Director of ERDI

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ROBOTICS

The School of Robotics is one of the seven industry-themed Schools in the XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang). ... The Dean of School oversees the School Management Team as well as contributing to the leadership of the college.

The School of Robotics is jointly developed by the University and an industry partner – Siasun, to deliver the industry-themed programme(s). The first degree programme that the School has launched for the Academic Year 2019/2020 is BEng Intelligent Robotics Engineering with Contemporary Entrepreneurship.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF ERDI

Working with the Dean of School, the main duties of this position include:

• Lead the design and development of syntegrative projects in schools in particular the integration across programmes or even across Schools.
• Engage actively with new educational models and embrace innovative, interactive, technology-enhanced learning, teaching, and assessment approaches.
• Create, nurture, and support a healthy industry-focused research environment, with agreed annual research outcomes and expectations agreed with the School Dean and wider Entrepreneur College.
• Lead and manage the School’s business engagement initiatives with a view to building an extensive portfolio of potential industry collaborative partnerships, working with the College’s Business Development team.
• Working with the Business Development team, identify and implement strategies to maximise research income, with a focus on business/industry, and develop syntegrative projects from industry that leads the learning and teaching in schools.
• Drive an emphasis on impact-creation through sustainable and unique value proposition in improving the School’s funded quality research and innovation and/or knowledge exchange activities, with a focus on industry.
• Support innovative cross-disciplinary research and become an ambassador for the School in promoting cross-boundary research and teaching activities through Centre of Excellence.
• Act as coordinator in schools in contributing to the development of XEC Innovation Factory, X3Co-Venture, and Non-degree Education.
• Manage the operation of research in schools including RDF, SURF, and present the school in University Research Committee.
• Support the XEC research coordinator in terms of PGRS operation.
• Represent and deputise for the Dean of School where necessary, within the College, University and externally as appropriate.
• Mentor and support early career academics, and undertaking reasonable administrative responsibilities in line with the college WAM.
• Any other appropriate tasks assigned by the University’s SMT, School Council or Taicang’s Leadership Team through the Dean of School.

Personal attributes

This role will attract academic leaders embodying Syntegrative Education (SE) values, who are passionate in engaging in a future-focused co-learning ecosystem comprising students, academics, practitioners, university, industry, and community. The Director of ERDI is a leader who thrives by creating impact through managing, nurturing, and enabling authentic engagement, cross-boundary collaboration, collective learning and discovery programmes and activities. The candidate adopts a system mindset, understands trans disciplinarity and complexity, uses his/her knowledge, skills, and experiences to deliver success and create impact for the School, College and University.

Qualifications

• Hold a doctoral degree in an appropriate subject/subject area, or be able to demonstrate an equivalent professional practice and engagement to a similar level.
• Clear understanding of the philosophy and concept of Syntegrative Education (SE) and demonstrable past teaching/industry/leadership experiences or practices aligned with Syntegrative Education (SE).
• Be familiar with and observe China and United Kingdom’s rules, and regulations of higher education.
• Possess and demonstrate excellent leadership and management experience, and ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Demonstrate excellent organisational and implementation skills, and experience of working towards and meeting set targets, evidenced by important activities, events, projects in their past career.
• Be able to demonstrate impact in any of the academic fields relevant to the School.
• Demonstrate rich experience in some or all of the following; teaching, research, academic leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, strategic planning and financial management in a university and/or business environment.
• Have a good sense of business and industry trend, and can demonstrate a good track record of industry engagement in various forms.
• Demonstrate a high level of inter-cultural competence, especially in how industry operates within China.
• Some experience of working in a relevant industry would be an advantage.