Associate Professor (Development Studies), Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Introduction:

Aga Khan University, chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research, and health care of international standard relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital has well-equipped investigative services and provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) aims to develop leaders through a transformative education that is endlessly challenging, stimulating and mind-opening – one that prepares graduates for innovative thought and consequential action.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Aga Khan University invites applications for the position of Associate Professor (Development Studies) for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Responsibilities:

You will be responsible for:

Teaching and Learning:

• Deliver high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Development Studies and Sociology.
• Develop innovative curricula integrating critical perspectives on environment, governance, and social wellbeing.
• Supervise undergraduate projects, graduate theses, and interdisciplinary research.
• Contribute to curriculum development, pedagogy, and experiential learning initiatives.

Research and Scholarship:

• Maintain an active research agenda in Development Studies, with outputs in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and presses.
• Pursue interdisciplinary collaborations in areas such as environment and climate change, social policy, governance, and culture.
• Attract research grants and build partnerships with local and international networks.

Service and Leadership:

• Provide academic leadership in programme development and faculty governance.
• Mentor junior colleagues and foster a collaborative research and teaching culture.
• Contribute to university committees, community engagement, and public scholarship.

Requirements:

You should have:

Essential Criteria:

• PhD in Development Studies, Sociology, International Development, or a closely related discipline.
• Established record of teaching excellence at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level.
• Strong publication record and evidence of international research recognition.
• Experience in supervising graduate students.
• Demonstrated ability to attract external research funding (preferred).
• Ability to teach across Development Studies and Sociology.

Desired Competencies:

• Interdisciplinary orientation and capacity to contribute to environmental and social research themes.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and decolonial perspectives in teaching and scholarship.
• Ability to engage with real-world policy and development challenges in the Global South.

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.