Mountain Societies Research Institute job opening
27.11.2014
The Mountain Societies Research Institute of the University of Central Asia (UCA) is seeking a Director. The new Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) director will work with the Dean of Arts and Sciences and be involved in shaping and delivering the Earth and Environmental sciences programme in addition to leading MSRI’s research initiatives.
UCA is a secular, private, autonomous, and not for profit institution established by an International Treaty signed and ratified by the governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan and registered with the United Nations. Its mission is to promote the social, economic and cultural development of Central Asia and especially its vast mountain regions by offering international standard education and research.
Established in 2011 the Mountain Societies Research Institute (MSRI) is a university-wide research institution dedicated to addressing the challenges and opportunities with Central Asian mountain communities and environments. MSRI, together with its partners, actively works to transfer knowledge to policy and practice aimed at improving the quality of life for people of the mountain areas in Central Asia. MSRI’s goal is to support and enhance the resilience and quality of life of mountain societies through the generation and application of sound research.
MSRI is expected to relocate to the University’s campus in Khorog, Tajikistan, which is scheduled to open in September 2018. MSRI’s move to Khorog is part of UCA’s strategy to improve the quality of life of mountain communities in one of the most vulnerable environments. Centered in Khorog, MSRI will continue and strengthen its broad regional mission.
The new Director of MSRI will advance the research institute to become a leading research centre on mountain societies. Research at UCA fits the definition of applied and action research that is in line with the more contemporary world of academic and/or practice based publishing. Today, a pragmatic orientation to research is not only relevant for policy formulation but necessary for effective undergraduate and graduate education. Knowledge creation at MSRI must be leveraged to improve the circumstances of the various stakeholders of the mountain societies in which UCA operates. Research must be practical and meet the internationally rigorous standards of design, implementation, and subsequent knowledge dissemination. Failure to meet such standards would diminish the possibility of publishing the findings, produce a flawed curriculum, and ultimately of little import for policy and practice.
If you meet the education, research, leadership, teaching, mentorship, fundraising and networking, language requirements and have the experience necessary, pleasesend a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to [email protected] by 2 March 2015. Please also indicate earliest available date. Early applications are encouraged. Ideally, the University is seeking the incumbent to begin in the summer of 2015, but is negotiable.
Location: UCA Central Administration Office in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic at first, relocating to the Khorog, Tajikistan UCA campus in 2017 or 2018.
Department: Mountain Societies Research Institute (Graduate School of Development) and co-appointment as faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences (Earth and Environmental Science programme)
Duration: Five years (renewable) contingent on successful first year performance review
Deadline: 2 March 2015
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