Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice | interior design projects

Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is seeking a highly qualified Visiting Faculty with professional and academic expertise spanning the full lifecycle of interior design projects—from concept development to execution and delivery to join the growing team at The Department of Interior Design under the School of Architecture & Interior Design. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to undergraduate teaching and design studio coordination, with a focus on courses introducing students to the fundamentals of spatial design, human-centered dimensions, and environmental systems.

The position requires a strong commitment to fostering design excellence grounded in technical competence, creativity, and awareness of regulatory frameworks. The candidate should demonstrate a solid understanding of building codes, health and safety standards, and local and international regulations guiding interior design practice. Expertise in lighting and acoustic design will be considered a strong asset, along with the ability to integrate sustainability principles and digital tools into the design process.

Professional experience in interior design projects across residential, commercial, or institutional sectors—covering both conceptual and construction phases—is required. Candidates with a record of academic engagement, mentorship, and collaborative studio work are particularly encouraged to apply.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES

Successful applicants to the position of Visiting Faculty in Interior Design should possess:

• A master’s degree in interior design or interior architecture from an accredited institution.
• Minimum ten years of professional experience in interior design projects from concept to delivery, including documentation and site coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to teach foundation-level courses introducing ergonomics, anthropometry, spatial analysis, and design standards.
• Expertise in interior environmental systems, particularly lighting and acoustics, with the ability to translate technical knowledge into design applications.
• Familiarity with codes and regulations governing interior design, including fire safety, accessibility, and environmental quality.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, and the Adobe Creative Suite; experience with lighting simulation tools(e.g., DIALux, Relux) is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative and student-centred teaching approach.
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken).
• Desirable Assets:
  
  
  • Teaching experience at the undergraduate level in studio and technical courses.
  • Professional registration or membership in relevant organizations (e.g., CIDA, ASID, RIBA, or
  equivalent).
  
  • Knowledge of sustainable interior design practices and familiarity with international certification
  frameworks (e.g., LEED, WELL).
  
  • Experience working alongside experts from the Creative Industries
• Experience working in multicultural academic environments.

Priority will be given to applicants with a Canadian Education background and/or Professional Practice in Canada

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teach up to 12 credits per semester, including design studios and theory-based courses focused on spatial organization, human-scale design, and interior environmental systems.
• Deliver foundational courses introducing ergonomic principles, anthropometry, and the relationship between the human body and interior space.
• Teach and supervise student projects, ensuring compliance with relevant codes and standards (international and local UAE regulations).
• Integrate lighting and acoustic performance considerations into design teaching, highlighting their impact on comfort, functionality, and aesthetics.
• Mentor students in the creative and technical phases of project development, from conceptual ideation to detailed documentation and delivery.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary learning opportunities within the School of Architecture and Interior Design.
• Participate in departmental initiatives, student exhibitions, and academic service activities contributing to curriculum enhancement and quality assurance.
• Support the university’s mission through professional engagement, community outreach, and applied research activities when relevant.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Our eligible faculty enjoy competitive compensation and benefits, including:

• Competitive Tax-free salary
• Generous academic annual leave
• Housing & Transportation allowance
• Annual flights for self, spouse, and dependent children
• International health insurance for self, spouse, and dependent children
• Life Insurance
• Children’s education allowance
• Relocation/shipping allowance
• Professional development opportunities
• Full access to campus facilities
• Research and innovation funding support
• Paid sick leave, Maternity leave, Paternity leave, and other leave categories as applicable
• Working visa and residence permit in the UAE for self, spouse, and dependent children

RESIDENCY AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at CUD is regulated by UAE labour law and must comply with the regulations of the national government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

CUD is committed to an inclusive and equitable academic community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and celebrate diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. All appointments are made on the basis of merit and in accordance with UAE laws and University policies.

ABOUT CUD

Established in 2006, CUD is one of the most promising universities in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, QS ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide, #1 in Dubai, and 21st in the Arab Region according to the QS Arab Region Rankings 2025.

Our expanded City Walk campus hosts state-of-the-art amenities with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity. Combining all the essential elements of technology, the avant-garde campus brings a new experience to students, featuring: laboratories, research facilities, media studios, high-tech classrooms, a multipurpose theatre, gymnasium, student centre, dining and entertainment options, and more.

With one of the world’s fastest growing populations, Dubai offers a diverse, multicultural environment with outstanding lifestyle and employment opportunities. For detailed information about the University, please visit www.cud.ac.ae

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN

With a faculty that contributes experience in practice and research in more than ten countries, the international make up of the School of Architecture and Interior Design at CUD is unique in the UAE. The School brings together traditions and innovations from the east and the west, the north and the south, and seeks to provide the best of this broad cultural background in design, offering new views on the local context from a global perspective. CUD offers an environment where Canadian values of higher education meet creatively and complementarily with local culture and academic higher education regulations. The School understands architecture and interior design as manifestations of social and cultural life in space. It conceives architectural and interior design as creative processes that give spatial form to human values by organizing material and environmental conditions in the urban context, and considers that architectural design creations must provide an inspiring enclosure for human activity and thinking to thrive. The School offers a five-year Bachelor of Architecture, a four-year Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, and a three-term Master of Science in Design Innovation for the Circular Economy, while expanding its educational ecosystem to shape a more comprehensive design landscape.