Senior Academic Programmes Specialist and Faculty Liaison – Department of Enrolment and Student Administration needed at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Curriculum management:

• Manage the development of and the amendment to programmes within the UP regulatory framework and ensure alignment with higher education regulatory requirements as set out by the Council for Higher Education (CHE), Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) policy documents;
• Manage the regulation amendment process by assessing the proposed changes in terms of their financial, operational, strategic and compliance risk;
• Advise academics on the outcome of the above assessment, and collaborate with the Faculty to ensure that the final proposal complies with higher education as well as institutional regulatory requirements;
• Manage the accurate capturing of approved programme and curriculum changes on the online system to ensure correct yearbook information;
• Manage the updating of the annual curriculum booklets for relevant faculties;
• Review existing practices to innovate the effectiveness and efficiency of processes continuously;
• Compile and submit reports as required;

Faculty liaison:

• Cultivate and maintain professional relationships and close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders in the regulation amendment process;
• Facilitate partnerships between faculties and relevant stakeholders in the regulation amendment process;
• Review regulation amendment documentation in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders for submission to the Faculty Board and Senate;
• Contribute to the finalisation of agendas and minutes for the Faculty Board and Senate;
• Demonstrate an awareness of the interrelated nature of academic programmes and the broader university environment;

Project management:

• Manage execution of projects as requested by the management of DESA;
• Manage the editing, amending and drafting of documents as requested by the management of DESA;
• Contribute to the process of updating all DESA policies in collaboration with relevant policy owners.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Relevant Bachelors/BTech degree; WITH
• Four years’ experience in the following roles/environments:
• The higher education environment and related legislation, with specific emphasis on academic programmes and internal as well as external administrative processes;
• Decision-making processes within an executive and senior management environment;
• Compiling the curricula of study programmes;
• Compilation of agendas, minutes, and documentation of meetings;
• Faculty administration processes.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

Knowledge:

• Comprehensive institutional knowledge about structures, rules and regulations of the University;
• Understand the regulatory framework with regard to HEQSF requirements and UP PQM as pertains to academic programmes;
• Knowledge of regulatory framework in order to assist with reviewing and restructuring of curricula;
• Awareness of how academic programmes and modules are integrated in the yearbook;
• In-depth technical knowledge of degree name structures/nomenclature;
• Editorial language skills (terminology research/proofreading/editing);
• Ability to interpret and act on information in Senate and Faculty Board agendas and minutes;

Technical competencies: 

• Computer skills: PeopleSoft, MS Word;
• Training skills;

Behavioural competencies:

Ability to:

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with others in order to encourage and support communication and teamwork. 
• Confer with others to reach resolutions.
• Deal with high-stress situations calmly and effectively;
• Accomplish tasks and processes accurately and completely;
• Maintain social, ethical, and organisational norms. Firmly adhere to codes of conduct and ethical principles;
• Understand the impact and implications of decisions on the community and other departments.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• Relevant four-year / Hons degree; WITH
• Four years’ experience in the following roles/environments;
• The management and operation of a confidential database using relevant systems;
• Drafting and editing high-level documents;
• Excellent verbal, writing and editing skills;
• Assisting the internal governance structure with regard to the updating of institutional policies;
• Working in an administrative environment and knowledge of the higher education environment and related legislation/policy documents;