Head: Educational Technology and Innovation

The IIE (Pty) Ltd is the registered provider of higher education which is delivered through the following educational brands: Vega, Varsity College, Rosebank College, IIEMSA and IIE HSM.

The Independent Institute of Education’s Central Academic Team (CAT) is responsible for the academic leadership and governance of the work done at the brands while each brand is managed as a business entity by its own divisional management team.

The IIE’s strategic imperative is to become the first private university in South Africa.

The IIE (Pty) Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of AdvTech Ltd, which is listed on the JSE.

**The IIE’s Central Academic Team have a vacancy for a Head: Educational Technology and Innovation at The IIE’s offices based in Sandton.**

**Direct Reporting Line**:
The incumbent will report to The IIE Director.

**Key Purpose Statement**:
Provides visionary leadership and strategic direction for the development and implementation of the institution’s educational technology strategy and adaptive learning initiatives across schools and tertiary divisions, with a focus on enhancing student engagement, improving learning outcomes and promoting equity and inclusion.

The role is intended to foster a culture of technologicial advancement and will collaborate with faculty and academic staff to drive innovation in pedagogy and identify and implement effective educational technologies that align with the goals of the institution.

Overall, the role is instrumental in driving educational excellence by harnessing and leveraging the power of technology, fostering innovation, and creating a dynamic learning environment that prepares students for the demands of the digital age.

**Key Areas of Responsibility include**: Capacity Building**
- Provide leadership and support for faculty development in the use of educational technology and adaptive learning tools.
- Collaborate with instructional designers, technology specialists, and development teams to create comprehensive training materials and resources that cater to different skill levels and learning styles.
- These resources may include user guides, online tutorials, video demonstrations, and interactive modules.
- In addition to providing training opportunities, the role will be accountable for establishing a support system that encourages ongoing learning and collaboration.
- This will include establishing communities of practice, organizing technology showcases or conferences, and facilitating peer-to-peer mentoring and knowledge sharing.
- Keep abreast of emerging trends and best practices in educational technology and provide thought leadership and capacity building workshops in these areas.

**Educational Technology Strategy**
- Develop and implement a differentiated educational technology framework and adaptive learning strategy that leverages technologies to personalise learning experiences and improve student outcomes.
- This framework should outline best practices, pedagogical approaches, and specific strategies for effectively using educational technologies to enhance student learning outcomes.
- Explore and recommend AI opportunities such as virtual tutoring and teaching assistance, predictive analysis, and smart content creation to improve and enhance educational productivity.
- Work with key schools and tertiary stakeholders, including ADvTECH IT, Teaching & Learning and teams, to develop and implement policies and procedures related to the use of educational technologies for teaching and learning.
- Stay current with emerging trends and technologies in adaptive learning and technology in education and share insights and recommendations with leadership teams.

**Project Management**
- Oversight and accountability for the academic set-up of educational technology projects and responsibility for the associated project plan deliverables and strategic recommendations.
- Assess the efficacy and impact of educational technology initiatives and use data to inform continuous improvement and drive innovation and decision making.
- Review, approve and track educational technology requests and projects against a set of measurables.

**Stakeholder Relationship Building**
- Establish and foster partnerships and collaborations with other institutions, organisations and educational technology vendors to stay abreast of the latest trends, research, and innovations in educational technology.
- This will enable The IIE to leverage external expertise and resources to support the implementation of the strategy.

**Governance**
- Engage in the IIE governance structures and committees.
- Lead or participate in educational technology project steering committees as required.
- Contribute to policy enhancement and development of relevant policies and procedures as required.

**Qualification**:
Masters in relevant fields (technology and education)

**Experience**:

- Minimum 5 years in an academic leadership role.
- Experience with learning management systems,