XJTLU

Professor and Dean, School of Film and TV Arts

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang)

JOB DESCRIPTION

School: School of Film and TV Arts (Part of the Academy of Film and Creative Technology), XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang)

Position: Professor and Dean

Location: Suzhou Industrial Park Campus, Suzhou, China

Reports to: Dean, Academy of Film and Creative Technology

ABOUT XJTLU 

In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from west and east.

For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF FILM AND CREATIVE

The School of Film and TV Arts is part of the newly created Academy of Film and Creative Technology (AFCT), launched on 22nd May 2021. The Academy brings together both the School of Cultural Technology, based within the Entrepreneur College (Taicang), and School of Film and TV Arts, based within the Suzhou Industrial park campus, under one academic roof. Uniquely within XJTLU, the Academy is multi-locational, providing cross-site opportunities for students, staff, industry and society. There are also ambitious plans to develop further educational, research and creative technology facilities in both Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, and the Great Bay Area.

Building on the core values of the university, the Academy brings together the areas of media, creativity and technology within the context of society to establish an international cultural ecosystem, driven by knowledge generation to advance industry and shape future society.

The aim of the AFCT is to be a community academy serving the alliance of industry and society through: 

  • Establishing cultural creativity programmes designed to engage, motivate and inspire societies participation.
  • Equipping AFCT staff with the tools required to enable them to work with people of all backgrounds, talents and potential.
  • Empowering a social, cultural and creative impact model that provides a win win situation for industry, communities and society as a whole.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS

The School of Film and Television Arts was built on the departmental strengths in communication and culture. With the addition of training in making creative content and arts, the School has been constantly developing a mix of practice, research, creativity and industry engagement with the cultural and creative industry sectors in China and internationally. The School currently offers programmes in Digital Media Arts, TV Production and Filmmaking at UG level, and a new two-year master’s degree in Cultural and Creative Industries, building on the success of its initial degree programme, as well as expanding its research portfolio.

The Dean of School oversees the School Management Team as well as contributing to the leadership of the Academy, with a daily reporting line to the Dean of the Academy of Film and Creative Technology. The Dean is a member of the Academy SMT.

The Dean is also a creative educator who adopts a systems mindset and use their knowledge, skills, and experiences to co-design and deliver an enriching educational experience for students. They view education as an integrative and life-long transformative process.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The School of Film and TV Arts is adopting a new higher education model based upon the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE). SE is a new model developed by the University to address an increasingly networked and complex future of work in the 4th Industrial Revolution. The model is core to the University’s strategy for its next ten-year development focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship. SE aims to train syntegrative leaders with Management skills, International perspective, Discipline-specific knowledge, and adaptability in Industry (MIDI).

The position will attract academic leaders embodying these SE values and are passionate in engaging in a future-focused co-learning ecosystem comprising students, academics, practitioners, university, industry, and community. The School seeks a visionary leader who thrive by creating impact through authentic engagement, cross-boundary collaboration, collective learning and discovery, and action-oriented inquiries. The Dean is also a creative educator who adopts a systems mindset and use their knowledge, skills, and experiences to co-design and deliver an enriching educational experience for students. They view education as an integrative and life-long transformative process.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The role of Dean of the School of Film and TV Arts is to provide effective direction in all aspects of School-wide activity, delegating responsibility within the School when appropriate. The Dean is expected to represent the School within the Academy, within the University, and externally. The Dean will also be part of the XJTLU Academic Management Group.

The Dean is expected to lead the development and implementation of the overall vision and academic development of the School, working closely with senior Academy staff to promote innovative developments in the delivery of its programmes, highlighting its strengths through the recent opening of a new purpose built building. The School has a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and original creativity, with programmes delivered over a number of locations under the Academy’s decision.  

The Dean must provide the sort of professorial academic leadership needed to take the School through its current growth phase. Emphasis rests on the development of the School’s new degrees and its research endeavour and so candidates must not only be highly accomplished in their own right, they must also have clear collaborative commitment and the ability to develop and implement teaching and research strategies. Additionally, given the University’s pace of expansion, the Dean must provide wider academic leadership in matters such as staff development and recruitment, programme development and quality assurance within the School.

The Dean is responsible for:

  • Providing visionary academic leadership in the strategic development of the School;
  • Developing appropriate strategies for Learning and Teaching, Research and Impact in line with the Academy and University strategies;
  • Enhancing and developing the profile of the School and Academy locally, nationally and internationally;
  • Daily operation and administration in the School;
  • Reporting to and implementing decisions made by the Academy Council and/or Academy of Film and Creative Technology;
  • Reviewing and developing the portfolio of programmes at all levels, including the development and delivery of new and innovative educational initiatives made by the Academy;
  • Ensuring effective systems of communication and representation within the School and creating a vibrant and productive community;
  • Preparing both the annual budget and report on financial accounts of the School for the Academy and Academy Council approval;
  • Implementing on the development of multi-site delivery of degree and non-degree programmes agreed by the Academy and Academy Council;
  • Developing School infrastructure, regulations and rules for the Academy Council approval;
  • Delivering excellent learning and teaching, research activities and working with the Academy to deliver business engagement activities and other events in School or externally;
  • Personnel decisions including recruitment, discipline, retention, contract termination, etc. in the School;
  • Coordination and communication between the School and the University; and,
  • Any other work-related tasks assigned by the Charter of School, the Academy and Academy Council, or the (Associate) Principal.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES

  1. Candidates must be a Ph.D. holder in a relevant subject from a world renowned university, or be able to demonstrate an equivalent professional practice and engagement.
  2. Candidates must be willing/able to actively engage with new educational models such as Syntegrative Education (SE).
  3. Candidates shall become familiar with and observe Chinese and UK rules and regulations of higher education.
  4. Candidates shall have management experience with good people skills and have the ability or experience to form and develop a new academic unit.
  5. Candidates must have an international reputation and demonstrate impacts in the creative industries ideally with a strong focus on creative thinking, idea development and industry practice, especially from a technology perspective.
  6. Candidates must have rich experience in research, academic leadership, financial management, strategic planning, people management, as well as senior academic management experience in a university, research institution or similar functions/areas.
  7. Candidates must show the ability to create a highly-developed external network, and demonstrate proven experience of operating at the most senior levels with a wide range of external stakeholders, sector networks, funders and government departments and agencies.
  8. Candidates must have credibility amongst academic leaders and external partners, personal authority and the ability to take key strategic decisions and represent the institution at a senior level.
  9. Candidates must demonstrate a good track record of engagement with students and industry.
  10. Candidates must have a high level of communicative competence in English; an equivalent knowledge of Chinese would be an advantage.
  11. Candidates with administration and management experience in international universities or Sino-foreign joint universities are preferred.
  12. Some experience of working in a relevant industry would be an advantage.

CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labour Laws, and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas. Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

  1. Clear career development path with annual review.
  2. Professional development trainings are provided.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

SALARY: Competitive salary in the market

BENEFITS

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances as

  • Housing allowance
  • Travel allowance
  • Education allowance
  • Relocation allowance

2. Commercial insurance: International insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (details refer to the University Policy)

3. Paid holidays:

  • Statutory Holidays (11 days)
  • Annual Leave (36 days)
  • Family Matters Lave
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Marriage Leave
  • Paternity Leave
  • Parental leave
  • Etc

4. Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application on our university website. Please click Apply button to access.

Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes 3 parts in the order of:

  • A cover letter
  • A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
  • Contact Details for Three References

For specific enquiries relating to the position, please contact the Associate Principal of the Entrepreneur College (Taicang), Professor Stuart Perrin on Stuart.Perrin@xjtlu.edu.cn, or the HRBP Mingyu Yuan on mingyu.yuan@xjtlu.edu.cn.