Curriculum Specialist (Academic Instructor), Academic Success Center (Maternity leave cover)

About Nazarbayev University (NU)

Nazarbayev University (NU) is a rapidly developing, research-intensive and Kazakhstan’s flagship university. Established as an autonomous, English-medium university, NU is growing in student enrollment, research activity, and global partnerships. Our programs are benchmarked against leading institutions globally with an increasing number holding prestigious international accreditations. Research infrastructure at the University is internationally competitive and research outputs are improving in quality at an unprecedented pace. For example, in 2026 so far, 81% of our outputs are published in journals ranked in the top quartile and 46% in outlets ranked in the top decile. While our position of 401-500 in the Times Higher rankings is creditable for a 15-year-old university, we are moving apace to secure a position within the top 300 institutions in the coming years. While pursuing excellence, we remain committed to national and regional relevance. Our new institutional strategy sets out our ambitions as a world class university that acts as the engine for national development.

Responsibilities (tasks, key areas of responsibility, and functions):

Curriculum Delivery and Instructional Support:Delivers instructional support within the Core Curriculum framework to enhance student academic skills and learning outcomes in alignment with institutional standards.

Functions:

1. Provides direct instruction in language, communication, and foundational study skills;
2. Designs and delivers tutoring sessions, workshops, and academic support activities;
3. Applies modern teaching methods to support diverse student learning needs;
4. Monitors student engagement and adjusts instructional approaches accordingly.

Pedagogical Development and Curriculum Enhancement:Supports development and continuous improvement of curriculum content within institutional academic frameworks to ensure relevance, rigor, and effectiveness.

Functions:

1. Embeds study, inquiry, and employability skills into Core Curriculum modules;
2. Contributes to development and refinement of curriculum materials and teaching approaches;
3. Applies learning theories and instructional design principles in curriculum enhancement;
4. Proposes improvements based on student performance and feedback.

Academic Quality Assurance:Ensures implementation of curriculum and teaching practices in accordance with institutional academic standards to maintain quality and consistency of delivery.

Functions:

1. Monitors delivery of Core Curriculum courses to ensure alignment with institutional standards;
2. Ensures teaching practices are research-informed, inclusive, and effective;
3. Identifies gaps in curriculum implementation and proposes corrective actions;
4. Supports continuous improvement of teaching quality.

 Faculty Collaboration and Academic Support:Collaborates with faculty within institutional academic frameworks to support effective curriculum delivery and integration of pedagogical approaches.

Functions:

1. Consults with faculty on curriculum design and instructional approaches;
2. Supports application of ECTS workload metrics and pedagogical models;
3. Facilitates integration of academic skills into course delivery;
4. Provides feedback and recommendations to improve teaching practices.

Implementation of High-Impact Educational Practices:Supports implementation of innovative teaching approaches within institutional frameworks to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

Functions:

1. Coordinates and facilitates high-impact pedagogical practices (e.g., project-based learning, research-based learning);
2. Supports organization of academic activities aimed at increasing student engagement;
3. Promotes active and experiential learning approaches;
4. Evaluates effectiveness of implemented practices.

Monitoring and Reporting of Academic Outcomes:Monitors academic outcomes and contributes to reporting within institutional processes to support evaluation and improvement of curriculum effectiveness.

Functions:

1. Collects and analyzes data on student performance and engagement;
2. Contributes to preparation of reports on curriculum effectiveness;
3. Provides recommendations based on observed outcomes;
4. Supports data-informed decision-making processes.

Education requirements (level, field, licenses, professional certifications, etc.):

        Master's degree in a relevant academic discipline

Work experience requirements:

       Minimum of 4 years of demonstrated professional experience in curriculum design, instructional delivery, or teaching within a higher education environment

Knowledge, skills, and competencies requirements:

1. Expert knowledge of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) metrics;
2. Advanced application of learning theories and strong instructional design capabilities;
3. Strong understanding of the education legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Language requirements:

-  Fluency in English

Recruitment and selection process
Recruitment and selection at Nazarbayev University include the following process: preliminary selection based on experience and qualifications, assessments (e.g. technical skills/capabilities, aptitude, personality, work samples, in-basket exercises, and informal interviews), and motivation.

Formal interviews form the final stage of the selection process.
They are typically based on organizational values and behaviors and conducted in English.
You are encouraged to share your views and values  to identify how they fit into  Nazarbayev University core values

Recruitment and selection process
Recruitment and selection at Nazarbayev University include the following process: preliminary selection based on experience and qualifications, assessments (e.g. technical skills/capabilities, aptitude, personality, work samples, in-basket exercises, and informal interviews), and motivation.

Formal interviews form the final stage of the selection process.
They are typically based on organizational values and behaviors and conducted in English.
You are encouraged to share your views and values  to identify how they fit into  Nazarbayev University core values