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Deans

Deans

Our Deans play an important role in supporting the Vice-Principals to deliver their key portfolio areas of Education, Research, Regional Engagement and Regional Recovery, Global Student Recruitment, and Sustainability by : 

  • providing them with cross-university support and demonstrating leadership and responsibility for strategic initiatives;
  • enhancing interactions/collaborations across Schools and between Schools and Professional Services Directorates; and 
  • identifying and disseminating good practice across the institution.

Education

Dean for Quality Assurance and Enhancement

The Dean for Quality Assurance & Enhancement leads on quality assurance and enhancement across the University, chairing the Quality Assurance Committee and working closely with Schools to take forward strategic areas for our ongoing enhancement.

The Dean also works in close partnership with Academic Services, building on the revised working practices so that the University can continue to demonstrate success in QA and QE.

Dean for Educational Innovation
  • Kirsty Kiezebrink
    School of Medicine, Medical Science & Nutrition
    tel: 01224 238034

The Dean for Educational Innovation works with the Director of Online and the Manager of the Centre for Academic Development, Schools and AUSA to foster innovation and sharing of best practice, with particular emphasis on using technology to enhance learning and the student experience

Dean for Employability & Entrepreneurship
  • John Barrow
    School of Medicine, Medical Science & Nutrition
    tel: 01224 437493

The Dean for Employability and Entrepreneurship works with the Heads of Careers and Research & Innovation, Schools, and AUSA to oversee the development and implementation of employability and entrepreneurship strategy and policies.

The Dean also plays a leading role in working towards the ambitions of our Aberdeen 2040 Strategy to prepare our graduates to thrive in the diverse workplaces of the future by working with external partners and alumni.

Dean for Student Support & Experience

The Dean for Student Support & Experience works with the Director of People, Head of Student Support, Head of Experience, Engagement & Wellbeing, Schools and AUSA to oversee the development and implementation of strategy and policies.

Research

Dean for Impact and Engagement

The Dean for Impact and Engagement takes a key role in promoting the development of impactful research and its progression into impact case studies for submission into REF2028 and beyond. 

The Dean will provide support for research-led Aberdeen 2040 commitments around stakeholder engagement and will lead on the development of both national and international academic research partnerships.

Dean for People, Culture and Environment

The Dean for People, Culture and Environment has strategic responsibility for developing, implementing and evaluating initiatives designed to enhance the way we support a positive research culture for all.

The Dean will work closely with Schools and Porfessional Services to identify priorities for enhancing research culture within and across the University and help to co-design and deliver initiatvies that support these priorities and foster an inclusive and open environment where people are valued for the diverse ways in which they contribute to the world-leading research we produce.    

Dean for Knowledge and Understanding

The Dean for Knowledge and Understanding is responsible for supporting the University community in maximising the quality and reach of research outputs, as well as supporting the sustainability of University research by enhancing the competitiveness of grant applications and the output element of our REF2029 submission.

 

Dean for Postgraduate Research

The Dean for Postgraduate Research is responsible for promoting excellence in all areas of postgraduate research study and providing support, motivation and guidance to colleagues engaged in the development and delivery of postgraduate research programmes to deliver an outstanding postgraduate research student experience.

In addition, the Dean develops effective collaborative relationships to (i) support the achievement of targets for postgraduate research study set out in School plans and the institutional Strategic Plan and (ii) ensure that the internal and external requirements associated with postgraduate research programmes are met.

Global Student Recruitment

Dean for International Student Recruitment

The Dean for International Stakeholder Engagement is responsible for the effective co-ordination of the University’s engagement across a network of stakeholders who advise, support or sponsor international students.

These stakeholders include agents, recruitment counsellors, international schools, embassies, and international government funding bodies.

The Dean works closely with Professional Services, Schools and academic disciplines to ensure the approach to stakeholder engagement aligns with the University and Schools’ recruitment plans and aspirations.

Dean for UK Student Recruitment
  • Vacant

The Dean for Widening Access, Articulation and Outreach is responsible for the co-ordination of widening access and outreach activity across the University, including through articulation arrangements with the Scottish College Sector.

The Dean plays a leading role in ensuring the appropriate focus is in place to ensure the impact of the University’s widening access strategy and initiatives across the institution and oversees policy implementation designed to deliver the University’s widening access commitments and aspirations, including through articulation arrangements with other institutions and outreach activities delivered in Schools, Colleges and communities.

Dean for Portfolio and Programme Development

The Dean for Portfolio Development and Programme Promotion is responsible for (i) the effective co-ordination of the external promotion and marketing of the University’s portfolio of programmes and (ii) the development of the portfolio to ensure that it meets the needs of national and international students, identified skills needs and stakeholder requirements.

The Dean plays a leading role in ensuring that appropriate methods are implemented to ensure the adequate assessment of the recruitment effectiveness of the University’s portfolio of programmes, and to identify opportunities for portfolio change and development.

Dean for International Partnership Development

The Dean for International Student Pathways and Progression is responsible for the effective co-ordination of the recruitment, articulation and matriculation opportunities available to international undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The Dean also plays a leading role in ensuring that these recruitment pathways and progression opportunities meet the needs and expectations of potential students, Schools and academic disciplines, align with the University and Schools’ recruitment plans and aspirations, and are capable of fulfilling associated student recruitment plans at School and University level.

Sustainability

Dean for Environmental Sustainability

The Dean for Environmental Sustainability provides academic leadership in delivering the University’s environmental sustainability commitments.

They are responsible for ensuring a high profile for the sustainability agenda across the University and with external partners, catalysing the mobilisation of the collective energy of the University community to foster a whole-university approach to sustainability.

Regional Engagement and Regional Recovery

Dean for Enterprise and Innovation

The Dean for Enterprise & Innovation is responsible for promoting an enterprise culture within the University and to increase engagement with businesses and other organisations, for commercial and societal impact, and to enhance new business creation (both through student start-up activities and spin-out activity).  Engagement with the regional innovation ecosystem is a critical aspect of the role in support of wider regional economic development.