Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (VRAA)

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Unspecified

Reports to: Rector / President of the university

Type: Full-time appointment with initial contract duration of 12 months (longer period is subject to Work Permit).

Start Date: As soon as possible

OVERVIEW

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan plans to launch a next generation university, with the School of Electrical Engineering (SEE) as its inaugural academic division, to support the country’s rapidly evolving power generation sector and green energy transition. Tashkent University of Technology (TashTech) represents a flagship initiative of the Government of Uzbekistan to create a leading regional hub for advanced engineering education, technology, and research. The university is a cornerstone in the nation’s strategy to build a modern, innovation-driven economy. It will offer a unique greenfield environment to pilot, evaluate, and scale GenAI across curricula and student services. TashTech will serve Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asia market. It will attract faculty and students from neighboring countries, run cross-border industry projects, and become the go-to hub for energy and digital engineering talent.

The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (VRAA) is the university’s chief academic officer and a key member of the senior leadership team. Reporting directly to the Rector / President, the VRAA provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of all academic functions, ensuring academic quality, integrity, and continuous improvement across the institution.

The VRAA will play a central role in building TashTech as an internationally benchmarked university from the ground up. This includes establishing academic policies, governance structures, and quality assurance systems aligned with leading global universities, while ensuring compliance with national regulations. The role requires close collaboration with deans, faculty, and administrative leaders to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant, and future-oriented education.

JOB DUTIES

Academic Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of the university’s academic strategy in alignment with TashTech’s mission, national priorities, and international best practices.
• Oversee the academic portfolio, including undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and executive education programs. Key focus in 2026 - undergraduate program in Electrical Engineering to be launched in AY 2026-27.
• Provide leadership in the design of an outcomes-based, interdisciplinary, and digitally enabled academic model suitable for a greenfield technical university.

Academic Governance and Quality Assurance

• Establish and oversee academic governance frameworks, including academic regulations, policies, committees, and decision-making processes.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards, local legislation, and best practices in higher education.
• Lead institutional and program-level accreditation efforts (e.g., ABET or equivalent international frameworks), including readiness, self-studies, and continuous improvement processes.

Curriculum and Teaching Excellence

• Guide curriculum development to ensure alignment with industry needs, research priorities, and international benchmarks.
• Promote innovative pedagogies, including project-based learning, digital and AI-enabled teaching, and experiential education.
• Support faculty development in teaching effectiveness, assessment, and curriculum design.

Faculty Affairs and Development

• Work with Deans on faculty recruitment strategies, workload models, promotion and tenure frameworks, and performance evaluation systems.
• Promote a culture of academic excellence, collaboration, and accountability among faculty.
• Support the development of early-career faculty and the attraction of international academic talent.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain a diverse and talented faculty and staff committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Student Academic Experience

• Oversee academic aspects of the student lifecycle, including admissions standards, progression, assessment, and graduation requirements.
• Ensure coherent academic advising, academic support systems, and policies that promote student success and retention.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To be considered for the VRAA position, the applicants must submit the following documents:

• A detailed CV highlighting academic and research, leadership and partnership achievements (6 pages max)
• A cover letter describing how your academic/professional background meets the qualifications for the position and what is your vision for a modern Energy school (4 pages max)
• The details of at least three referees (names, titles, contacts); references will be checked at the shortlisting stage. In addition, please specify your salary expectations, incl. any benefits or your current level of remuneration (the information will be kept confidential).

Please combine all the above-mentioned documents as a single PDF file. Submit the PDF file in the following email address facultyrecruit@tashkenttech-edu.uz

Note: Failure to submit all the requested documents in the above email address could exclude the applicant from further consideration. By submitting an application for the position, you agree that the information provided in your application is subject to verification.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A doctoral degree (including Ph.D.) in engineering, technology, or a closely related field from a university ranked in the top 300 according to QS or THE or Shanghai ratings.
• Track record of establishing undergraduate programs at new universities or launching Greenfield education projects is an advantage
• At least five years of academic leadership (e.g., Dean, Associate Provost or similar) with proven program and people leadership
• Demonstrated experience in academic governance, curriculum oversight, and quality assurance at the institutional level.
• Track record in ABET (or comparable) accreditation and outcomes-based education; demonstrated curriculum innovation
• Experience in fundraising (industry, donors, development banks) and/or executive education
• Proficiency in English (C1+) is required, knowledge of either Uzbek or Russian would be an advantage
• Prior engagement with emerging markets/CEE/MENA/Asia ecosystems would be an advantage

Note: The position is open until filled. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further consideration/interview(s).