Director of Student Learning - Kaplan International Colleges

Director of Student Learning
Nottingham
£65-70K + bonus + benefits
Kaplan International Colleges (KIC) is seeking an experienced individual to the post of Director of Student
Learning for its Pathway Colleges. The position is available located in Nottingham. We would also be
prepared to consider the position being located in London.
The Company
Kaplan International Colleges offers university preparation in partnership with leading universities in
Nottingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Brighton and London, allowing international students to progress
onto a wide range of degree programmes at these partner institutions. In addition to first-rate teaching and
excellent study facilities, KIC programmes offer a high level of personal support as well as access to the
facilities and resources of our university partners. A new partnership is also operating in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) preparing students for entry to higher education programmes in the UAE.
The Role
As Director of Student Learning for KIC Pathways, you will provide academic leadership within KIC Pathways to
drive up student performance and ensure standards across all areas of academic activity. In addition, you will
manage the KIC Centre for Learning Innovation and Quality (CLIQ) ensuring strong alignment between
activities and the strategic aims of KIC and its pathway colleges. As the Director of Student Learning, you will
be a member of the KIC Pathways Senior Management Team, responsible for helping to support the delivery of
the company’s growth strategy and the continuous improvements in performance.
Main responsibilities and functions
Your main reporting line is to the KIC Managing Director, based in London, but you will also be expected to
work closely with other senior KIC colleagues. The relationship with the KIC Director of Colleges will be
particularly significant. You will be expected to liaise with and/or report to this senior colleague on academic
aspects of KIC strategic projects and operational activities. Through this close working relationship you will
ensure a close alignment of CLIQ activities with KIC college priorities. You will have responsibility for:
1. Academic Leadership and Student Performance
To contribute to the strategic direction of Kaplan International Colleges (KIC), with particular
leadership responsibility for ensuring that in all matters academic it is well positioned to achieve its
vision to be the foremost provider of pathway education for international students in the UK.
To lead the delivery, development and enhancement of KIC’s academic strategy and activities to
achieve the outcomes specified in the company’s strategic plan and, in particular, to drive
improvements in student academic attainment and in progression rates to degree level study at KIC
host universities.
To oversee the implementation, monitoring and development of KIC’s Learning Teaching and
Assessment Strategy.
To provide academic leadership to senior academic teams across KIC Colleges.
To advise the KIC Senior Management Team on all academic matters and to ensure that it is well
positioned to respond to and anticipate changes in its operating environment.
Job ad, Director of Student Learning, Feb 2012

2. Quality Assurance and Enhancement
To manage KIC’s quality assurance framework and ensure teaching and learning quality enhancement
and academic standards of KIC programmes.
To work with the KIC Director of Compliance and Accreditation to ensure that KIC fulfills the
requirements of its accreditation agreements with relevant bodies, including host universities.
To chair KIC’s Academic Planning and Quality Committee (APQC) and other groups as and when
required.
To foster and support innovate change in learning and teaching to enhance the student learning
experience and student outcomes.
3. Centre for Learning Innovation and Quality (CLIQ)
To lead and manage CLIQ and ensure the alignment of the Centre’s activities with KIC and college
strategic objectives.
To ensure that the Centre provides the support and infrastructure to the wider organization that
encourages innovation and improvement in programme, design, delivery and assessment.
To oversee the analysis of management information relating to KIC’s academic provision including the
identification of key outcomes and themes and recommendations for enhancement.
To ensure that the Centre provides the infrastructure and support to foster the sharing of good
practice internally across Colleges.
To manage and promote opportunities to raise awareness and credibility of KIC externally, including
conference representation and publications.
To manage the Centre’s budget and human resources to ensure the effective delivery of activities to
support the development of KIC.
4. Other Responsibilities
As a member of the KIC Pathways Senior Management Team you will be expected to:
- contribute to strategy and policy development at a KIC level
- contribute to the Company’s growth strategy, including the identification of new opportunities
and the start- up of new Colleges
- deputise for the Managing Director and other senior staff as and when required
- participate in events and activities aimed at promoting KIC
- undertake any other duties as required by the Managing Director or other KIC senior executives.
Line management responsibilities
You will have overall responsibility for all staff in the KIC Centre for Learning Innovation and Quality (CLIQ) and
specific line management responsibility for designated staff members in CLIQ.
Candidate Profile
To succeed in the role, you will be a high performer, who enjoys the challenge of working in a dynamic
environment and being involved in projects at a relatively early stage of development.
In addition you will have:
A minimum of a postgraduate degree and a strong understanding of UK further and higher education
A substantial amount of management experience in the education or EFL sector
A strong understanding of and experience of managing quality assurance and enhancement systems.
Experience of working in roles that help to improve student outcomes and a strong level of interest in
improving student outcomes.
Job ad, Director of Student Learning, Feb 2012

Experience of accreditation or validation frameworks and preferably of institutional level liaison with
external accrediting bodies.
Experience of leading teams and managing staff preferably academic and administrative.
Knowledge of the needs of international students and experience of teaching and/or working with
international students.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Good financial planning and management skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills and good communication skills.
Enthusiasm and be a performance-driven team player and leader.
Strong customer service focus and interest and ability in enhancing performance.
Application method and closing date
Please apply with a CV and covering letter highlighting why you believe you are suitable for this role, via our
online application form
Closing date: Friday 23rd March 2012
Job ad, Director of Student Learning, Feb 2012