Deputy Provost

Welcome to HWU

Hear from our Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Heriot-Watt University Dubai – Shaping the Future Together

Dear Candidate,

We are delighted to invite expressions of interest for the pivotal role of Deputy Provost at Heriot-Watt University, Dubai. Celebrating two decades of excellence in the region, our Dubai campus stands as a testament to enduring innovation, strong industrial partnerships, and vibrant student engagement. Our deep-rooted connections with industry ensure that our graduates are not only academically accomplished but also highly employable and equipped for the challenges of tomorrow.

As an integral part of a truly international, multi-campus university, Heriot-Watt Dubai is far more than a branch – it is a core partner in a global community of learning, research, and enterprise. We are now embarking on an exciting new chapter with the launch of ‘Strategy 2035’, placing student experience, individual purpose, and employability at the heart of our vision for the future.

We seek a Deputy Provost with passion and accomplished expertise in education and research to lead academic activities and nurture the next generation of academic leadership talent. If you are inspired by innovation, committed to making a lasting impact, and ready to help shape our journey, this is an ideal time to join us in Dubai and play a critical part connecting across all of our global operation.

We look forward to meeting you to explore further.

Professor Richard A Williams CBE FREng FTSE FRSE

Principal and Vice-Chancellor

About

Our Heritage and Scottish Roots

Founded in 1821 as the Edinburgh School of Arts, Heriot-Watt was the world’s first Mechanics Institute, born out of the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, with a mission to educate working people for technical and scientific jobs. Our founding mission, and character of the University across the years has been to make education accessible and deliver tangible benefit to industry and society.

Over the years, we have grown from a technical college to a global university with a reputation for excellence in science, engineering, business, and design.

As we look forward, we reflect on our origins and build on this heritage which sets the foundations for our future and Strategy 2035.

Heriot-Watt University today

Heriot-Watt University is a charity registered in Scotland, with a distinctive multinational operation through its campuses in the UK, UAE and Malaysia, as well as through collaborative activity with partners around the world and its Virtual Campus. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia is a Private Higher Education Institution and subsidiary company of the Heriot-Watt Group; Heriot-Watt University Dubai is a branch entity; and Oriam – Scotland’s National Performance Centre for Sport – is also a subsidiary company, along with Heriot-Watt Trading.

A Distinctive University; A Sustainable Future

Growing from these Scottish roots in the 19^th century, the University remains renowned for employability, for access and inclusion; and for its applied research impact and global reach. The University has an exceptional track record in transnational education with a globally connected delivery model, enabling students to ‘Go Global’ and learn through global teaching teams across campuses and cultures.

The University’s staff and students are the bedrock of its reputation, and it is their achievements in teaching, learning and research, underpinned by our values as a community, that makes the University what it is today. These values – to Inspire; Belong; Celebrate and Collaborate – help us stay true, with respect for one another; understanding and valuing diversity.

We have an exceptional partnership with our students and, as a university community, we care most about the transformational value of education which is accessible and research which impacts on real world challenges and benefits society.

We are thought leaders in sustainability and see that future prosperity depends on us curating a future with institutional, environmental, economic and human factors in mind. As we look forwards in Strategy 2035, we are sharpening our focus and building on these strengths and characteristics.

Our Institutional Impact Statement is the anchor for our strategy, defining our purpose as follows:

WE ARE FUTURE SHAPERS. Our Purpose is to develop leaders to build an equitable, sustainable, and enriching society. Our community will leverage its global presence and focused expertise to provide applied learning and research to transform lives and address real-world challenges.

Strategy 2035

Our strategy focusses on applied learning for life and employability, with research that addresses real world challenges. We are partners, collaborators, entrepreneurs and innovators. We care about sustainability, about developing and educating people who will lead out and make a difference in the world.

More about HWU

Our campuses

Our strategy

Our structure

Our schools and research

Our community

Role description

The Role

An outstanding opportunity is now available to join our growing Dubai Campus as our new Deputy Provost. This appointment will be available for 3 years with a possible extension of a further two years.

The Deputy Provost Dubai plays a key role in the effective operation of the Dubai campus and contributes to the in-country delivery of the overarching University strategy and is the most senior academic in the campus. The role-holder reports directly to the Provost and Head of Heriot-Watt Dubai, Professor Dame Heather McGregor. Areas of focus include research, industrial collaboration, learning and teaching and innovative education strategies, and enhancing the student experience.

Hear from Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice-Principal Dubai Campus, in the video below, as she discusses the role of Deputy Provost.

Specific responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Leading and managing in-country academic activities (teaching, learning and research), in collaboration with the UK-based Executive Deans and the Heads on the Dubai campus, and the relevant Deputy Principals;
• Deputising for the Provost as required, both on campus and at meetings with external stakeholders and partners;
• Working with the Provost on high-priority strategic projects and targeted initiatives;
• Driving growth in externally-funded research and research student numbers, and fostering a supportive environment that enables colleagues to pursue and obtain their own research income;
• Developing external networks to support teaching and research collaborations;
• Ensuring continued improvement in research and research-related metrics, and developing campus-wise strategic initiatives to support these
• Generating additional third-stream income;
• Ensuring that the student experience – both academic and social – is of the highest quality and closely aligned with that delivered across the University’s global operations, whilst ensuring it meets local needs;
• Working in collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer of the Dubai campus to assure the operational management of the campus in support of its academic portfolio;
• Managing on-campus academic planning and policy, and supporting in-country recruitment;
• Overseeing quality assurance as it relates to internal University processes and to external approval from UAE government departments, government agencies, and professional institutions;
• Line management of the Director of Education and Student life and their team;
• Chairing the Dubai campus Research Management Committee and supporting colleagues in delivery of School-based research implementation plans
• Participation in key committees such as the Global Operations Executive (GOE); University Committee for Research and Innovation (UCRI) and the Programme Management Board (PMB)

It is also expected that the Deputy Provost will have a University-wide role, leading key initiatives that will impact on all campuses, including but not restricted to other TNE activity in the region (e.g. in Kazakhstan where we have an active and growing partnership with K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University).

Experience and Knowledge

• An experienced academic, with a track record of leading and delivering (ideally) within engineering, technology, business, or one of the other disciplines offered at the Dubai campus; an engineering or STEM-based subject area is preferred;
• Senior management experience gained in a University context, perhaps as a Dean or Head of School; this should include managing people, budgets and projects, as well as the academic activities of teaching, research and student experience;
• A demonstrable track record of operating in a complex and culturally sensitive environment;
• Proven research expertise and team leadership;
• Experience of partnerships; both teaching and research-related
• Good knowledge of, or an ability to get up to speed quickly with, the HE policy, quality assurance and funding landscape in the UAE; candidates will be prioritised who also have knowledge and experience of the HE policy, quality assurance and funding landscape in Scotland or the UK;
• Experience or familiarity in internationalisation/transnational education and, ideally, experience of living and working internationally.

Proficiency in the Arabic language (not essential, but preferred)

Skills and Abilities

• A confident and inspiring leader, with the ability to develop staff and to deputise for the Provost as necessary;
• The ability to work through people and deliver outstanding results within a matrix leadership context;
• Able to deliver effective resource management, with an understanding of the mechanisms needed to control budgets, resources and funding, and the effective utilisation of finance and resources;
• The profile and interpersonal skills to forge meaningful and lasting external partnerships with government, academia and industry in the UAE;
• A truly global outlook, combined with the self-awareness and cultural sensitivity to operate successfully on a UK campus in the UAE;
• Excellent English language and communication skills; native English speaker preferred.
• Advanced HE qualification desirable but not essential

Behavioural Competencies

• Passion for working internationally and across cultures;
• Energy and resilience, demonstrating tenacity and perseverance in the face of challenges;
• Flexibility and an appreciation of diversity; the ability to work through different points of view and to balance University strategy with local needs;
• Communication, checking understanding and not making assumptions; using language appropriate for an international team, and actively managing both content and process in all communication; able to articulate and advocate for the activities of the campus;
• Involving and valuing individuals; quick to recognise others’ contributions and give them credit;
• Ability to build relationships, especially internally within complex and multi-campus university
• Developing ways of working which help people align with the overall purpose; focusing on similarities (e.g. One Heriot-Watt) as well as differences, and ensuring clear accountabilities, outcomes and deliverables are established for individual team members;
• Planning and organisation: setting realistic expectations; managing own time; being visible for all the team

How to apply

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Heriot-Watt University on this appointment.

Candidates should apply for this role through our website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code IBWJB.

Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter and complete the online equal opportunities monitoring* form.

The closing date for applications is noon on 27th February 2026.

_{* The equal opportunities monitoring online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process.}

GDPR personal data notice

According to GDPR guidelines, we are only able to process your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, health, sex life, or sexual orientation) with your express consent. You will be asked to complete a consent form when you apply and please do not include any Sensitive Personal Data within your CV (although this can be included in your covering letter if you wish to do so), remembering also not to include contact details for referees without their prior agreement.

Due diligence

Due diligence will be carried out as part of the application process, which may include searches carried out via internet search engines and any public social media accounts.

Equality of Opportunity statement

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website.