Dean – School of Education

Dean – School of Education

Classification: Executive / Academic Leadership
Reports To: Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA)

About The American International University

American International University (AIU) is a private institution in Kuwait, founded in 2019, offering undergraduate programs based on the American model of higher education. AIU provides degrees in Engineering, Architecture and Design, and Business Administration, with English as the language of instruction. The University is committed to fostering intellectual, cultural, and personal growth, preparing graduates for leadership roles in a global society.

For more information, visit: www.aiu.edu.kw

School of Education Profile

The School of Education prepares future educators, educational leaders, and professionals through excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement. The School is committed to developing graduates who demonstrate professional competence, ethical leadership, critical thinking, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Through strong partnerships with schools, educational organisations, and the wider community, the School contributes to the advancement of education in Kuwait and beyond.

Scope of Work

The Dean of the School of Education provides strategic, academic, and administrative leadership to advance the School's mission of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. The Dean is responsible for academic planning, curriculum development, faculty leadership, student success, quality assurance, accreditation, budgeting, and resource management. The role fosters research, innovation, and partnerships with educational institutions and industry while ensuring compliance with institutional policies and accreditation standards to support the School's continued growth and academic excellence while promoting excellence in teaching, educational research, innovation, international collaboration, and student success

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management for the School of Education, including oversight of full-time and adjunct faculty, academic programs, and administrative operations.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of curricula and academic programs to ensure excellence in teaching, learning, and alignment with national and international educational standards.Manage the School’s budget, resource allocation, and strategic planning.
• Drive faculty recruitment, mentoring, performance review, and professional development.
• Promote a culture of research and scholarship across the School; support faculty and student research activities.
• Establish and maintain an Education Advisory Board comprising representatives from schools, educational organisations, government agencies, and relevant professional bodies to ensure programmes remain aligned with national priorities and professional expectations.
• Lead and coordinate accreditation efforts and quality assurance activities (institutional and programmatic), including familiarity with American accreditation frameworks and lead and coordinate institutional and programme accreditation activities, ensuring compliance with applicable national and international quality assurance and accreditation standards (e.g. CAEP, AAQEP or equivalent where appropriate).
• Ensure the School’s website and public communications accurately reflect programs, achievements, and student opportunities.
• Foster industry and community partnerships, internships, and experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Represent the School in university leadership meetings and contribute to institution-wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage the School's budget, resource allocation, strategic planning, and operational performance.
• Lead the development of new academic programmes and specialisations.
• Promote external funding and research partnerships.
• Support postgraduate programme development.
• Foster innovation in teaching, digital learning, and educational technologies.
• Build partnerships with schools, ministries, and international universities.
• Contribute actively to the University's strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, student recruitment, faculty development and internationalisation initiatives.

Reporting Departments (If Applicable)

• Faculty within the School of Education
• Administrative and program support staff

Minimum Qualifications:

The ideal candidate shall demonstrate experience in professional and academic positions, as well as a strong record in teaching and outstanding academic achievements at the international level. The successful candidate will demonstrate sustained scholarly achievement through internationally recognised research, publications, conference participation, and professional engagement., in addition to possessing the following degrees, qualifications, and professional experience:

• Earned PhD from a recognised university in Education or a closely related discipline.

• Appointment at the rank of Full Professor or eligibility for appointment at that rank.
• An internationally recognised record of teaching, research, scholarly publications, research supervision and academic leadership appropriate for appointment as Full Professor.
• Demonstrated senior academic leadership experience, preferably as Dean, Associate Dean, Head of School or Department Chair.
• A clear vision for developing higher education in general and for the School in particular.
• Full familiarity with the credit hour and academic year (semester) system.
• Distinguished managerial experience in the affairs of higher education, preferably at the level of a college dean in a reputable university.
• Demonstrated experience with institutional and programme accreditation, quality assurance, assessment, curriculum review and continuous improvement.
• Acumen in the area of human resources and administrative and financial concepts, practices, policies, and procedures.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with large sectors of a diverse community.
• Experience in communicating with universities, professional and academic institutions, associations, unions, companies and business administration institutions, and other institutions within the field of education and research.
• Bi-lingual proficiency in English and Arabic (spoken and written) is a plus.

Additional Qualifications

Priority will be given to applicants with the following qualifications:

• Managerial experience and the skills necessary to launch pioneering projects.
• Multi-cultural skills.
• Active participation in reputable organizations.
• Knowledge of the methods of evaluation and related matters.
• Evidence of successful faculty mentoring and student success initiatives.
• Understanding of the latest teaching methods, including the use of technology in the teaching process.
• Demonstration of a commitment to enriching the educational experience of students.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the Job Opportunities section on our website and submit a resume and cover letter via: https://aiu.edu.kw/careers/jobs

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The successful candidate is expected to commence employment on August 30, 2026.