Assistant Professor in Interior Design

The successful candidate will possess broad practical and theoretical knowledge of various topics in 21st-century interior architecture and design practices and theories. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from candidates with expertise in Co-design, Contemporary Interior Architecture and Design – creative practices and theories, business practices and ethics – and Design Thinking 2.0.

Postholders will play a key role in connecting with our internal and external stakeholders to embed interior architecture design practices and principles into the curriculum, overseeing the development of industry-facing programmes and the creation of courses to support student employability. 

Teaching and scholarship or research should be grounded in 21st century design studies with appropriate input from historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives. Given the broad, fast-moving, and collaborative nature of today’s industries and associated technologies, we expect the successful individual to design new content and courses proactively, within and across the traditional discipline boundaries. We also expect the successful applicant to cooperatively contribute to teaching existing courses as well as create new ones across the campuses where and as it benefits the student experience.

The role will be based at the University’s campus in Dubai. Courses and programmes will be delivered in English and so fluency in English is essential. An induction programme will be delivered to all new academic staff on Heriot-Watt’s standards and values, and to give practical experience on preparation, delivery, and assessment of teaching.

 

Key Duties & Responsibilities

 

• Undertake teaching and assessment duties on academic programmes.  Support colleagues in the Design School and other Schools at Heriot-Watt University in the delivery of courses and other activities to support the delivery of HWU’s aims.
• Develop relevant materials in appropriate formats for the future of design as a discipline.  Contribute to the content, design and delivery of the curriculum, and the quality of teaching and learning, in consultation with colleagues and within the international structures and mechanisms established by the University. Review teaching design and delivery by obtaining and analysing feedback from students and peers.  Support the accreditation processes of professional bodies.
• Mentor and supervise students, including PhD students (as appropriate), providing effective, well documented, and timely feedback, both formative and summative.
• Provide pastoral support, recognising when to refer a student for further support.  Play a key role in the delivery and support of an excellent student learning and living experience at HWU.
• Develop the level of subject expertise in line with latest development in business enterprise, scholarship, research, and or innovation, and ensure these developments are reflected in teaching materials and methods.
• Build and conduct scholarship or research in one or more of the Design and or Dubai Campus areas at internationally competitive levels.
• Develop and maintain strong links with creative design industries, external organisations, and the education sector.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the UK, at other campuses, and with external networks both for the exchange of information, to share learning, and to form relationships for future collaboration.  Conduct and engage in peer review of teaching and research – locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Undertake a proactive role in promoting and marketing design at the University, ensuring the effective recruitment of students and the achievement of recruitment targets.  Play a full role in Open Days and other student recruitment events. Play a full role in research impact, community events and public engagement.
• Undertake leadership and administrative tasks associated with programme and course planning, preparation for examination boards and progression boards, etc, as instructed.  Participate in relevant committees.  Associate Professors will be expected to undertake additional leadership and management responsibilities. Associate Professors are also expected to publish and engage in high quality research, submit to the RAE and engage in funded research projects.
• Undertake continuous professional development (CPD) and participate in staff development activities.

 

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

To be considered for the role you will be and established international research leader, with strong funding, publishing and supervisory experience. Critical will be the ambition to build a world-class academic team in Dubai in collaboration with the Head of School in Dubai and the Global Director of Research. 

 

Essential Criteria

• PhD, Master’s Degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline. Teaching experience
• Experience of reviewing and updating teaching materials
• Clear communicator with good presentation skills, explaining concepts well.
• Proven track record of industry engagement
• Well-developed knowledge and understanding of contemporary design practices across the discipline of design
• Research Experience
• Fluent in English (both verbal and written)
• An ability to apply knowledge acquired from professional practices into teaching materials and methods.
• Willingness and potential to identify and develop independent /collaborative portfolio of scholarship.
• Enjoys being part of a dynamic campus, proactively developing the role as the campus grows, willingness to travel overseas if required and willing to take a ‘hands on’ approach from the outset.

 

Desirable Criteria

• Member of appropriate professional body
• Teaching qualification or in the process of obtaining one or be committed to achieving this within two years of appointment.
• Teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Experience for maintaining and developing new links with industry.
• Strong understanding of industry needs, and the skills required by graduates for employability.
• Evidence of inter-disciplinary practice, flexible in approach with excellent communication, digital literacy, and report writing skills, and be willing to adapt to the duties associated with the role.
• Mentoring and personal tutor experience and PhD supervision
• Sole authored and or co-authored conference papers or journal articles
• Funded research experience – independent and or team based.
• International or national Peer Reviewing of research.

 

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant, leading-edge research and enterprise, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.

We are a vibrant, forward-looking university, well known for the quality of our degrees, with employers actively seeking out our graduates. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland’s international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to circa 30,000 students in 143 countries worldwide, have a further overseas campus in Dubai and boast the most significant international student cohort in Scotland.

At Heriot-Watt we’ve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership – where our researchers, teachers, staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.

We are proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students.  Our focus on careers delivers results and we’ve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.

In addition to the Edinburgh campus, we currently have campuses in the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai, and Malaysia.  For all our campuses we aim to provide stimulating, supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research, where staff and students can excel. At Heriot-Watt, we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities. Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to be. Our values are:

 

• Belong
• Collaborate
• Inspire
• Celebrate

 

As a learning, living, and working institution, we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we each conduct ourselves as members of Heriot-Watt University. They represent what binds us together as a university community and help us to become the best at what we do. For full details on our university, please view our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/about.htm

 

‘How to Apply’

Applications can be submitted up 29th February 2024

Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system a Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post and an updated CV. 

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team. 

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.