Academic Planning and Quality Assurance Officer

Department: Academic Planning Office

Position: Academic Planning and Quality Assurance Officer

Remuneration: A competitive salary package will be offered.

Grade: AD07

Description:

Main Purpose

The University invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the post of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance Officer. The incumbent should manage and support academic planning and academic quality assurance activities for the University, e.g. curriculum design, approval and review; work in collaboration with academic staff, other university support departments and entities outside the University, and promote course and qualification planning that is in line with university and national policy.

Key Responsibilities include the following:

Manage and support academic planning activities for the University

• Implementing and refining systems, procedures and guidelines to support academic planning activities, e.g. administrative procedures for management of academic developments.
• Supporting the academic processes of the Faculties and the Academic Planning and Development Committee (APDC).
• Advising academics about internal and national policy and processes when they are planning academic developments such as new qualifications.
• Obtaining external approval for new qualifications.
• Monitoring the development of academic policy locally, regionally and nationally (and in some cases contributing to such policy), and interpreting it for the University.

Manage and support quality assurance of academic developments at the University

• Implementing and refining policies, systems, procedures and guidelines to support quality assurance activities, e.g. administrative procedures for the review of academic developments
• Working in partnership with those responsible for other quality assurance activities at the University to ensure an integrated quality assurance approach (particular focus on teaching and learning activities and other dimensions of the academic enterprises).

Working in collaboration with faculties and schools, other University support departments and entities outside the University, to promote academic developments and planning that are in line with quality assurance and legislative requirements.

Requirements:

• A degree (preference will be given to candidates with an Education qualification or postgraduate qualifications).
• At least one year of experience in academic planning or academic quality assurance related activities, which could involve administration in the field, programme accreditation or approval of courses and curricula or short courses, preferably at a university.
• Knowledge of academic planning is essential e.g. experience in curriculum design, approval and review
• Knowledge of higher education legislation and policy is essential.
• The candidate should have a high level of interpersonal skills
• The candidate should have the ability to work in a team
• Demonstrable excellence in written and verbal communication in English
• Demonstrable computer literacy (MS Office and the Internet).

Preferences:

• Working experience in a higher education environment.
• Working knowledge of higher education policy.
• Working experience with the design and approval of qualifications and curricula.

Closing Date: 10 June 2011

Contact Person: Keitha January

Contact Person Email: recruiting.centralHR@wits.ac.za

Fax Applications to: N/A

To Apply: Submit a covering letter, detailed CV with names and contact details of three referees and certified copies of degrees/diplomas to Keitha January, Academic planning office, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050.

Alternatively - Fax: N/A or E-mail: recruiting.centralHR@wits.ac.za