ABOUT ALU

ALU provides higher education for a higher purpose. Our students declare missions, not majors.

They develop the real-world skills to take on the world’s most pressing challenges. And they take ownership of their learning from day one through our peer and student-led approach – because ALU believes in the power and agency of young people to start shaping the future right now.

Together with a world-class faculty and staff, our students are igniting a ripple of positive impact across Africa and the world.

Our mission is not going unnoticed. CNN described ALU — which has campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda — as “The Harvard of Africa;” Fast Company ranked ALU one of the 50 most innovative organizations in the world and the most innovative endeavor in Africa; and The New York Times recognized ALU as one of the eight places in the world “where history is being made.” Join us.

HOW WE WORK

As a high-growth start-up, the ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs is a key leadership role responsible for providing day to day oversight and shaping strategic direction for undergraduate education within the institution. This individual will collaborate with academic departments, faculty, and administrative teams to shape and execute initiatives that enhance the quality of undergraduate programs, student success, and curriculum innovation.

In particular, the person holding this position will have a focus on enhancing and delivering the core curricular elements of all degree and non-degree programs, currently composed of the Foundations and Leadership Core, both of which span all of ALU’s offerings.

This role will manage appropriate academic managers and leads and will report to the Dean of Undergraduate Programmes.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Leadership:

• Collaborate with the Dean and other academic leaders to establish and execute a vision for undergraduate education that aligns with the institution's mission and goals.
• Manage a team of faculty managers and leads responsible for the delivery of the Foundations, Leadership Core, and other curricular elements associated with ALU’s general education offerings.
• Serve as a key representative of undergraduate programs, fostering positive relationships with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
• Act as academic officer in charge on campus, as designated, and when the Dean nor the Provost are available.

Curriculum Development and Enhancement:

• Lead efforts to assess and improve the undergraduate curriculum, ensuring it remains relevant, rigorous, and aligned with industry trends.
• Oversee the development of new programs, modules, and interdisciplinary initiatives, considering market demand and academic excellence.

Student Success and Advising:

• In collaboration with the Learner Development division, develop and implement comprehensive strategies to enhance student success, retention, and graduation rates.
• Collaborate with academic advisors and student support services to provide resources and interventions that promote student well-being and academic progress.

Faculty Development and Support:

• Provide leadership in promoting faculty development and excellence in teaching, advising, and scholarly activities.
• Encourage innovation in pedagogy, assessment, and technology integration to enhance the quality of instruction.

Accreditation and Quality Assurance:

• Ensure that undergraduate programs maintain compliance with accreditation standards and educational regulations.
• Lead accreditation processes, including data collection, assessment, and reporting for programmatic accreditation associated with ALU’s core curriculum.

Strategic Planning and Assessment:

• Contribute to the development of long-term strategic plans for undergraduate education, encompassing program growth, financial sustainability, enrollment management, and student outcomes.
• Implement assessment strategies to monitor and improve the effectiveness of educational initiatives.

Administration:

• Engage in other relevant activities to ensure the successful delivery of the programmes.
• Provide institutional service through active participation in appropriate curricular and co-curricular activities of the institution.
• Support the implementation of effective administrative policies to build institutional capabilities.
• Take on any other reasonable duties that may be allocated from time to time by the Dean or Provost, including, but not limited to budget forecasting and cost management.

REQUIREMENTS

Required

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in fields related to post-secondary education, curriculum and instruction, or the like.
• At least 10 years of experience in academic leadership, curriculum development/improvement, and programme assessment.
• Strong understanding of higher education trends, accreditation standards, and best practices in undergraduate education, particularly in Africa.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong commitment to increasing educational access on the Continent.
• Proficiency in utilising educational technologies and data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent coaching and project management skills.
• Based in Kigali, Rwanda (or willing to relocate).

Preferred

• Doctoral degree.
• Financial management experience (budgeting and management of a P&L)