Associate Vice President for Education and Co-Director of Centre for Academic Affairs

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Centre for Academic Affairs

Job Description 

Report to: Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA)

Term of Office: Three-year term, renewable 

Work Location: Suzhou, China

Recruitment type: International 

About Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)

In 2006, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool, UK, and Xi’an Jiaotong University, China – a C9 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 China and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to 35,000 students soon. There are currently about 2,500 staff, among which about 1,300 academic staff from more than 60 countries. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 120 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

XJTLU will be celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2026, entering a new and exciting phase of its development for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU has opened a new Entrepreneurial College (XEC) in a new campus located in Taicang city, which is a part of wider Suzhou. The XEC site is a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University, innovation of teaching and research through XJTLU Education + AI framework, and the continued development of new academies to build an institutional ecosystem.

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 the 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

Role Summary

The Associate Vice President for Education and Co-Director of Centre for Academic Affairs plays a critical dual leadership role in shaping, overseeing, and delivering the University’s education strategy and academic operations. The role integrates two core functions: (1) advising on education strategy and vision, and leading university-wide developments in learning, teaching, and education innovation, and (2) ensuring operational excellence, agility and flexibility in academic affairs, policy, and degree programme delivery whilst maintaining the highest standards.

The role works closely with the Vice President for Academic (VPAA), School Deans, and Associate Deans for Learning and Teaching, Operation Directors of CAA, as well as Directors of ERDI, in the formulation and implementation of education strategy across the university. The postholder plays a critical role in advancing XJTLU’s strategic aspirations in areas such as Education + AI, multi-campus development, and global education models, with sensitivity to both Chinese and international higher education contexts, whilst ensuring that educational delivery is consistent with XJTLU’s unique positioning as a research-led international university pioneering new models of higher education for the future. The AVPE and Co-Director will also help drive initiatives in research-led teaching in liaison with the Associate Vice President for Research and Impact and Co-Director of the Centre for Academic Affairs. 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership in Education Innovation

• Serve as a member of the extended Senior Management Team and Academic Board.
• Chair appropriate university-level committees, including but not limited to the University Learning and Teaching Committee.
• Lead the implementation and further development of the University’s Education Strategy, ensuring alignment with XJTLU’s Five-Year Strategy, globalisation aspirations, Syntegrative Education model and Education + AI Strategic Framework.
• Drive institutional innovation in learning and teaching, including AI-enhanced learning, entrepreneurial education and interdisciplinary curriculum development.
• Advise the VPAA on the strategic development and direction of postgraduate programmes, developing robust and innovative recruitment strategies for all levels of postgraduate study, in consultation and cooperation with the Centre for Student Affairs and the Associate Vice President for Research and Impact.
• Maintain oversight of the award of scholarships to postgraduate taught students.
• Champion pedagogical innovation and experiential education across all campuses and programmes.
• Provide thought leadership on emerging global education trends and position XJTLU as a national and international pioneer in higher education reform.

2. Operational Oversight of the Centre for Academic Affairs

• Co-direct the Centre for Academic Affairs (CAA) to ensure the efficient and high-quality delivery of academic operations, including postgraduate study, curriculum development and calendar management, programme validation, quality assurance processes, timetabling, examination administration, academic calendars, graduation requirements, academic accreditation processes and academic policy.
• Ensure efficient coordination across the student lifecycle—registration, assessment, progression, graduation, and academic records.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) and University of Liverpool expectations with degree awarding frameworks, credit systems, and partner obligations.
• Promote data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement and service culture within academic administration.

3. People and Organizational Leadership

• Work with the Operation Director for Education, lead a multi-functional team within CAA, promoting professional development, cross-functional collaboration, and service excellence.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and student-centred service delivery across academic support functions.
• Build strong relationships with academic units, other professional service teams and partner institutions to ensure academic policy and practice are responsive, inclusive and future-facing.
• Lead strategic workforce planning and academic systems development to support transformation, digitisation, and organisational resilience.

4. Partnerships, Policy Engagement and Sector Positioning

• Represent XJTLU in national and international higher education networks, policy forums, and regulatory dialogues related to academic quality and future education.
• Build strong partnerships with government, industry and academic partners to shape future-oriented, employment-enhancing educational practices.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will be highly strategic with the ability to consider the future capability of the university while ensuring present-day operational discipline. They will bring a forward-thinking leadership approach. The ideal candidate will bring a growth mindset and influencing skills, shaping a culture that values transparency, collaboration and innovation.

Qualifications and Experience

• Doctoral degree or equivalent professional experience in higher education, curriculum innovation, or academic administration.
• Substantial experience in senior academic or educational leadership, ideally with both strategic and operational responsibilities.
• Proven track record of leading educational transformation, especially in relation to digital education, AI integration, or cross-disciplinary models.
• Deep understanding of both Chinese and international higher education systems, including regulatory frameworks, student experience, quality assurance and enhancement, and policy trends.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams, manage complex projects, and operate effectively in an intercultural environment.

Skills and Competencies

• Visionary leadership and ability to translate strategy into institutional impact.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Experience leading large teams and managing change across complex structures
• Deep knowledge of curriculum development, quality assurance, and academic governance processes.
• Capacity to lead change across multi-campus and international contexts.
• Demonstrated commitment to student experience, academic integrity, and institutional development. 

Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply for this position online: https://career15.sapsf.cn/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=4241&company=xjtlu. Please send your CV plus a covering statement of up to 1500 words, explaining your experience and how you meet the expectations of the post. The deadline of application is 5pm on November 15^th 2025. Interviews will be held shortly after this in anticipation of early March 2026 as start date. 

Informal enquiries about the role can be made to the Vice President Academic Affairs, Professor Zhoulin Ruan Zhoulin.ruan@xjtlu.edu.cn.