External Examiner for BA (Hons) Architecture - Dubai Campus

External Examiner for BA (Hons) Architecture Undergraduate Programme

The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at Heriot-Watt University Dubai is inviting applications for an External Examiner position in its architecture programme, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The four-year B. A (Hons) Architecture undergraduate degree is a RIBA Part 1 course, and their 2-year postgraduate Master of Architecture is seeking RIBA Part 2 accreditation by 2028. The position is for four years, starting from the 2627 Academic year.

About Heriot-Watt University:

Heriot-Watt University has five global campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of computer sciences, engineering, design, business and the built environment.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry. We connect with industry at every level and develop programmes to match their needs – so employers get work-ready industry-fit graduates.

We have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus was first established in 2005. Home to over 4,000 students and over 250 staff, it is the largest and most successful international campus in Dubai and has received a 5-star rating from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) repeatedly and is now CAA Licensed.

About the Architecture Programme

The Architecture programme at the Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus was launched in 2015. Since then, the programme has rapidly grown to a community of more than 100 students, creating a unique niche within the vibrant design community of Dubai and the UAE. Strategically placed within the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS), the programme draws expertise from multiple disciplines associated with the built environment.

The programme aims to educate students in addressing current challenges faced worldwide, including climate change, resource depletion, sustainability and energy efficiency. Students will work on authoring projects to create a positive impact through diverse design practices and innovative solutions that resonate with the industry during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

For more information on the courses, please visit the links below:

• B.A (Hons) Architecture
• Master of Architecture

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The successful appointee will be expected to undertake the following:

• Ensure that the standard of the degree is consistent with those awarded across the UK university system in the architecture discipline.

• Review and comment on the assessments for each module for which they are responsible, the extent to which the assessments cover the syllabus, and whether they enable candidates to demonstrate their achievement of the learning outcomes.

• Review if the standard of marking is satisfactory by scrutinising a sample of scripts for each module and, if necessary, a sample of coursework.

• Review and comment on the standards of achievements of candidates and the comparability of this achievement to standards elsewhere.

• Review and comment on the standards of proposed awards and their comparability to similar awards elsewhere.

• To make known any causes for concern in relation to academic standards achieved by candidates, the standards of modules, and the standards of awards to be made, should such cause arise.

• Advise the Subject Examination Board on appropriate action where the marks for any module are significantly outside the normal pattern.

• Attend meetings of the Subject Examination Board, and participate fully in decision making.

• Endorse results and progression decisions, and recommendations for award, by signing the relevant documentation.

• Attend meetings of the Degree Examination Board, where they choose.

• Submit an External Examiner report annually.

• Perform any other duties requested by the Academic Board or the Degree Examination Board, following appropriate consultation over the nature of those duties.

A detailed guideline on External Examiner's roles and responsibilities is available on our university website here.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• A postgraduate degree in Architecture (RIBA and/or ARB or NAAB or internationally accredited)

• In-depth knowledge of the architecture discipline, including relevant academic and professional experience

• An understanding of the RIBA educational framework and experience teaching on an RIBA-validated course OR international equivalent.

• A full-time teaching faculty member of an accredited university outside of UAE.

• Somebody from industry / practice with a strong past experience in academia are also encouraged.

• Work experience – 8+ years in academia

Other requirements

• The external examiner review of the architecture programme is annually carried out in the month of May at Heriot Watt University’s Dubai Campus, UAE. The appointed external examiner should be available to attend the on-campus three-day review.

• The external examiner is required to work jointly with the second appointed external examiner during the annual review of the programme.

• The external examiner should be available to attend meetings with the RIBA validation panel due in the academic year of 2026-2027.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must submit applications with a Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post and a fully up to date CV.

Please note that once the positions are filled, applications will be kept on file and reviewed as the need emerges.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University Dubai is (Commission for Academic Accreditation) CAA Licensed; therefore, successful candidates will need to either provide terminal degrees attested from a UAE institution accredited by the CAA or if the degree is not from a UAE Institution, the candidate will need to have MoE (Ministry of Education) Equivalency. More info on attestation can be found here on the MoE website. The candidate is responsible for getting their degree attestations done and these should be completed within six months of joining.