Ajman University is one of the UAE's leading higher education institutions and among the fast-rising universities in the region. Established in 1988 as the first private university in the GCC, the University has evolved into a globally recognised, non-profit institution distinguished by its commitment 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 advance an ambitious agenda focused on institutional excellence, sustainability, digital innovation, international engagement and transformative growth.    

Ajman University's global standing is underpinned by internationally recognised institutional and programme accreditations. The University holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in the United Kingdom, alongside prestigious programme accreditations including AACSB, ACPE, ADC International and ABET. Together, these reflect the University's adherence to rigorous international standards across teaching, research and institutional governance. 

As Ajman University enters its next phase of institutional transformation, it seeks to appoint an exceptional Vice-Chancellor for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation to lead the University's digital future. Reporting to the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor will provide visionary leadership in shaping and delivering an institution-wide strategy which harnesses the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, digital transformation and data-driven innovation to advance academic excellence, research, student success, operational effectiveness and global competitiveness.   

This newly established transformational leadership role represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of one of the region’s most ambitious universities. The successful candidate will position technology as a strategic enabler of institutional excellence, embedding responsible AI adoption, digital capability and data-informed decision-making across every aspect of the University’s academic and administrative enterprise.  

Key Responsibilities  

The Vice-Chancellor will:

• Lead the University's Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Strategy aligned with institutional priorities.

• Drive institution-wide digital transformation, organisational change and business process redesign.

• Provide executive leadership for information technology, digital transformation, institutional data and analytics, cybersecurity and enterprise applications.

• Advance the adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across teaching, learning, research and administration.

• Develop strategic partnerships with technology organisations, government entities and research institutions.

• Establish robust governance frameworks for data, cybersecurity and responsible AI.

• Benchmark institutional performance against leading global universities and drive continuous improvement.

• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation and continuous improvement which enhances institutional agility and future readiness.

• 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:

• A Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, Engineering, Digital Transformation or a related discipline. A PhD in one of these disciplines from a recognised university is highly desirable.

• Significant executive leadership experience leading digital transformation, enterprise technology and organisational change within higher education or similarly complex environments.

• A demonstrated record of delivering large-scale transformation initiatives and leading multidisciplinary teams.

• Deep knowledge of artificial intelligence, enterprise technologies, data governance, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

• Outstanding stakeholder engagement, strategic leadership and change management capabilities.

• The ability to thrive within a multicultural and internationally focused environment.

• A strong commitment to responsible artificial intelligence, ethical leadership, digital governance and institutional resilience. 

This is an outstanding opportunity to shape the future of one of the UAE's most ambitious universities and to lead the development of an institution-wide vision for artificial intelligence and digital transformation at a time of significant growth and global engagement.  

Ajman University is committed to diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity and welcomes applications from candidates from around the world.  

For informal inquiries please contact Callum Conway at Callum.Conway@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 28 August 2026 at 09:00 GST. 

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