GLOBAL DIRECTOR

STUDENT EXPERIENCE
AND ACADEMIC
REGISTRAR
A personal invitation to consider appointment as our
Global Director Student Experience and Academic Registrar | November 2022
2 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

Welcome to
Heriot-Watt University
from the Global Chief
Operating Officer
I am delighted to be able to introduce you to Heriot Watt and this
role in particular as it is so crucial to our future success as a global
university that leads out in applied research, knowledge transfer and
an outstanding and distinctive student experience. Heriot Watt is a very
special place to work – with its roots in Scotland and a growing physical
and online global footprint – across our 5 campuses and for students
studying at home and online.

Our higher education experience from pre-sessional English, foundation

to post graduate research and professional development is purpose
led and industry aligned and our research is world leading and has real
impact on society in the areas that matter most.

Our student support services reflect the global nature of our student
population and encourage global mobility, diversity of thought and
experience and are focused on nurturing the success of our students
during their studies and in their future careers. Our global alumni
community is one of the oldest in the UK and provides a network of
friends and mentors for life.

This role is a global one – providing direction and working in partnership

with our academic and professional services teams across our 5
campuses. It requires strong leadership, partnership and influencing
skills and the ability to utilise and develop systems, processes and
resources to support academics and students alike. It requires strong
vision for service excellence and an ability to refine and improve complex
services to support students from enrolment to graduation and beyond.

You have the remit in the role to work with your teams and senior
stakeholders to shape positive interactions and problem solving for
students in times of success and challenge. You will need to be calm
under pressure and bring people along with you. Particular focus in the
role will be developing and evolving teams that work in a unified way
across the university both globally and locally and are seamless yet
personalised for students and academic staff alike.

It really is a great time to join a truly distinctive university with a clear

vision and mission and an ambitious strategy for success.

Lucy Everest

Global Chief Operating Officer

PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR |3
4 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

Heriot-Watt
University -
Our Heritage

The University’s roots go back to 1821 with the

establishment of the School of Arts of Edinburgh.
The University is therefore approaching a landmark
bicentenary anniversary. The School of Arts was the
world’s first Mechanics Institute, marking the start of a
worldwide movement that would revolutionise access
to education in science and technology for ordinary
people with the purpose of addressing societal needs.
The institution developed into the Watt Institution and
School of Arts in 1852 and, in 1855, the Heriot-Watt
College with the focus on “the practical application of
knowledge and learning for the betterment of society”
remaining a defining characteristic. In 1966 the College
became Heriot-Watt University, established by Royal
Charter, since which time we have continued to focus
on innovating and exchanging knowledge for the
benefit of society, delivering professionally relevant and
career-focused teaching, and developing world-leading
innovative research that provides practical solutions to
contemporary issues.
PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR |5

Growth of our
International
University
Named as ‘International University of the Year’ in the
2018 Times and Sunday Times University Guide, we operate
in five major locations including campuses at Dubai, UAE,
Putrajaya in Malaysia, and Edinburgh, Galashiels and Orkney
in Scotland; all work together as a single University:
• In 1989, we opened our Orkney campus, as part of the
International Centre for Island Technology and moved
into a new campus in 2019
• In 1992, our last departments in Edinburgh relocated to
our purpose-built 380 acre parkland Edinburgh campus
situated on the western edge of the city
• In 1998 our Scottish Borders campus hosting our School
of Textiles and Design was born from our merger with
the Scottish College of Textiles
• In 2005, we became the first UK university to create an
overseas campus in Dubai’s International Academic
City and moved into a new ‘digital’ campus in 2021 in
Knowledge Park
• In 2014, we opened our state-of-the-art campus in
Putrajaya, Malaysia, serving the South East Asia region
and beyond
• In 2019 we completed the restoration of Panmure
House, the home of economist, Adam Smith, off the
Royal Mile in Edinburgh, as a place for debate and wider
social enlightenment
• In 2022 we opened our National Robotarium in
Edinburgh to lead socially responsible applications
of artificial intelligence along with the expansion Plan
of the HW Online which was approved (2021) as well
as the launch of our Global College which is our 6th
Academic school.
Heriot-Watt is one of the most internationally diversified
of any UK university. We have developed an unsurpassed
international in-country presence beyond our campuses,
delivering degree programmes to independent distance
learners and via an innovative world-wide network.
About 13,000 of our 29,000 students undertake work- and
home-based study from around 150 countries. Combined
with campus- based study in Dubai and Malaysia,
approaching two thirds of our total student population studies
outside of the UK, and one-third of our on-campus students
studying in Scotland are from outside the UK. Our mix of
students is currently 51% postgraduate, 40% undergraduate,
6% postgraduate research and 3% foundation.
6 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR
 PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR |7

Our
Community
Our values-led approach puts our staff, students and In this our Bicentennial Academic Year we have launched
alumni at the heart of everything we do. our 1821 Appeal to raise £4 million to support inclusion
projects in UAE, Malaysia and Scotland.
Our graduates are sought by the best organisations
worldwide. Our graduate association, The Watt Club, We are proud to be among the largest providers of
is the oldest graduate club in the UK with over 146,000 Graduate Apprenticeships in Scotland, with a total of
alumni worldwide in over 190 countries and we actively over 300 students working and studying whilst employed
engage with our alumni through a range of tailored by private companies and public bodies.
programmes in different parts of the world. Over the
We employ over 2500 members of staff in total - this is
next five years, we aim to achieve a step-change in our
made up of 1115 academic staff and 1419 professional
fundraising activities, focused around an inspirational
services colleagues.
campaign aligned to Strategy 2025 for launch in 2022
at the end of our bicentenary celebrations year. To celebrate Heriot-Watt’s bicentenary in 2021, we
have set ourselves the target of recruiting one hundred
The University works in close partnership with student
outstanding research academics between 2018 and
representatives to create an inspiring and supportive
2021 to complement our existing world-class research
environment where students with diverse backgrounds
across our three international campus locations.
are able to study together, to learn and develop, and
to achieve their ambitions. Student members are The University was granted institutional Athena SWAN
represented on the Court (the University’s governing Bronze status in 2016, recognising our commitment to
body), the Senate and key committees of the advancing careers of women in Higher Education and
University, contributing to policy making and governance research.
oversight. The Student Union in Scotland, the Student The University has Gold accreditation from Healthy
Council in Dubai, and the Student Association in Working Lives.
Malaysia work with the University to develop a Student
We are a ‘Disability Confident’, an Armed Services
Partnership Agreement each year, jointly agreeing the
Covenant.
student experience related priorities and actions for
the year ahead.
The Global Student Liaison Committee, a committee of
the Court, oversees and provides assurance to the Court
on the arrangements that the University has in place to
support the full engagement and representation of our
students and the quality of the student experience.
The University has a long history of social inclusion,
while being committed to rigorous selection of students
on competitive merit. The University has made good
progress towards a student profile that is socially
inclusive, in recent years achieving step change
increases in the numbers of entrants from the most
disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Scotland and entrants
articulating with full credit for qualifications achieved at
Scottish colleges.
8 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

Our Vision,
Mission
and Ethos
Our vision is to be world-leading within all our areas of
specialism.
Our mission is to create and exchange knowledge that
benefits society.
Our ethos means that we put our community of
students, staff and alumni at the heart of everything
we do. Our distinctive strengths will continue to build a
global University that pioneers innovation in education,
research and enterprise.
Our
Strategy
Strategy 2025 (strategy2025.hw.ac.uk) provides the
blueprint for the University to be world-leading, with
the freedom to explore new ideas of specialism, while
building on those areas in which we already excel.
We are a distinctive University with global reach and a
proud history of providing access to education, ideas
and solutions that make a real contribution in the world.
Our strategy is based on our heritage, our expertise,
our relevance and our global presence, and sets a
framework for pursuit of our ambitions imaginatively and
energetically. It comprises four main themes:
 PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR |9

SHAPING
TOMORROW
TOGETHER

We will build flourishing We will excel in research

communities,
developing as a mutually supportive and
responsible community with a positive influence on
communities around us and on society as a whole
and enterprise,
tackling problems of real significance to society
through our interdisciplinary approach and close
collaboration with industry and business, and
providing a seamless evolution from fundamental
research to innovation and enterprise

We will pioneer in We will be a globally

education,
developing a model of positive education which
will prepare our students to be resilient and ready
to shape the world
connected University,
enhancing the effectiveness, operation and
structure of our University, and supporting academics
to excel in their teaching, research and enterprise,
and in their interactions with local communities
10 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

Our Pioneering Our Research

Education and Enterprise
We are committed to enhancing the learning experience
of all our students, wherever their location, level, mode
or duration of study.
The heritage of the University is based on curricula with
real professional and practical relevance and a student
experience that is inspiring, challenging and fulfilling.
Our students will experience growing benefits from our
multi-campus structure and global populations of staff
and students, from our multimode methods of learning
and teaching supported by collaborative working and
digital media, and from our teaching and assessment
based on the latest research into learning. Our students
already acquire the distinctive attributes that are valued
Our research reputation is founded on our ability to
by employers and they will continue to be well-equipped
tackle problems of real significance to society. This
to succeed in a rapidly-changing and increasingly
is achieved through the quality of our fundamental
interconnected world. The University performs strongly
research, coupled with our interdisciplinary approach
in terms of graduate employability and destination and,
and close collaborations with industry and business.
through our Inspiring Learning strategy, which places
Our values-led approach will ensure that Heriot-Watt
emphasis on developing the learning capabilities of
continues to be a partner of choice.
students and the key attributes of: specialist; creative;
professional; and global, they will become readily We will continue to recruit, retain and develop excellent
identifiable and distinctive attributes of the Heriot-Watt research leaders, providing access to state-of-the-art
graduates of the future. infrastructure, professional support, and connectivity
with our international research communities. Future
In September 2020, we launched our ‘Prospectus for
expansion will be supported by the creation of up to six
Recovery and Growth’, illustrating our commitment
internationally leading Global Research Institutes which
to supporting the global recovery efforts in relation to
build on areas of excellence and provide seamless
COVID-19.
connections to business and industry. Our strategy
Recognising the pandemic has resulted in an projects a substantial increase in research income and
unparalleled global health and economic crisis, we the contributions that our research will make to the
realise that universities must continue to educate, economy and the environment.
research and innovate, playing a critical role in the post
We will continue to pioneer in our approach to enterprise,
COVID-19 recovery and supporting a sustainable, green
integrating this with our research and our teaching,
economic recovery.
and to develop people and ideas to spark new and
As we rebuild, we aim to maximise opportunities for transformative developments. We seek to shape our
innovation, solve significant issues and drive impactful public engagement using a themed approach.
socio-economic benefits, drawing on our research
For example, in 2019 we celebrated a Year of Health
strengths and supporting our students, researchers,
to publicise our particular strengths in health-related
businesses and communities to recover and prosper.
research and ground-breaking discoveries. During
2021/22 we have partnered with Expo2020 in the areas
of robotics and AI showcasing benefits to society
especially relevant to the UAE and wider Middle East.
PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR | 11

Our Values-led
Approach
The University shares four values that underpin how
we work and how we reach decisions. We recognise
that robust, respectful challenge develops ideas and
sharpens our thinking as we undertake research and
deliver education. Our values reflect this approach and,
as a values-led institution, we seek to apply our values to
everything we do and in the way that we build a sense of
community. Our values remind us that we:
• Inspire curiosity to learn and find solutions that
transform lives
• Belong to a diverse, inclusive and international
community working together across boundaries and
cultures
• Collaborate by working in partnership to shape
the future whilst taking responsibility for our own
actions
• Celebrate excellence and take pride in the
achievements of our students, staff and alumni
 
12 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR
The Malaysia Campus is based in the modern and
growing garden city of Putrajaya, a short distance
from Kuala Lumpur. A great choice of city for students,
Putrajaya has excellent facilities, infrastructure and
transport links. It is developing as an attractive centre of
learning for both location and international students. The
campus, which sits on 4.8 acres in a stunning lakeside
location close to the Putrajaya marina, is home to over
2,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Our new digital campus in Dubai is set among dozens
of leading multinational companies in Knowledge Park,
Internet City and Media City, enabling connectivity to
global employers and supporting partnership across
the Middle East and beyond.
The Edinburgh Campus is set in 380 acres of established
parkland. Over many years significant investments
have been made in campus infrastructure, including the
development of new cutting-edge facilities. The campus
is home to Oriam, Scotland’s National Performance
Centre for Sport, providing unparalleled sport and
fitness facilities. Other recent developments include: the
Lyell Centre occupied jointly with the British Geological
Survey to support collaborative work in the areas of
land and marine conservation, geology and geoscience;
a Research Innovation and Discovery (GRID) facility
to provide opportunities for digital engagement and
entrepreneurial creativity for students staff and business.
The Edinburgh Campus will become the location of
the UK’s first National Robotarium due to be opened
in 2022. A new Marriot Courtyard Hotel has recently
opened on site.
 PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR | 13

The Heriot-Watt University Research Park, Edinburgh’s

largest science park, is located at the Edinburgh
Campus. With long established links with the University,
the Research Park is recognised internationally as a
centre for high calibre science and engineering research.

In 2018, the former Prime Minister, The Rt Hon

Gordon Brown, led the opening of Panmure House in
Edinburgh’s Canongate, once home to the economist
Adam Smith. Led by Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Business
School, the Grade A listed building had been purchased
and extensively renovated, providing a unique asset for
the University, for the city of Edinburgh and for the wider
community.

The Scottish Borders Campus, which is home to the

School of Textiles and Design, is set in a countryside
location in Galashiels, perfectly situated in the heart of
Scotland’s luxury textile industry. The campus, which
delivers the best design and production facilities for
textiles and fashion in the UK, is shared with Borders
College. The school is also active in education and
research in Dubai.
14 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

Global Director Student

Experience and Academic
Registrar
The Role of the Global Director of Student Direct reports
Experience & Academic Registrar Head of Academic Quality; Deputy Registrar and Head
The role of the Global Director of Student Experience of Student Life; Head of Academic Operations; Head
& Academic Registrar offers an exciting opportunity of Partnership Students; Heads of Service in Dubai and
for an exceptional leader of people and teams who Malaysia; Executive Assistant.
brings experience in quality assurance and regulatory
compliance alongside experience in shaping the student Registry and Academic Support (RAS) 01 Nov 2022
experience and associated support services to articulate
a compelling vision for supporting the requirements of Global Director
Heriot-Watt University’s students and staff across a wide Student Experience
and Academic Registrar
range of functional areas. The post holder will be at the
forefront of continuing the essential work of developing
and improving our systems, processes and culture to
deliver services that are student centred at heart and Executive Assistant
provide an outstanding experience from enrolment to
graduation and beyond.

Reporting to the Global Chief Operating Officer, the

Global Director of Student Experience & Academic
Registrar will be a member of the Global Operations
Executive, working closely with equivalent Professional Head of Off Campus Students
Services Directors, Executive Deans of the University’s
academic schools, Campus Chief Operating Officers,
Deputy Principals and the University Executive. Head of Academic Quality
You will be an already experienced professional services
director looking for an opportunity to further evolve
the University’s education and student services into a Head of Academic Operations
portfolio of fully integrated global services that support
Heriot-Watt’s students and staff wherever and however
they are studying with us. You will support and drive the Head of Academic Registry
journey of digital transformation that the university is on, and Student Services, Dubai
seeking to stabilise, transform and support growth in
both student numbers and staff and student satisfaction.
Head of Registry and
You will be willing to undertake international travel and
Academic Support, Malaysia
embrace cross cultural working. You will bring a strong
systems and service improvement focus to the role and
be evidence based and data driven. Head of Student Life
and Deputy Registrar
 PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR
The role will
Determine the vision and lead the delivery of globally
integrated education and student services that are modern,
efficient and sector leading and support the delivery of the
University’s Strategy 2025 and beyond.
Be accountable for Heriot-Watt’s compliance with external
quality assurance and regulatory requirements and
statutory returns that relate to students.
Drive a culture of service excellence which:
• places service users at its heart and aligns people,
processes, systems and culture in the teams you lead
to drive performance to agreed measures – including
satisfaction of the team itself with their work and
achievements
• embeds and aligns the institutional strategic
performance indicators with the day to day work
of the team at every level – focused on student and staff
satisfaction, student progression, retention
and success as well as graduate outcomes locally
and globally
• embeds measurement and recognition of success in the
team and celebrates their success
• is based around the principle of partnership with
academic colleagues in the delivery of an outstanding
experience to students.
| 15
Ensure that activities contributing to the student
experience are co-created with students where possible
and are enhanced and validated through effective
collection and representation of student feedback.
Shape the development of student systems that enable
the University’s digital transformation of services to deliver
the quality and timeliness of data and analytics required
for internal and external purposes.
Provide guidance, coaching and support to the team
through periods of organisational change.
Manage resources and associated budgets strategically
and within agreed constraints whilst empowering staff to
own and monitor spend locally.
Inform, shape and contribute to university wide annual
planning and resource allocation aligned to delivery
of strategy.
Represent the Directorate on the Global Operations
Executive and work closely with members of the
University Executive to secure successful delivery of
strategy - providing insight, expertise and reporting where
required.
Represent the University at relevant external groups
and on national committees and identify and adopt key
developments in the field both within and outside the
sector that can give Heriot-Watt University the
competitive edge.
Identify relevant awards and accolades that will support
the reputation of the directorate and the university as
a whole.
16 | PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR
Global Director Student
Experience and Academic
Registrar (cont)
The successful candidate
• Understands the intrinsically global nature of the
role and the opportunity for evolving the design and
implementation of a globally integrated target operating
model for the University’s education and student services.
• Brings technical expertise across the portfolio of services
including quality assurance and academic governance,
student systems and data, academic and student support
services.
• Is a confident, resilient and courageous leader with
outstanding interpersonal and negotiation skills able to
influence in the wider community.
• Implements strategies to develop, empower and
encourage others to take initiative and drive change.
• Builds confidence in others and themselves through
collaboration, positive results and celebrates successes.
• Has a profile within the higher education sector
and a strong track record in innovation, delivery of results
and building strong, well respected and positive teams.
• Is data and impact led in their approach.
• Is a champion for equality, diversity and inclusion.
Essential Skills
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Experience and extensive knowledge of leading
education and student services in a higher
education context.
• Experience of managing highly specialised operational
teams at Director level that includes multiple layers of
management in a large complex organisation.
• Demonstrable experience of managing resources,
workload and changing priorities for self and others.
• Highly tuned customer service mindset, supported
by a comprehensive knowledge of best practice,
processes and future direction.
• An awareness of and sensitivity to the significant
shifts that are taking place in higher education with
regards to student expectations and the competitive
landscape.
• Experience of developing supporting strategies for
education and student services.
• A record of successfully delivering strategic change
in education and student services functions in a large,
complex organisation.
• International travel to the University’s campuses in
Malaysia and Dubai will be required occasionally.
Desirable
• Relevant professional/postgraduate qualifications.
• Experience of operating in a global environment.
• Excellent project management skills.
Grade and Salary
Grade 10 - Salary competitive.
Pension
You will be contractually enrolled into membership of
the Universities Superannuation Scheme. You may
subsequently opt out of the scheme if you wish.
 PERSONAL INVITATION GLOBAL DIRECTOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND ACADEMIC REGISTRAR | 17

Reporting Line Applications for this process will be managed by our

The Global Chief Operating Officer.
Annual Leave
You will be entitled to 33 days per leave per annum, plus
9 or 10 Buildings Closed Days.
Location
Your normal place of work will be Edinburgh Campus.
You will be expected to travel internationally as and when
required.
Relocation Assistance
Relocation assistance will be available in line with the
University’s Travel and Expenses Policy.
Inclusion and Diversity
At Heriot-Watt University we understand that being
diverse makes us better which is why we support a
culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value
diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase
the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and
creative environment.
partner GatenbySanderson. For further information
about the role, please contact Maliha Ahmed on maliha.
ahmed@gatenbysanderson.com.
There is a two-part application process:
Written application. Please apply with a CV and a
supporting statement (of no more than 3 pages) outlining
how your career to date has prepared you for this role.
The deadline for the written application is Thursday 12th
January 2023.
2) Once we have received your written application, you
will be sent a link to record a max. 3 minute video that
addresses your vision for the Directorate. The deadline
for the video submission is Monday 16th January 2023.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require
support with the application process. You will receive the
link to record the video within 1 working day of submitting
your written application.
Once you have submitted your application, you
will receive an automated email confirmation. If
you do not receive this, please email contactus@
gatenbysanderson.com

It is anticipated that final interviews should take place

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by
week commencing w/c 20th February 2023.
UKVI to enable sponsorship of non-European nationals.
Therefore we cannot progress applications from
candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK.
For further information on this please visit the UK Visas
and Immigration website: www.gov.uk/browse/visas-
immigration/work-visas

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns

e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: hw.ac.uk/about/work/

total-rewards-calculator to see the value of benefits
provided by Heriot-Watt University.
www.hw.ac.uk

Heriot-Watt University
Dubai Campus
Blocks 5 & 14
Knowledge Park
PO Box 38103
Dubai
United Arab Emirates