ACADEMIC RECRUITMENT POLICY
1.0 Definitions
1.1 The following words and expressions shall have the meaning hereby assigned to them:
1.1.1 Academic Credentials: A certification of Qualifications issued by a post-secondary institution, recognized by the State of Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education, indicating that an individual successfully completed a particular course of study at a specified degree level (e.g. Diplomas, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate degree or other Terminal Degree).
1.1.2 Academic FTE (Full-Time Equivalent): The number of hours worked by a single Academic Member in a week.
1.1.3 Academic Members: Faculty Members and Instructional Members.
1.1.4 Academic Recruitment: The process for hiring individuals for academic jobs in the University, which includes the establishment of workforce needs, advertisement, pre-screening, shortlisting, interviewing, selection of potential Recommended Candidates, reference and background checks, sending Conditional Offer of Employment, signing Contract of Employment, and onboarding of Academic Members.
1.1.5 Academic Unit: An entity within the University that delivers Courses for Programs or for entry into Programs.
1.1.6 Business Unit: Any function of the University headed by the President, Vice-president, Associate Vice-President, Director, Manager, Dean, Head, or Academic Manager, as the case may be.
1.1.7 Conditional Offer of Employment: An employment offer that is conditional on the potential Employee meeting certain conditions or requirements.
1.1.8 Conflict of Interest: A situation where a person has an actual, perceived, or potential personal, professional, or financial interest or commitment, that may affect the conduct of his/her duties and responsibilities, or unduly influence or compromise his/her professional judgment in exercising their duties.
1.1.9 Contract of Employment: The contract between the University and the Employee stipulating the conditions of employment.
1.1.10 Course: A set of Learning Sessions in a particular subject, with a defined scope and duration, and specific Learning Outcomes.
1.1.11 Employment Candidate: An Applicant who applies for a job with the University.
1.1.12 Faculty Members: Members of the Teaching and/or Research staff, whether on part-time or full-time contracts, holding the following ranks: Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Senior Lecturer/Senior Technical Instructor, or Lecturer/Technical Instructor.
1.1.13 Instructional Members: Members of the Teaching staff, whether on part-time or full-time contracts, holding the following titles: Assistant Lecturer/or Workshop/Lab/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Technical Instructor, Trades Technical Instructor, or Teaching Assistant.
1.1.14 Job Description: A document which outlines the details of a position including the position title, Academic Unit, reporting line, job purpose, duties and responsibilities, key accountabilities, working relationships, qualifications, experience, competencies, and other specifics.
1.1.15 Learning Outcomes: The knowledge, skills, and competencies that a Student can demonstrate upon completion of an educational activity, Course, or Program.
1.1.16 Learning Session: Classes, labs, placements or work term prescribed by a Course.
1.1.17 President: The President of the University.
1.1.18 Program: A prescribed set of Courses leading to a qualification, including a Certificate, Diploma (2 years), Advanced Diploma (3 years), Bachelor, Post Graduate Diploma, Master, or Doctorate, according to the Qatar National Qualifications Framework.
1.1.19 Professional Certification: A document indicating mastery of or competency in specific knowledge, skills or processes that can be measured against a set of accepted standards, which are typically awarded through assessment and validation of skills in cooperation with a business, trade association or other industry group.
1.1.20 Professional Credentials: A document issued by a responsible and authorized body that attests that an individual has achieved specific experience relative to a given standard, including licenses, badges, and Professional Certifications.
1.1.21 Recommended Candidate: An applicant who has successfully undergone the screening process, meets the required qualifications, and has been identified as the most suitable candidate for the job.
1.1.22 Recruitment Search Committee (RSC): A group of Academic Members, at the Academic Unit, who are responsible for conducting the search for appropriate Candidates: analyze applicants for their suitability, develop a short list, interview short listed Candidates, and make hiring recommendations.
1.1.23 Recruitment Selection Report (RSR): A document including all interviewed Candidates’ details, the final interview scores (given in the Interview Scoring Matrix), a summary of Recommended Candidates, a summary of the evaluation process, recommendations of the Recruitment Search Committee (RSC), and documents related to the Recommended Candidates (CVs, credentials, etc.).
1.1.24 Research: The systematic and organized investigation of a subject/topic, and study of the materials and sources in order to establish new knowledge and/or reach new conclusions.
1.1.25 Scholarly/Creative Activities: The empirical (experiential and applied) Research that is aligned to the focus of the University, and the orientation of the vocational and technical type of the education the University is providing, and intellectual attainment including; published journal papers, peer reviewed conference articles, book chapters, as well as other activities that are peer reviewed and/or publicly disseminated and which include the discovery of new knowledge; development of new materials/practices and/or new uses for existing materials/practices; and which broaden and expand the learning communities in which Academic Members function and in which the University is situated.
1.1.26 Staff: Person(s) employed by the University.
1.1.27 Strategic Priority: An outcome-oriented, high-level aim to achieve the University’s mission.
1.1.28 Teaching: The delivery of theoretical and/or practical instruction for the purpose of Student learning and development, that is generally organized by disciplines and/or interdisciplinary of study and administered within an established mode and timeframe.
1.1.29 University: University of Doha for Science and Technology established by Emiri Resolution No. 13 of 2022.
1.2 Where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
1.3 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
2.0 Policy Purpose
2.1 The purpose of this policy is to:
2.1.1 Provide the framework and principles for Academic Recruitment.
2.1.2 Define standards for hiring Academic Members.
3.0 Policy Scope
3.1 This policy applies to all Staff members who are involved in the Academic Recruitment process at the University.
4.0 Policy Statements
4.1 Consistent with the mission and Strategic Priorities of the University, the criteria for Academic Recruitment must meet the following principles:
4.1.1 Recruit and hire qualified Candidates who have the potential to further the mission and Strategic Priorities of the University.
4.1.2 Recruit and hire qualified Candidates who will bring diversity to the University in terms of experience, qualifications, and perspectives.
4.1.3 Recruit and hire qualified Candidates to teach in their respective disciplines, as specified in the Academic Qualifications Policy (PL-AC-03) and its relevant procedure, with relevant Teaching practice, the ability to engage in applied Research, Scholarly/Creative Activities, Service, and to actively serve the local industry as well as the local and global community.
4.1.4 Recruit and hire, by publicly advertising available positions in national and international channels and Academic Recruitment sites, Academic Members who are proficient in the use of relevant skills (creativity, teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking), information technology, and English language skills.
4.1.5 Give Candidates a fair opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and competency.
4.1.6 Give priority in Academic Recruitment to qualified Qatari nationals to fill the positions within the University. If Qatari nationals are not available to satisfactorily fill a position, only then will the University consider Candidates of other nationalities.
4.1.7 Give priority in Academic Recruitment to Candidates who can teach a wide range of Courses in each Program, preferably with experience and expertise to teach across different Programs to encourage interdisciplinary interactions and interprofessional relationships.
4.1.8 Ensure Academic Recruitment activities and the selection process are free from Conflict of Interest, pursuant to the Academic Recruitment Procedure (PR-AC-23).
4.2 Prior to the initiation of the Academic Recruitment process, the number of Academic FTE positions allotted to Academic Units must be approved by the President, as per the relevant Academic Recruitment Procedure (PR-AC-23).
4.3 The process for Academic Recruitment is defined in the Academic Recruitment Procedure (PR-AC-23).
5.0 Procedures
5.1 The Vice-President, Academics will ensure that procedures are developed for the execution of this Policy and are implemented accordingly.
6.0 Related Documents
6.1 PL-AC-02: Academic Credentials Policy.
6.2 PL-AC-03: Academic Qualifications Policy.
6.3 PL-AC-05: Academic Workload Policy.
6.4 PL-AC-22: Academic Adjunct Appointment Policy.
6.5 PL-HR-01: Human Resources Policy.
6.6 PR-AC-23: Academic Recruitment Procedure.
6.7 PR-HR-01-15: Workforce Planning Procedure.