Academic Dean Lancaster University and Sunway University Partnership

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Professor Simon Guy, Pro-Vice Chancellor Global (Digital, International and Sustainability)

Strengthening global academic leadership through partnership and shared purpose.

Thank you for your interest in the position of Academic Dean at Lancaster University Sunway Partnership.

This pivotal leadership role offers a unique opportunity to shape the academic journey of Lancaster University Sunway Partnership, a dynamic institution that blends global academic excellence with local relevance. As the academic lead, you will drive a vibrant academic community committed to delivering high-quality teaching, impactful research, and meaningful community engagement.

As Academic Dean, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with a global community of academic leaders, fostering innovation and excellence across our international campuses. This role offers significant opportunities for personal and professional growth, enabling you to make a lasting impact on higher education in the region and beyond.

If you are ready to lead in this vital area and contribute to the ongoing success of Lancaster University Sunway Partnership, we warmly welcome your application.

Our University

Global Excellence

You will be joining a university that is among the best on any objective measure, and a proud member of Lancaster University’s global network, which includes campuses and partnerships across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Lancaster University consistently ranks among the top 160 universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, reflecting our commitment to excellence in research and teaching.

Sunway University

Our rankings and impact

Modern, forward-thinking, and agile in adopting the latest developments, Lancaster is shaping a sustainable, academically excellent future. Our greatest assets are the brilliant minds who teach and learn across our Lancaster and global campuses, the research that delivers innovative solutions to the world’s changing challenges, and the positive economic, cultural, societal, and environmental change we drive locally, nationally, and globally. This excellence is reflected in our consistently high rankings:

  • 10th in the Complete University Guide 2026
  • 11th in The Guardian University Guide 2025
  • 12th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
  • 157th of 1,501 universities globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026

Sunway Partnership and Innovation

Sunway University, one of Malaysia’s leading private universities, is located in Petaling Jaya and proudly hosts Lancaster University’s longest-standing global partnership. Together, we deliver a wide range of industry-relevant programmes in business, science, and technology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Our academic community benefits from world-class collaborations, including joint research centres with leading international universities.

  • QS World University Ranking: 410 (2026)
  • THE World University Ranking: 401-500 (2025)
  • THE Impact Rankings: 81 (2025)
  • AppliedHE Rankings: No.1 Private University in Southeast Asia (2025)
  • Talentbank Graduate Employability Rankings: No.1 in Malaysia (2025)
Sunway University

Find out more about the partnership and strength in transnational education

Find out more about the partnership and strength in developing globally transformative trans-national education

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Lancaster University Sunway Graduation

A role of academic influence and strategic impact

Academic Dean – Sunway University

As Academic Dean, you will serve as the lead academic of the campus and the senior representative for Lancaster University within the Lancaster–Sunway partnership. Based at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, you will report to Lancaster University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global (Digital, International and Sustainability).

Your primary remit will be to lead and implement the agreed co-strategy to build on the success of our long-standing teaching partnership and to advance activities across three major themes: teaching, research, and engagement. You will be accountable for its successful delivery through agreed KPIs, bringing creativity and vision to the development of the partnership so that new shared value is realised for both universities.

You will lead and inspire a committed academic team, fostering a culture of teaching excellence, research ambition, and professional growth. You will also hold responsibility for Lancaster’s dual degree programmes at Sunway, ensuring the quality of teaching, promoting existing provision, and supporting the development of new opportunities across the portfolio. As the senior academic postholder at Sunway, you will oversee quality assurance processes, including exam boards, appointment of external examiners, and compliance with Lancaster and Malaysian regulatory frameworks.

Your role will extend beyond campus. You will work with Sunway senior management on strategic planning, chair the Partnership Management Group, and provide regular reports to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global. You will initiate, maintain, and strengthen relationships across both universities, and with external stakeholders including industry, government, alumni, and professional bodies. You will also contribute to Lancaster’s regional strategy, support the growth of research initiatives such as the Future Cities Research Institute, and promote the partnership across Malaysia and South East Asia.

As Academic Dean, you will play a visible role in student recruitment, graduations, and alumni engagement, raising Lancaster’s profile and assisting in the recruitment of students to both Sunway and Lancaster campuses. You will also mentor Lancaster staff resident at Sunway and support their professional development. In this role, you will join Lancaster’s global network of transnational Academic Deans, collaborating on thematic priorities, sharing best practice, and building a cohesive, supportive, and globally connected academic community that embodies Lancaster’s values and advances our international ambitions.

Person specification

We are seeking an accomplished academic leader who brings credibility, strategic insight, and a collaborative ethos to this important role. You will have a strong track record in transnational education and the ability to foster excellence across teaching, research, and institutional development. Specifically, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

  • A record of providing strategic vision and leadership for a major international partnership, with a proven track record of developing and implementing innovative initiatives and securing institutional support to realise them.

  • Substantial academic experience gained at an internationally recognised university.

  • Proven ability as an academic leader with the management skills to work effectively and achieve results within a complex matrix environment, including clear examples of delivering significant impact through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

  • Deep understanding of transnational education, including regulatory and accreditation processes, curriculum design, and assessment approaches, with the ability to articulate a clear methodology for quality delivery.

  • Experience of successful external engagement and institutional profile building, using leadership, communication, and cultural intelligence to foster joint working, deliver meaningful outcomes, and build reputational confidence.

  • Excellent influencing, administrative, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to represent Lancaster University overseas at a senior level.

  • Ability to develop new programmes of study at undergraduate and postgraduate level that respond directly to market demands.

  • An established record of high-quality research, including research supervision.

  • The ability to champion and uphold institutional reputation, for example support student recruitment, graduation events, or alumni engagement.

A full job description and person specification is available on the Lancaster University recruitment portal.

Recruitment statement

We want to provide you with full information at an early stage to enable you to make an informed decision as to whether you are committed to pursuing this position and to outline the University’s expectations of all candidates taking part in our recruitment process.

Once you have reviewed the information below, and in fairness to everyone concerned, we would ask that you give serious consideration to proceeding further with this process if you think you may not accept the position should it be offered to you.

The role will be located on the Lancaster University Sunway Campus is based in Petaling Jaya (PJ) in Kuala Lumpur and there is a requirement that the successful candidate will live within reasonable commuting distance of the campus. If this might involve a re-location for you, it is of course important that you consider how the move might affect anyone who may accompany you (for example, early consideration may need to be given to local schooling, housing and other employment opportunities where other family members are involved, as early as possible). We will support you as much as possible with this and are happy to discuss any concerns you may have.

We would ask you to agree to undertaking a positive, open, and transparent dialogue with us throughout the recruitment process, raising questions and any concerns as early as possible.

Lancaster University engages in a variety of domestic and international benchmarking exercises to ensure we are extremely competitive in the levels of reward and recognition we provide, therefore we are confident that any offer made will be strong and competitive.

Contract and contact:
If you are happy to continue in your application for the position in light of the above expectations, we would very much look forward to hearing from you.

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please do contact the Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Guy:via his Executive Assistant v.pitrik@lancaster.ac.uk

This post is offered on a 3 year contract with the ability to extend to 5 years subject to performance reviews. We are happy to discuss time allocation for continued pursuit of academic research interests of up to 20% of your working week.

Reward, recognition and salary supplements

The successful candidate will be expected to begin on or as near as possible to June 2026. The position of Dean is three-year term,. Towards the end of the term of office an offer may be made for a maximum two-year extension. The role holder will cease their role as Dean at this time and will be well equiped to explore opportunities that will capitalise on their experience when applying for onward senior academic leadership roles, globally. Remuneration is based on performance and progress in the role, which will be reviewed periodically.

Pension

For this role the University offers the opportunity to join the UK based Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is one of the UK’s largest pension schemes, offering financial security in retirement for university employees. USS members benefit from a hybrid pension structure that offers option to plan and secure an income in your retirement.

Global networks

As an employee you can take advantage of a vibrant and attractive lifestyle in Kuala Lumpar and Malaysia, and benefit from a global community of peers. Lancaster University has campuses in the UK, Europe, China, Malaysia and Indodesia, with strong linkages to Australian and Middle Eastern University and a wide and deep global alumni community.

Library

The Library sits at the heart of the global Lancaster University community. Our digital and online resources are available to all staff and students at Sunway providing open and inclusive resources for teaching, research and leisure. Our award winning team support our provision to the international campuses with a strong digital presence ensuring you can access the resources you need wherever you are.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning provides access to over 22,000 online learning courses, taught by industry experts. LinkedIn courses support skills and personal development across a broad range of topics, and are a fantastic addition to our online learning offer for staff and students alike.

Make a difference, with great rewarding work

Make a difference. Be a part of a team that wants to make a positive impact in the world, from the wellbeing of our students and local community, to the future of our planet. We believe everyone at Lancaster University has a part to play in delivering positive change. Working collaboratively with Sunway enhances our international profile and facilitates opportunities to have global impact across a range of communities encompassing disciplines, localities, regions, nations, policy, practice, and thought.

Application process and deadlines

Applications should be submitted through our recruitment portal by 12:00 GMT on Sunday 2nd November 2025. Longlisted candidates will be invited to an online session before a shortlist is decided with formal interviews which will take place in January 2026. Early applications are welcomed as we will be screening applications throughout the recruitment period.

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please do contact: Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Guy via his Executive Assistant v.pitrik@lancaster.ac.uk

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