Head - Global Engagement & International Partnerships

Position Title:  Head - Global Engagement & International Partnerships

Reports to:  Pro Vice Chancellor - Governance, Strategy & Transformation

Location:  IBSUniversity, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Employment Type:  Full-time

1. Position Purpose:

To establish and lead IBS University's global engagement and international partnership's function, building measurable international relationships, mobility opportunities, international research collaboration, international student and faculty engagement, visiting academic activity and global networks that strengthen the University's academic quality, external reputation, QS Stars Global Engagement performance and long-term international visibility.

2. Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the establishment and operationalisation of the Office of Global Engagement & International Partnerships and define its annual work programme, governance arrangements and reporting calendar.
• Develop and implement an IBSUniversity Global Engagement and International Partnerships Strategy aligned with the Institutional Transformation Road Maps, Strategic Plan and QS readiness priorities.
• Establish and maintain a central register of international partnerships, MoUs, active projects, mobility arrangements, joint academic activities and measurable partnership outputs.
• Move international partnerships from symbolic agreements to active collaborations with defined objectives, responsible owners, annual activities and measurable outcomes.
• Identify, develop and coordinate strategic relationships with overseas universities, research institutions, professional bodies, governments, embassies, development agencies and relevant international organisations.
• Develop and coordinate inbound and outbound student and staff mobility, exchange, short-term study, visiting academic, collaborative teaching and other international learning opportunities.
• Coordinate with Academic Affairs, Registrar, Student Services and Marketing on international student recruitment, admissions support, orientation, retention and accurate international-student data.
• Coordinate with HR and Academic Affairs to strengthen international faculty participation, visiting lecturers/professors and international academic engagement.
• Work with the Office of Research & Postgraduate Studies to expand international research collaborations, co-authorship, research networks, joint grant activity and Scopus-indexed international research outputs.
• Develop international student and visitor support arrangements, including information, orientation/events, visa-process guidance, language/support referrals, scholarship information and dedicated web content.
• Pursue and maintain relevant international and regional university-network memberships and ensure IBSUniversity actively participates in network programmes, events and collaborative opportunities.
• Coordinate institutional participation in international delegations, university visits, partnership missions, conferences and strategic global engagement events, including briefing, objectives and follow-up actions.
• Maintain accurate evidence for QS Stars Global Engagement and related future ranking indicators, including collaborations, international faculty/students, exchange, support services, diversity and network memberships.
• Prepare quarterly and annual Global Engagement reports showing partnership activity, mobility, research collaboration, internationalisation metrics, risks, outcomes and required corrective actions.
• Undertake any other global engagement or international partnership duties assigned by the Vice Chancellor or Pro Vice Chancellor - Governance, Strategy & Transformation.
  
  

3. Selection Criteria:

• Postgraduate qualification (Master's degree or higher) in international education, international relations, higher education management, business/management, public administration, development studies or a related field.
• Substantial professional experience in international relations, global engagement, university partnerships, international education, mobility, partnership development or a closely related function.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing institutional partnerships, MoUs, collaborative programmes or international projects with measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of international higher education, student/staff mobility, international academic partnerships and the operational requirements of global engagement.
• Ability to work effectively with senior university leaders, academics, governments, embassies, development partners, professional bodies and international institutions.
• Strong negotiation, diplomacy, relationship-management, written communication, presentation and cross-cultural communication capability.
• Strong planning, project/programme management, record-management and evidence-reporting capability.
• Working knowledge of QS Stars Global Engagement and internationalisation-related ranking indicators is desirable.
• Experience in higher education in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific or a comparable international education environment is desirable; doctoral qualification is an advantage but not essential.

4. Core Competencies:

• Strategic relationship building and partnership development
• Diplomacy and cross-cultural communication
• Negotiation and stakeholder management
• International higher education awareness
• Programme/project management
• Data, evidence and reporting discipline
• Initiative, follow-through and results orientation
• Integrity, professionalism and institutional representation