Monday, June 18, 2012

The Aga Khan University (AKU) Dean Job in Kenya


The Aga Khan University (AKU) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Graduate School of Media and Communications, a new institution under development in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Aga Khan University (www.aku.edu) is an international institution with campuses in eight countries.

Drawing on the reputation it has built in the health sciences and education, AKU has embarked on a major expansion in East Africa to include graduate and professional schools that will foster ethical leadership, professionalism, and broad-based excellence in fields critical to developing economies.

First among these new schools will be the Graduate School of Media & Communications (GSMC), in Nairobi. New schools of Management, Law, Leisure & Tourism, and other fields will follow.

Dedicated to strengthening media ecosystems in East Africa and the developing world, GSMC will occupy a distinctive place in global media education. 

Internationally connected but regionally relevant, the School will draw on the strengths of AKU and the Aga Khan Development Network, its umbrella organization. 

After a comprehensive, multi-year planning process that included guidance from leading figures in academia and industry, AKU officials now want to identify the Dean who will lead this important new institution through its anticipated 2014 opening and beyond.

Reporting to the University Provost and working collaboratively with AKU leadership, the Dean will recruit a first-class faculty, lead academic programme development, build a multifunctional staff, complete the facilities plan, mobilize the resources to ensure the financial sustainability of the institution, and position the School for long-term success in accordance with the mission set forward by AKU’s Chancellor and Board of Trustees.

Key qualifications include 
  • an extensive background in media or journalism; demonstrated understanding of graduate professional education; 
  • a track record of organizational and enterprise development; 
  • relevant experience with media in East Africa and/or developing-country contexts; 
  • a network of global connections; and appropriate academic credentials.
Please email inquiries, applications, and nominations to Craig Smith, Partner, Opus Search Partners: craig.smith@opuspartners.net.

The Aga Khan University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to recruiting, supporting, and fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students. 

All applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply