The Academic Head is the senior academic officer of newly established college with focus on banking and finance, responsible for building and leading the institution's academic infrastructure from the ground up. This is a founding leadership role requiring deep expertise in higher education governance, UAE regulatory compliance, and academic programme development. The Academic Head will own the institution's accreditation journey, faculty structure, and academic quality assurance – ensuring the Business School meets the standards required by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and positions itself as a credible, respected institution in the UAE higher education landscape.
Key Responsibilities
Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance
- Lead the CAA institutional licensure process, including all documentation, self-study reports, and site visit preparation
- Develop and implement academic governance structures, quality assurance frameworks, and policy documentation aligned with CAA and MoHESR standards
- Maintain ongoing compliance with UAE federal and Dubai (KHDA) regulatory requirements
- Serve as the primary institutional liaison with CAA, MoHESR, and relevant accreditation bodies
Academic Programme Development
- Design, develop, and launch undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Banking, Finance, and Business
- Build programme learning outcomes, curriculum frameworks, and assessment policies aligned with national and international standards
- Lead validation and approval of all academic programmes through relevant regulatory channels
- Explore and establish pathways for international programme accreditation (AACSB, EFMD, ACCA, CFA Institute partnerships, etc.)
Faculty Recruitment & Development
- Establish faculty hiring criteria, academic rank structure, and contractual frameworks
- Lead recruitment of full-time and adjunct faculty, ensuring academic qualifications meet CAA requirements
- Build a faculty development and performance review framework
- Foster a culture of academic rigour, research awareness, and professional practice
Academic Governance
- Establish and chair the Academic Council and relevant academic committees (curriculum, assessment, admissions)
- Develop academic policies covering admissions standards, academic integrity, student progression, and grading
- Oversee student academic experience, including advising structures and academic support
Strategic Academic Partnerships
- Identify and negotiate articulation agreements, dual degree arrangements, and MoUs with international universities and professional bodies
- Represent the Business School in academic forums, conferences, and regional networks
- Build credibility and visibility for the institution within the UAE and GCC academic community
Qualifications & Experience
- PhD or professional doctorate in Business, Finance, Education.
- Minimum 10–15 years in higher education, with at least 5 years in a senior academic leadership role ( Associate Dean, Head of School, or equivalent)
- Direct, hands-on experience with CAA accreditation processes - ideally having led or co-led an institutional application or programme approval
- Demonstrable experience building or launching academic programmes from scratch
- Familiarity with international accreditation bodies (AACSB, EFMD, BGA, or professional body partnerships such as ACCA/CIMA/CFA)
- Experience operating in the UAE or GCC higher education environment strongly preferred
- Strong network within regional or international academic and professional education communities
