Dean: Faculty of Education

Stellenbosch University is home to an academic community of some 28,000 students and just under 3,000 permanent staff on five campuses. The Faculty of Education seeks a visionary, values driven academic leader to serve as Dean. This role will champion research excellence, innovation, internationalisation and social impact across teaching and learning, curriculum studies, educational psychology, policy studies and interdisciplinary research.

(Five year term with the possibility of reappointment for another term)

Ref. OPV00/085/0426

• Overall executive management of the Faculty and alignment with institutional strategy and culture.
• Strategic leadership in teaching, learning, research, innovation, internationalisation and social impact.
• Financial management, including budgeting, resource allocation and facilities oversight.
• Leadership and management of student matters, fostering student success and graduate attribute development.
• People centred leadership of staff, cultivating an inclusive and accountable culture.
• Marketing, recruitment and fundraising for the Faculty.
• Securing research funding and developing third , fourth and fifth stream income streams.
• Promotion of research excellence, translation and chair recruitment, and retention of talent.
• Advancement of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research with other faculties and research entities.
• Championing contemporary challenges such as artificial intelligence, intellectual property and curriculum transformation.
• External partnership development, including national and international academic and stakeholder collaborations.
• Driving the Faculty's internationalisation agenda, with focus on teacher education skill gaps.
• Positioning the Faculty as a credible voice across the education ecosystem.
• Leading the Faculty's transformation agenda, promoting diversity and inclusivity.
• Shared responsibility for broader university leadership and management.

• Appointable as Professor or Associate Professor within the Faculty of Education.
• Proven innovative and dynamic strategic academic leadership.
• Experience managing substantial faculty or institutional budgets.
• Strong scholarly track record, including publications and a capacity to lead and inspire a research rich faculty.
• Sound knowledge of the education sector, including higher education, schooling and the interface between them.
• Demonstrated engagement with contemporary education challenges (AI, IP, curriculum transformation).
• Future facing, adaptive leadership with proven change management experience.
• Capability for external engagement, systemic leadership and stakeholder relationship building.
• Track record in securing external research funding.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including conflict resolution.
• Ability to function effectively in a multilingual and multicultural environment under the University's language policy.
• National or international recognition in the field of education.

• Relevant professional teaching qualification or background in teacher education.
• Current or prior NRF rated researcher status.
• Evidence of strengthening alignment between school education, curriculum and higher education.
• Engagement with international higher education networks, partnerships or research collaborations.

Five year fixed term with possibility of reappointment for an additional term. A fallback option to the successful candidate's academic department exists.

01 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The University is committed to the advancement of diversity and employment equity.