Academic Provost– University of Aberdeen Mumbai Campus

Purpose: The Academic Provost is the most senior academic leader for the University of Aberdeen in India, responsible for establishing and leading the vision and strategic direction of the Mumbai Campus. The Provost will ensure excellence in teaching, learning, and governance, in full alignment with the University’s standards and regulatory compliance. They will oversee programme delivery, quality assurance, faculty development, and research, positioning the Campus as a flagship hub for the University’s global engagement. As a key strategic leader, they will contribute directly to the development, implementation, and ongoing review of the Mumbai Campus and its academic policies and procedures in line with the University’s standards and local regulatory context. The Academic Provost will report to the Strategic Board and serve as a member of the University of Aberdeen Mumbai Campus Management Committee. They will also chair the Academic Group for the campus, providing academic leadership and oversight across all disciplines and programmes.

• Lead the academic planning, programme delivery, and quality assurance of all Mumbai Campus programmes, collaborating with University of AberdeenHeads of School and Professional Services Directors to ensure alignment with University of Aberdeen – Mumbai goals and academic standards.

• Oversee programme approval and delivery in line with the Schedule of Programme Portfolio Development and Expansion, ensuring timely introduction and expansion of academic offerings that meet market needs and University of Aberdeen home campus standards.

• Implement and enhance the Teaching Delivery and Enhancement Framework, managing academic staffing needs, fostering faculty mentorship, and integrating Aberdeen flying faculty to maintain teaching excellence and innovation.
  
  Campus Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide strong and visible leadership at the Mumbai Campus, by working collaboratively with the Chief Business Officer (CBO) to drive the execution of the Campus Business Plan by setting and achieving mutually agreed Academic KPIs that underpin sustainable growth and academic excellence.

• Work with the Chief Business Officer in Mumbai and operational teams to drive integrated academic and operational excellenceacross all Professional Service functions, to align with the Campus Operations Model.

• Oversee the integrated delivery of key academic and student success functions—including academic quality and accreditation, programme delivery, academic integrity, research and sponsored programmes, innovation and entrepreneurship, student affairs and services—by working collaboratively with the Chief Business Officer (CBO), admissions, student recruitment, and student services teams. Ensure that the student experience across all levels of study is fully comparable to that of the Aberdeen campus.

• Maintain effective communication with academic and professional services colleagues at the Aberdeen campus to support programme delivery and address emerging issues.
  
  Governance, Compliance, and Policy Implementation

• Serve as the University’s most senior academic leader in India, providing authoritative reports to the University of Aberdeen’s Vice-Principal (Global Engagement) and ensuring effective academic oversight through active participation in key governance bodies at Aberdeen, including the University Partnerships Committee (UPC), Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) and where relevant other key governing committees.

• Ensure the Mumbai Campus operates in full compliance with Indian and UK regulatory and legislative requirements and University governance policies, ensuring alignment with institutional standards for academic quality, data protection, health & safety, equality & diversity, and intellectual property rights.

• Lead ongoing compliance with all Indian regulatory obligations (including University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines and Maharashtra state education regulations) through continuous stakeholder engagement, proactive policy alignment and timely implementation of reporting protocols to ensure risk-aware institutional governance.

• Support the development of academic policies consistent with the University’s standards and adapted for local relevance where appropriate.

• Lead the implementation of the University’s quality assurance frameworks locally, including monitoring of academic outcomes, staff performance, and student satisfaction.

• Collaborate withUniversity senior leadership to monitor and manage academic risks through active engagement with the India Campus Risk Register, ensuring robust mitigation strategies are implemented and regularly reviewed to safeguard the Campus’s academic integrity and reputation.

• Working collaboratively with the Chief Business Officer (CBO), build strategic partnerships with employers and alumni to ensure strong student employability outcomes through effective placement support and career-readiness initiatives.
  
  Research, Innovation and Academic Development

• Encourage the development of a vibrant academic culture that supports research activity, the development of PhDs, academic staff development, and scholarly exchange.

• Actively promote and support efforts to secure external research funding, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and develop close research links with the Aberdeen campus to strengthen institutional alignment and global impact.

• Support the recruitment and retention of high-quality academic staff and promote professional development in teaching and research within University of Aberdeen Mumbai Campus.

• Foster an environment that supports enterprise, innovation, and knowledge exchange, encouraging academic and industry collaboration that enhances the broader social and economic value of the University’s work.

• Serve as the primary academic ambassador for the University of Aberdeen Mumbai Campus, representing the institution in India across academic, regulatory, and industry forums.

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with Indian government agencies, accreditation bodies, industry partners, and academic networks to enhance the campus’s visibility and influence.

The University of Aberdeen Mumbai Campus operates as a joint venture between the University of Aberdeen and its India-based partner. The Academic Provost will play a pivotal role in building and leading the senior academic management team at the Mumbai Campus, working collaboratively with the Chief Business Officer (CBO) to ensure strategic alignment and operational excellence. A key early responsibility will be to lead the recruitment of academic staff and ensure that all academic structures and quality assurance protocols are in place ahead of the first student intake, scheduled to start in August 2026.

Governance: The UOA Mumbai Campus will have a three-tier governance model: a Strategic Board for high-level oversight, a Management Committee for daily campus management, and three Working Groups—Academic, Operations, and Finance—to ensure academic quality, operational efficiency, and financial accountability.

The Provost and the CBO will report to the Strategic Board, which has responsibility for the success of the partnership and the campus. The Academic Provost will serve as a member of the University of Aberdeen Mumbai Campus Management Committee. They will also chair the Academic Group for the campus, providing academic leadership and oversight across all disciplines and programmes.The Provost will provide regular updates to the University of Aberdeen’s Senior Management Team (SMT)on academic progress, quality assurance, and strategic developments.