Ajman University is one of the UAE's leading higher education institutions and among the fastest-rising universities in the region. Established in 1988 as the first private university in the GCC, it has evolved into a globally recognised, non-profit institution committed to academic excellence, research, innovation and societal impact. Ranked among the world's top 400 universities, #12 in the Arab Region and #6 in the UAE, Ajman University continues to pursue an ambitious agenda of institutional growth and international engagement.

The University holds internationally recognised institutional accreditations from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in the United Kingdom, alongside programme accreditations including AACSB and ABET.

Ajman University seeks to appoint an exceptional Vice-Chancellor for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation to shape its future as an AI-enabled university. Reporting directly to the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor will lead an ambitious institution-wide strategy to harness AI, emerging technologies and digital innovation to transform teaching, learning, research, student experience and university operations.

This is a strategic leadership appointment that goes beyond traditional technology management. The successful candidate will bring a compelling vision for how AI can reshape higher education, alongside the ability to turn that vision into practical initiatives, measurable outcomes and lasting institutional change. They will inspire and engage academic and professional colleagues, build institutional capability and lead transformation across the University.

Ajman University welcomes leaders from higher education and other sectors who have demonstrated success in AI leadership, digital innovation and large-scale organisational transformation. Candidates must be able to apply their experience to a university environment, balancing innovation and ambition with sound governance, responsible AI adoption and effective delivery.

Key Responsibilities

The Vice-Chancellor will:

1. Lead the University's Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Strategy aligned with institutional priorities.
2. Drive institution-wide digital transformation, organisational change and business process redesign.
3. Provide executive leadership for information technology, digital transformation, institutional data and analytics, cybersecurity and enterprise applications.
4. Advance the adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across teaching, learning, research and administration.
5. Develop strategic partnerships with technology organisations, government entities and research institutions.
6. Establish robust governance frameworks for data, cybersecurity and responsible AI.
7. Benchmark institutional performance against leading global universities and drive continuous improvement.
8. Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation and continuous improvement which enhances institutional agility and future readiness.
9. Inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams while cultivating collaboration across academic and professional divisions to deliver transformational change.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a strategic and collaborative leader with a demonstrated record of delivering large-scale digital and organisational transformation within higher education or similarly complex environments.

Candidates will bring:

1. A Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, Engineering, Digital Transformation or a related discipline.
2. Significant executive leadership experience leading digital transformation, enterprise technology and organisational change within higher education or similarly complex environments.
3. A demonstrated record of delivering large-scale transformation initiatives and leading multidisciplinary teams.
4. Deep knowledge of artificial intelligence, enterprise technologies, data governance, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
5. Outstanding stakeholder engagement, strategic leadership and change management capabilities.
6. The ability to thrive within a multicultural and internationally focused environment.
7. A strong commitment to responsible artificial intelligence, ethical leadership, digital governance and institutional resilience.

This is an opportunity to shape Ajman University's next phase of growth and establish AI as a driver of academic excellence, innovation and institutional transformation. The University seeks a leader with the vision to see what is possible and the experience, credibility and determination to make it happen.

For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit https://PLusPortal.PerrettLaver.com quoting reference 8593.  

For informal inquiries please contact Githanjali Pannikar at githanjali.pannikar@perrettlaver.com.

Applications should consist of a covering letter, full CV detailing academic and professional qualifications, employment history, latest remuneration and relevant achievements. 

Closing date for applications is 16 November 2026 at 09:00 GST.

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