Associate Professor of Practice & Associate Director of Digital Education

Company Description:

Founded in 1919, AUC moved to a new 260-acre state-of-the-art campus in New Cairo in 2008. The university also operates in its historic downtown facilities, offering cultural events, graduate classes, and continuing education. Student housing is available in New Cairo. Among the premier universities in the region, AUC is Middle States accredited; its engineering programs are accredited by ABET, its chemistry program is accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry, the School of Business is accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, and the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Public Policy programs of GAPP are accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and administration (NASPAA). The AUC libraries contain the largest English-language research collection in the region and are an active and integral part of the university's pursuit of excellence in all academic and scholarly programs. AUC is an English-medium institution; eighty-five percent of the students are Egyptian and the rest include students from nearly ninety countries, principally from the Middle East, Africa and North America. Faculty salary and rank are based on qualifications and professional experience. According to AUC policies and procedures, all faculty are entitled to generous benefits.

Job Description:

The Associate Director will develop and direct the Digital Education Unit at the Center for Learning and Teaching. This position will report to, and work closely under the direction of, the Director of the Center for Learning. The Associate Director will collaborate with faculty and administrators on planning for online/blended courses and programs based on established best practices; oversee the work of staff, manage the assessment of online programs and courses in collaboration with stakeholders and partner units developing online learning programs and courses at AUC. The Associate Director will act as the lead instructional designer within the digital education team, working closely with faculty, subject matter experts, project managers, and programs on the design and development of online and blended learning courses. As a practice faculty member, the incumbent's role will fall under the 3 broad areas of practice: teaching-related activities and service. The Associate Director will be responsible for ensuring that the quality of the online and blended courses at AUC is strong and consistent with the rigor expected of AUC courses and international standards. The Associate Director is responsible for ensuring that all accreditation and quality standards for online learning are met and that AUC online policies and procedures are followed.

LEADING, MANAGING AND COORDINATING

• Build, lead, and manage a team of professionals dedicated to the design, development, and delivery of online/blended learning courses.
• Collaborate with the CLT Director in identifying strategic directions of the university in online/blended programs or courses.
• Collaborate with Digital Transformation teams and relevant units on campus to ensure smooth and reliable services and hosting for online/blended learning courses.
• Recommend and evaluate technologies relevant to online/blended learning
• Report to and assist the CLT Director in strategic, administrative, managerial, and educational activities and initiatives of the Center.

COURSE DESIGN AND DELIVERY

• Act as the lead instructional designer, work hands-on with subject matter experts, and develop and implement unified course formats that provide students with seamless and user-friendly online learning environments that facilitate student learning and online engagement.
• Work with faculty and other university support services to ensure student support and the effective delivery of all online/blended courses.

FACULTY TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

• Be responsible for designing, coordinating, and conducting training for faculty in online instructional methods and in the development of digital instructional materials as needed.
• Collaborate within the CLT to ensure a solid program of faculty development opportunities for online learning.
• Keep abreast of new developments and research in online education, and share this information with faculty as appropriate.

VETTING and ADMINISTRATION OF COURSES

• Under the direction of the CLT Director, be responsible for coordinating course vetting prior to implementation, indicating suggestions for improvement.
• Coordinate with university offices to ensure the effective administration of online/blended courses.

ASSESSMENT and REPORTING

• Lead, oversee, and design the assessment of online/blended courses and make recommendations to departments on how to improve/develop these courses.
• Regular reporting to the director of CLT on online/blended learning progress.

Requirements:

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Instructional Design and Technology or equivalent.
• Five or more years in a leadership position of an online continuing education program.
• Program development, administrative, and/or project management experience in distance education instruction is required, including at least one year in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead multiple dynamic projects simultaneously.
• Current knowledge and interest in best practices and emerging trends in online teaching and learning.
• Excellent oral and communication skills.
• The ability to work with faculty from different disciplines and teaching styles.
• Evidence of the ability to design, develop and deliver engaging faculty workshops both in face-to-face and online environments.
• Evidence of the ability to integrate current and emerging technologies in course design and online activities.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a teaching and learning center or related digital education center.
• Experience in grant writing.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment.
• Evidence of collaborative activities with other university units in previous career.

Additional Information:

This is a non-tenure-track faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor of Practice. The position will remain open until filled. The preferred starting date is July 2027.