Employment: Qatar Vacancies
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Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts in Qatar
Position: Director of Graduate Studies
Program: MFA in Design Studies
Position Number: FA4300
Location: Doha, Qatar
Position Begins: July 1, 2010
Review of Applications Begins: October 15, 2009 and continues until position is filled.
VCUQatar (www.qatar.vcu.edu) is an undergraduate and graduate degree granting campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the leading art and design program among all U.S. public universities. Located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, VCUQatar is affiliated with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (www.qf.org.qa). Celebrating ten years of operation in 2008, VCUQatar offers BFA degrees in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Painting and Printmaking, and an MFA degree in Design Studies. The majority of students are from the Gulf region with approximately 30% international. The School is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art & Design, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. VCUQatar has substantial involvement with the emerging design industries in Qatar and is a significant catalyst for that growth.
VCUQatar benefits from a funding situation that allows it to be driven by innovative programmatic needs rather than typical fiscal constraints. Externally funded student and faculty research opportunities are expanding with the rapid development of Qatar, now among the wealthiest countries in the world based upon per capita GDP. (www.qnrf.org) The VCUQatar Center for Research in Design has a contract to design the Qatar military uniforms; is involved in the World Design Report with Icograda; has research funding to develop portable, sustainable architecture for labor housing; and is expanding its collaboration with faculty and external partners. The school is the center for design education in the country by emphasizing design entrepreneurship and design awareness through lectures, exhibitions, and conferences, such as the international conference “Tasmeem Doha”.
VCUQatar’s full-time faculty and administrative staff of 120 (60% female), instruct a coed student body of 215. The school maintains an enviable student/faculty ratio of 10:1. Housed in a 96,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, the school has 123,000 square foot addition that will open in Fall 2010. VCUQatar was the first campus established in Education City, a unique 2,500 acre campus community. VCUQatar has since been joined by Carnegie-Mellon University (Business and Computer Science), Cornell University’s Weill School of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Northwestern University (Journalism and Communication), and Texas A & M University (Engineering). Education City is able to continue increasing its international presence as Qatar remains one of the healthiest economies in the Gulf region.
Qatar is a liberal, hospitable and progressive country in the Arabian Gulf. English is the standard second language and the population of Qatar is approximately 1.65 million and growing – 350,000 Qatari, 15,000 US citizens, the remainder expatriates. Doha with a population of 980,000 has all the conveniences found in a contemporary city, and also maintains a traditional Arab flavor, evident in the old markets and the city’s Islamic Arab architecture. The new Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M.Pei opened in November 2008. The US Embassy considers Qatar among the safest countries in the world for Americans.
Position Description
The Director of Graduate Studies is a new position that will provide the leadership to implement and nurture the first Master of Fine Arts in Design program in the Gulf region. The Director will create an exploratory, interdisciplinary studio environment for applied design research and theoretical investigations; will act as a mentor for graduate faculty and students; develop innovative project opportunities and supporting programs; link graduate research to national, regional and international design needs and networks; work closely with the Center for Research in Design and the Entrepreneurship program; administer all resource requirements; ensure adherence to all VCU policies and procedures; and support collaborations across Education City universities and Qatar Foundation Centers to achieve the Qatar Foundation’s mission to “create a center of excellence in education and research that will help transform Qatar into a knowledge-based society”. The MFA will encourage applicants from all design and related disciplines to create an interdisciplinary learning environment grounded in applied theory, research, and experimental studio innovation. The MFA is a two-year program, accepting 6 students per year, with two full-time faculty, a dedicated research librarian, dedicated media support and materials collection. In addition to administrative duties, the Director will teach one course per year and participate on graduate committees. The Director reports to the Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs and participates on university and Qatar Foundation committees. Major responsibilities also include all other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Successful candidates will have a masters or terminal degree in design or related field, with relevant experience in an academic environment distinguished by an excellent record of peer-reviewed publications, exhibitions, design projects, or comparable research accomplishments; a history of progressive responsibility in post-secondary administration; demonstrated teaching and administration in graduate education; demonstrated outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build consensus and work collaboratively with colleagues and students.
Benefits
• Competitive international salary
• Tax protection for U.S. Taxpayers
• 30% Off-shore supplement to base salary
• Medical Insurance (100% employer funded premium and employer cost shared options available)
• Fully furnished villa or apartment including utility allowance and wireless internet
• Annual travel allowance to home of record (to include a spouse and dependents relocated to Qatar)
• Monthly transportation allowance
• Educational reimbursement for up to 4 dependent children enrolled in an accredited K-12 program
• International Professional Development and Research Opportunities
Application Process:
Qualified applicants who have a record of achievement appropriate to VCUQatar should submit a letter of interest with a curriculum vitae, transcripts, and the names of three references including email and telephone contact information to Ryan Ellington (rfellington@vcu.edu), Human Resources Administrator. Only Electronic submissions will be accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For more information on VCUQatar and this unique international opportunity, please visit
www.vcu.edu/arts/employment/qatar
