American University of Sharjah Hiring for Visiting Assistant Professors | Architecture or Interior Design at United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Full Time

American University of Sharjah

College of Architecture, Art and Design

Department of Architecture

Visiting Assistant Professors | Architecture or Interior Design

The College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) invites applications for one- or two-semester, visiting full-time faculty positions in the Department of Architecture, which includes degree programs in both architecture and interior design. Applicants will demonstrate excellence, or potential for excellence, in teaching, scholarship and service. Teaching in the Department of Architecture includes a broad range of focus areas, including beginning design, architectural design, interior design, urban design, digital technology, fabrication and sustainable environments. Demonstrated experience and flexibility in teaching across multiple design disciplines and the ability to teach design studios at various levels including foundations, core curriculum, and elective courses—will be considered an asset.  Applicants will be expected to mentor students through an established advising process, to engage in scholarship and to participate in service activities for the department, college and university.

The Bachelor of Architecture is the first program outside of North America to receive full accreditation through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). It offers a progressive, coeducational curriculum serving a highly diverse student body that is 75 percent female. The department has a tradition of faculty-led summer study abroad programs in Italy, Denmark, Japan and Cambodia, as well as a fall semester in Barcelona, established in 2015. Our programs are committed to balancing core disciplinary competence in the design of buildings with advanced studios focused on full-scale fabrication, contemporary urbanism and environmental sustainability. The faculty and students in both architecture and interior design are internationally recognized for scholarship and work produced across a range of studios and courses. In the past ten years, our Design Build studios alone have been recognized with ten AIA Regional Awards and three ACSA Design Build Awards and have been featured in two JAE articles. Website: Department of Architecture. Samples of student work can be found at: Department of Architecture – Student work

CAAD has established a reputation as a leader in design education in the region, with AUS ranking number one in the UAE and among the top 150 universities globally for architecture and the built environment, and number one in the UAE and among the top 200 universities globally for art and design (QS World University Subject Rankings, 2022). Faculty have the opportunity to grow and contribute to a dynamic and diverse environment with students from approximately 90 nationalities. Our graduates regularly continue their studies at top universities worldwide and have established themselves as key contributors to design and creative industries across the region. CAAD offers five undergraduate programs leading to degrees in architecture, interior design, visual communication, multimedia design and design management, and a Master of Urban Planning degree. The curriculum is based on the North American model with liberal arts and sciences integrated with a professional education. All courses are taught in English.

AUS is a leading comprehensive university in the Gulf, serving students from the United Arab Emirates, neighboring countries in the region, and around the world. In addition to CAAD, the university comprises the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and School of Business Administration. AUS is fully committed to equal opportunity at all levels without discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, family status or national origin. AUS offers a competitive salary and benefits package, free housing and a generous retirement contribution. AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division in the United Arab Emirates. AUS has been accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801 USA) since June 2004.

The campus is located in the heart of the Gulf Region, a short driving distance from downtown Dubai, and centrally situated for travel to Africa, Asia and Europe. Our extensive campus library system is complemented by the new House of Wisdom designed by Sir Norman Foster, located adjacent to and within walking distance of the AUS campus. Abu Dhabi and Dubai were recently ranked by The Economist as the Arab world’s two top-ranked most livable cities, offering a rich cultural and physical environment featuring beaches, mountains and spectacular desert landscapes that support an exceptional range of activities during glorious sunny weather that is common from late October to early May.

For positions in architecture and related areas, a terminal degree, typically a Master of Architecture (or equivalent), is required. Licensure and a thorough knowledge of design history, theory and practice are desirable. For positions in interior design, a degree in interior design (MFA, MID, MA or equivalent) and professional experience in interior design is required. Applicants who have academic experience with the North American model of studio-based design education are preferred. Review of applications will begin in January 2023 and continue until the positions are filled. Successful candidates are expected to assume duties in August 2023.

Interested applicants should submit the following: 1) a letter of application that describes your fit with this position description and provides the names and contact information of three referees; 2) a curriculum vitae; and 3) a digital portfolio of scholarly/professional/teaching activities. All these documents are to be submitted as one PDF file that can be downloaded without a password.  

Submit applications in confidence by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ARC-VIS-23 . (To apply, you must have a Google account).