Admissions and Student Recruitment Officer (Dubai) - Business Development and Engagement - 59764D - Grade 6 - University of Birmingham

Position Details

Business Development and Engagement

University of Birmingham, Dubai campus

Salary: Competitive

Grade: 6

Full time

Location: Dubai, UAE

Closing date: 18th September 2024

University of Birmingham Dubai

Having established ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we have now moved to our new state-of-the-art campus which opened in Sept 2021. These posts represent an excellent opportunity to join an ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow our long-term strategic mission in Dubai, the UAE and the wider region. Our campus reflects the very best of Birmingham through our presence in Dubai.

Role Summary

Primarily, to receive and process applications to the University according to agreed policies and procedures and against agreed offer and entrance criteria. The work is essential to the financial well-being of the University and a high degree of accuracy is required. The post holder is required to keep up to date with the systems and processes used in the University’s Admissions Office, both to process applications and those used to interact with outside bodies, and to liaise and work closely with colleagues within academic Schools (e.g. Heads of School and Admissions Tutors), the wider Business Development and Engagement area, the Admissions Office based in the UK and wider Professional Services teams in both Dubai and the UK. The post holder is responsible for dealing with queries from a variety of stakeholders including pre-applicants, applicants, parents, teachers, and agents. The post holder plays a key role in delivering an efficient and effective service throughout the applicant’s journey from pre-applicant to student.

The post holder will play a key role in the recruitment of students based in the UAE and in supporting the delivery of overall student recruitment targets and the business development strategy. They will be expected to carry out a wide range of activities to support student recruitment and business development, including organising internal and external events, representing the University at recruitment events, and organising incoming visits for applicants, parents, sponsors, agents and businesses.

The post holder may be required to travel extensively around the UAE, which can include weekends and holidays. The post holder must be able to operate effectively and autonomously under these circumstances.

This role many be required to manage or mentor the Administrators supporting Admissions and Student Recruitment, and will report into an Operations Manager.

Main Duties

General

• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
• Undertake continuous personal and professional development.
  
  

Processing applications

• The post holder is responsible for processing applications for any admissions route to the University from initial application to registration. This includes reviewing applications, making decisions, issuing offers, dealing with applicant replies, managing fulfilment of conditions and processing confirmation decisions.
• To become proficient in the use of Admissions systems, and to undergo training as systems change or are introduced.
• Reviewing applications involves assessing applicant information and accompanying documentation against criteria agreed with an Admissions Tutor, and an Admissions Officer is expected to be able to discuss the criteria with Admissions Tutors as they are agreed and with applicants who may enquire about their suitability for a particular programme of study. Judgement must be exercised as to whether and how well an applicant meets the criteria, whether prior study (indicated by examinations taken or to be taken as well as other study, including specific modules at postgraduate level) is sufficiently close to what is required, analysis of a range of international qualifications, and whether non-academic requirements are met at a sufficient standard. Where an applicant is offering non-standard qualifications the post holder will use multiple sources of information to assess the qualification and establish equivalency.
• Use their initiative to bring to the attention of teams in Dubai and the UK any changes to overseas qualifications of which they become aware.
• The post holder will ensure that all decisions not only meet the agreed criteria but also that they comply with internal University regulations (e.g. fitness to practice) and with any relevant external regulations.
• The post holder is responsible for communicating decisions to applicants, including offers, which are legally binding, within agreed time frames. Except on a random (quality assurance) basis, decisions and offers are not checked by any other member of staff once an officer has completed training.
• To be aware of the possibilities of fraud and to take necessary precautions in order to ensure that fraudulent applications and documents are identified and the relevant staff within the Admissions Office are notified.
• All work must be carried out at a high level of accuracy within agreed turnaround times and to agreed performance targets. The post holder is required to report regularly on performance against these criteria and to make suggestions for improvements to both the service offered to applicants and for the work of the whole office.
• Have a working understanding of the requirements, policies and practices used for recruitment to the UK campus in order to provide support when required.
• Maintaining a working understanding of the visa and immigration rules for the Dubai and the UAE and liaising with relevant colleagues within Professional Services to ensure strong support for applicants with respect to their immigration needs.
  
  

Student recruitment activity

• Following up on enquiries from prospective students and other potential stakeholders via outbound telephone calls and emails.
• Manage the student recruitment pipe from enquiry to registration and contribute to the overall student recruitment numbers.
• Booking recruitment events and organising logistics such as travel and freight.
• Provide logistical support in relation to Dubai-related events including open days, applicant visit days, virtual events and other recruitment events.
• Providing costings of recruitment activities as required.
• To provide general administration support to the Student Recruitment Manager.
• To organise internal and external events and visits related to student recruitment, from Foundation and Undergraduate through to Postgraduate and CPD.
• Liaising with colleagues across the University and external contacts in relation to recruitment events and visits taking place within the UAE and in other international recruitment markets.
• Analyse, collate and disseminate data on enquiries, applications and enrolments from multiple sources, as and when needed.
  
  

Collaboration across boundaries

• The post holder is required to work with colleagues across the Business Development and Engagement area, Admissions Office, External Relations, other Professional Services and Colleges to provide a service that meets the demands of applicants and other stakeholders. This requires very close team working within the UK-based Admissions Office in order to ensure that the Admissions across the University works effectively together.
• They will also provide such data as may be required through the admissions cycle. An Admissions Officer will be expected to undertake simple analysis of such data and explain that analysis to colleagues.
• The post holder will be a key member of the Business Development and Engagement area and will play an important role in supporting the recruitment of students to the campus. This can include representation on Open Days and similar events, external fairs and exhibitions and schools talks and presentations.
• The post holder will work with colleagues across the Dubai Professional Services team on various projects as and when the need arises. Examples include the start of term welcome activities, and graduation events.
  
  

Customer service

• The post holder is responsible for providing an efficient and effective service to applicants and to internal stakeholders, to agreed levels of performance.
• The post holder is responsible for dealing with queries from a range of internal and external stakeholders (e.g. Admissions Tutors, teachers, careers guidance professionals) which involves giving complex information as well as expert advice and guidance in relevant areas.
• The post holder is responsible for communicating decisions to applicants and liaising closely with academic colleagues in Colleges and with colleagues within Business Development and Engagement area.
• High standards of conduct and behaviour are required at all times, including while dealing with a diverse range of stakeholders with varying needs and will require tact, diplomacy, and patience.
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Understands the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity and inclusion issues in line with relevant policies and procedures
• Educated to at least A level or equivalent (or substantial relevant experience) with a minimum of GCSE grade C in Mathematics and English (or equivalent)
• An understanding and prior experience of the admissions, marketing and recruitment processes in the Higher Education sector, including the importance of the role in contributing to the successful recruitment and selection of students
• Demonstrable evidence of exhibiting the values and behaviours consistent with the University and External Relations frameworks
• Excellent reporting and excel skills
• Experience of working to demanding deadlines and under pressure
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve processes
• Ability to operate effectively as part of a team
• Ability to operate a variety of different and bespoke computer systems
• Excellent interpersonal skills including politeness, diplomacy, tact and courtesy
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to manage good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Flexibility and adaptability
  
  

Dimensions

This post is primarily concerned with ensuring a smooth admissions process for applicants for study at the Dubai campus and to support the recruitment of students to the Dubai campus more generally as required.

Planning and Organising

The post holder will be able to plan their own workload within an overall annual timetable to ensure proactive and efficient support for the admissions process.

Problem Solving and decision making

Without reference to others

• Processing decisions (including legally binding offers);
• Dealing with enquiries;
• prioritising own work.
  
  

After consulting others

• Advising on new/non-standard qualifications;
• Prioritising the work of other teams;
• Complex enquiries.
  
  

Would be referred to someone else

• Complaints and requests for reviews of decisions.
  
  

Internal and External relationships

• The rest of their Admissions Team in Dubai and in the UK
• Head of Business Development & Engagement
• Colleagues in the Engagement and Business Development team, and UK based External Relations teams
• Academic contacts in Dubai and the UK
• Colleagues in other parts of Professional Services across the University
  
  

External people with whom an Admissions Officer may come into contact including but not limited to teachers, parents, and agents

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy . You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .

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