Director, Institutional Research and Planning

Role Summary:

The role holder will lead the university’s efforts in strategic decision-making, institutional planning, data governance, and academic quality assurance. This role is pivotal in driving evidence-based policy formation, regulatory compliance (NAAC, UGC, etc.), and continuous institutional improvement through systematic data collection, analysis, and reporting. The role demands a strategic thinker who can harness data, quality frameworks, and policy design to enhance institutional effectiveness and academic excellence.

About us:

Ahmedabad University is a private, non-profit University that offers students a liberal education with a focus on research-driven and project-based learning. https://www.ahduni.edu.in/

Responsibilities:

• Leading initiatives to strengthen institutional accreditations and enhance rankings at regional, national, and global levels. Lead the design and implementation of a framework for academic performance, student outcomes, research impact, and administrative efficiency.
• Spearhead the development, analysis, and reporting of institutional data. This responsibility involves leading the collection, integration, analysis, and dissemination of data from both

  internal university sources

  and

  external benchmarks

  to drive institutional planning, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and strategic positioning.
• Provide data support for rankings, surveys, and benchmarking (e.g., NIRF, QS, THE).
• Establish and manage the IQAC in accordance with NAAC and other regulatory guidelines.
• Develop and implement quality benchmarks and best practices for academic and administrative activities.
• Coordinate internal and external quality audits and accreditation processes (e.g., NAAC, NIRF, QS).
• Facilitate feedback mechanisms from students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders.
• Promote faculty development and training programs focused on quality enhancement.
• Prepare and submit Annual Quality Assurance Reports (AQAR) and other compliance documents.
• Lead initiatives for curriculum development, teaching-learning innovation, and outcome-based education.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of quality initiatives and outcomes.
• Collaborate with departments to ensure alignment with institutional quality goals.
• Enable data-driven decision-making at leadership levels.

Key Skills:

• Familiarity with national and international quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience in data analysis, reporting, and strategic planning.

Qualification:

• Minimum Postgraduate degree (Doctorate preferred) from a reputed institution.
• At least 18 years of academic/administrative experience, with 3+ years in a leadership role related to quality assurance.
• Proven experience with accreditation frameworks and regulatory compliance in higher education.
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.