enhancing the career-alignment of our undergraduate portfolio through Curriculum for Change under the leadership of the Dean for Taught Students and working closely and collaboratively with that role-holder will also be essential. The Dean for Partnership and Professional Education will also work collaboratively and in partnership with senior academics in our Faculties (particularly the Director of the Centre for Degree Apprenticeships), senior Professional Services colleagues (particularly the Director of Exeter Innovation and Head of Degree Apprenticeships), external partners and colleagues across the University.

The Dean will be responsible for driving forward a seamless experience for our sponsoring partners and an excellent professional learner experience. Our model of delivery must ensure that all three parties – university, sponsoring organisation and learner – experience and recognise the value afforded by the partnership approach to learning. The role will entail a particular focus on the strategic leadership and support of Faculties and Professional Service colleagues to ensure a high-quality education and experience for all learners, reflective of the diversity of our community, and for developing a culture of inclusivity and belonging. You will be responsible for promoting the development of excellent market-driven professional programmes and overseeing the quality assurance framework that surrounds them. This will involve championing education enhancement to ensure Exeter is at the forefront of pedagogic innovation. 

The Dean will report directly to DVC-Education and will have dotted-line reporting to DVC-Business Engagement.

The University of Exeter is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process it is the University’s clearly stated aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities. The University particularly welcomes applications from women, people from black and minority ethnic communities, the LGBT+ community and from disabled people.

If you share our University’s bold vision for the future, we would be delighted to receive your application. See details on how to apply below.

The appointment of the Dean for Partnership and Professional Education will be determined by a Selection Committee, chaired by the Vice President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Student Experience).

Interviews are expected to take place on the 15th of April.

For further information, or for a confidential conversation, please contact Professor Tim Quine at [email protected]