President & Provost

Position Overview

The President & Provost serves as the chief academic and institutional leader of Universal College Bangladesh (UCBD), responsible for providing strategic direction, academic governance, executive oversight, and institutional leadership across all academic and administrative functions. This role ensures academic excellence, regulatory compliance, sustainable institutional growth, and alignment with the College’s mission, values, international partnerships, and long-term strategic objectives.

Reporting To

Reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Key Responsibilities

Academic Leadership & Governance

• Provide overall leadership in academic strategy, quality assurance, and institutional effectiveness.
• Oversee the design, development, review, and continuous enhancement of academic programmes in alignment with international partner standards.
• Ensure adherence to national and international academic regulations, accreditation requirements, and compliance frameworks.
• Recommend faculty appointments, promotions, tenure, retention, and separation in accordance with governance policies.
• Lead innovation in pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment frameworks, and blended learning methodologies.
• Chair or serve on Academic Council and relevant statutory committees to ensure sound academic governance.

Strategic & Institutional Development

• Contribute to institutional strategic planning in collaboration with the CEO and Board of Directors.
• Lead academic transformation initiatives aligned with global higher education trends and emerging disciplines.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with international universities, accreditation bodies, and professional institutions.
• Represent UCBD in national and international academic forums, conferences, and sector engagements.
• Drive institutional growth initiatives, including new programme development and academic expansion strategies.

Executive & Administrative Oversight

• Provide executive oversight to Deans, Heads of Departments, and academic leadership teams.
• Review academic budgets and advise on resource allocation to ensure financial sustainability and academic effectiveness.
• Ensure optimal utilization of human, financial, and infrastructural resources across academic divisions.
• Oversee institutional risk management related to academic operations and regulatory compliance.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead faculty recruitment, retention, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.
• Implement structured performance management systems for academic leadership and faculty members.
• Foster a culture of academic excellence, integrity, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Encourage research, scholarly activities, and professional development among faculty members.

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Serve as the principal academic spokesperson of UCBD in institutional ceremonies, strategic forums, and public engagements.
• Maintain strong relationships with regulators, partner institutions, donors, and education networks.
• Deliver keynote addresses and represent the College in academic and policy discussions.
• Provide periodic academic performance and institutional progress reports to the CEO and Board.

Board & CEO Mandates

• Execute additional responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors and the CEO.
• Provide regular updates on academic performance, institutional risk, compliance status, and strategic milestones.

Qualifications & Experience

Educational Requirements

• PhD in a relevant academic discipline.
• Master’s degree in a related field (mandatory).

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education.
• Proven experience in academic administration, institutional governance, and executive leadership roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in curriculum development, accreditation processes, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience working with international academic partners and regulatory bodies is preferred.