Head of the Division of Humanities

HKUST

Founded in 1991, HKUST is a publicly funded international university dedicated to undergraduate and postgraduate education and research in science, engineering, business & management, and humanities & social science. We seek to nurture students with entrepreneurial spirit, innovative thinking, and global outlook and strive to work together to make a strong societal impact.

The University is ranked as one of the most international universities in Asia comprising four Schools and an Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies and multiple research institutes/central research facilities; and the Hong Kong government has recently endorsed our competitive bid to develop a new Medical School. While actively growing, at present there are around 970 faculty members, and an enrollment of about 12,000 undergraduate and 9,700 postgraduate students. English is the language used in all teaching, research, and administration.

HKUST is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year with a strong presence in global higher education. It has received many international recognitions including citations and rankings; for example, HKUST ranks 9th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2027, 3rd in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, and 19th globally (1st in Hong Kong) in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. A total of 11 subjects offered by HKUST are ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2027. Moreover, it has consistently been ranked within the world’s top 30 in the Global Employability University Ranking, reflecting the strong competitiveness of its graduates.

At the heart of the University’s pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and societal impact lies uncompromising efforts to recruit and retain the best talents globally and locally. We seek to diversify HKUST’s critical mass of world-class academics, researchers, staff and students in order to drive cutting-edge education and research initiatives and deliver academic and administrative excellence. The University promotes a diverse learning environment that enhances student development of their creativity, innovative thinking and global outlook, especially in today’s rapidly changing society, and technological and AI development. Proactive faculty recruitment is undertaken from around the world in all disciplines of the University. HKUST upholds the values of diversity and an inclusive and collaborative community.

The Division of Humanities

The Division has a multidisciplinary faculty of 30+ members, specializing in history, literature, film and media studies, linguistics, philosophy and religion, anthropology, and music and creative arts. Directly accountable to the Dean of SHSS, the Head is the chief executive of the Division who is responsible for strategic development, curricular matters, research direction, faculty recruitment as well as resource and personnel management. The Division’s graduate degree programs include an MA in Chinese Culture and MPhil/PhD in Humanities. The Division also participates in the BSc program in Global China Studies and provides humanities education as a common core to all undergraduates at HKUST. Associated with the Division are the Center for Language, Cognition, and Technology and the South China Research Center, in which core faculty from the Division participate.

Job Functions

The Head will provide academic and administrative leadership and strategic vision for the Division of Humanities at HKUST. As a broad interdisciplinary unit that is not subdivided into traditional departments, the Division requires an experienced leader who can advance its disciplinary strengths while responding strategically to the opportunities and challenges posed by AI for the humanities and sciences. Reporting to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Science, the Head will

• provide strategic leadership and vision for the Division, including its teaching, research, postgraduate training, public engagement, and future strategic development, particularly in response to emerging opportunities and challenges arising from AI and technological change;
• promote excellence across the full range of Humanities disciplines represented in the Division, while fostering intellectual dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mutual respect among different fields;
• support high-quality undergraduate education for students across HKUST, including those in science, engineering, business and management, by ensuring that Humanities courses cultivate broad cultural understanding, critical inquiry, and global awareness;
• provide leadership for postgraduate education and research training, ensuring that programs remain rigorous, integrated, and internationally competitive;
• enhance the Division’s profile by supporting disciplinary depth, interdisciplinary collaboration, externally funded research, public-facing Humanities initiatives, and emerging opportunities at the interface of the Humanities, digital methods, AI, and society, including the development of AI-related research and educational initiatives;
• work collaboratively with faculty, teaching staff, administrative staff, students, the School, and other units of the University to advance shared academic priorities;
• exercise transparent and inclusive decision-making, with effective communication across the Division and beyond;
• effectively deploy human, financial, space, and other resources in support of the Division’s academic mission.

Terms & Applications/Nominations

Appointment to the position of Division Head will be on a three-year fixed term basis, renewable by mutual agreement. The appointee will be considered concurrently for substantiated employment at the Professor or Chair Professor rank. Competitive remuneration and generous fringe benefits, including housing where appropriate, will be provided.

Additional information about the University and the Division of Humanities is available on the websites https://hkust.edu.hk/ and https://huma.hkust.edu.hk/ respectively.

Qualifications

Applicants should have

• a doctoral degree in a Humanities discipline or a closely related interdisciplinary field;
• a distinguished record of academic achievement and an international scholarly profile suitable for appointment at the rank of full professor/chair professor, in one or more areas relevant to the Division’s academic scope;
• a strong commitment to the value of Humanities education within a leading science and technology university;
• a proven track record of successfully leading an academic department, division, or comparably large academic unit, with demonstrated achievements in curriculum and research development, postgraduate training, faculty mentoring, strategic planning, resource management, and collegial governance;
• demonstrated experience and achievements in AI-related research, education, or academic program development, with the ability to provide strategic leadership in advancing the Humanities in an AI-driven academic environment;
• an appreciation of interdisciplinary and comparative approaches, especially in relation to China, Hong Kong, Asia, and global contexts;
• a commitment to leading an inclusive workplace that recognizes the distinctive contributions of all disciplines and scholarly traditions within the Division;
• excellent communication skills for use in a multilingual and multicultural academic environment, and with stakeholders within the University, across Hong Kong, and internationally.

Application Instructions

Applications should be submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Science via Interfolio with (i) a cover letter and (ii) a full CV.

Review of applications will start from 1 December 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

HKUST is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to our core values of inclusiveness, diversity, and respect.