Executive Dean

The James Watt School of Engineering seeks to appoint an Executive Dean with responsibility for Academic matters in its Trans-national Education Partnership with the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China: Glasgow College UESTC. This award-winning international partnership currently supports five Accredited undergraduate degrees across campuses in Chengdu, and Hainan, with an intake of close to 800 student per year. Among the most recent graduating cohort, 88.3% secured unconditional offers for postgraduate study—over half of these from overseas institutions, with 97% of those offers from QS World Top 100 universities, 90.3% from QS Top 50, and 78.9% from QS Top 20.

The role of Executive Dean (Academic) involves working in partnership with the existing leadership teams in Glasgow, Chengdu and Hainan to ensure the highest quality of student education. This post is normally the most senior representative of the University of Glasgow at their Chinese location, and as such will also play a key role in building effective networks with key stakeholders, and exercising wisdom in decisions which may be judged urgent.

You should have senior academic or administrative experience in critical and strategic leadership positions and can be externally appointed or from existing University of Glasgow staff. Considerable knowledge of the international Higher Education sector, including operations and excellent communication skills in English are required, along with experience of working in different cultural environments and the ability to influence and negotiate in an international context.

This post may be based in Glasgow, with significant periods of time (at least 50%) spent in Chengdu, China, with visits to our Hainan campus, and other locations in China. The postholder may also be based in Chengdu, China, making occasional trips to our Hainan campus and to the UK. In this case the postholder will be appointed by the University of Glasgow and seconded on a 100% basis to the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), People's Republic of China.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and fixed term for up to 4 years.

For further information about this position please contact: Professor Scott Roy, Scott.Roy@glasgow.ac.uk or Professor Sajjad Hussain, Sajjad.Hussain@glasgow.ac.uk

Apply online and find out more about this opportunity, please visit: https://www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/executive-dean-5924828

Closing Date: 22^nd June 2026 at 23:45

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University.

Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/ 

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

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