Heriot-Watt University
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Grade: Grade 5
Department: RAS - Registry and Academic Support Directorate
Location: Dubai
The main purpose of student wellbeing is to provide advice, information and support to undergraduate and postgraduate students throughout the student lifecycle from enrolment to graduation.
The Student Success Advisor in Dubai will join an existing team, on a fixed term two year contract. The Student Success Advisors form part of a Global Student Success Advisor team and are a key part of the University’s strategy to improve student retention, focusing on student engagement, identity and belonging. The role spans pre-arrival, induction and transition activities as well as those related to student success, engagement and retention. Advice and support spans the whole student lifecycle, including supports for students at risk of leaving their University studies.
The successful candidate will work alongside the other members of the Wellbeing team to contribute to the development of a wellbeing programme of workshops and other proactive support initiatives. They will also work closely with other teams from across the Student Life Division, in particular the Student Engagement and Student Council teams.
The post-holder will report to the Student Life Manager at the Dubai Campus and have close links with the Student Experience Manager in Edinburgh. They will collaborate routinely with colleagues within Student Wellbeing, across the Student Life Division, with other student support services, and with relevant academic staff.
Supporting a wide range of pre-arrival, induction and transition activities;
Supporting a wide range of activities related to student success, engagement and retention e.g. workshops and information sessions, and peer support initiatives;
Early identification of, and initial contact with, students showing signs of being at risk of non-continuation, and providing advice and support to such students;
Monitoring, highlighting and acting on “at risk” and non-engagement indicators;
Liaising with key colleagues in Schools (e.g. Personal Tutors, Programme Directors) and Professional Services (Student Counsellors, Student Service Centre, Thinking of Leaving Service, Disability Service) to ensure a proactive, integrated and coherent approach to supporting students;
Providing advice and support which spans the whole student lifecycle, for example Temporary Suspension of Studies; Mitigating Circumstances; availability of financial and academic support.
Providing “drop in sessions” and appointments for all students;
Provide targeted support and interventions to designated characteristic student groups, particularly at pre-arrival and transition stages;
Supporting Schools/disciplines in the development and delivery of School/discipline specific retention and support initiatives;
Developing and delivering content for student communications, both targeted at specific student groups and for the general student population, for all stages from pre-entry to graduation. These are to be delivered across a range of media platforms including email, the myHWU Student Portal, social media and print media;
Manage and advance the WattBuds programme;
Analyze student data, eg enrolment data, survey results, and develop initiatives/programming based on findings
Progressing any other tasks associated with supporting student success and the work of the Student Wellbeing Services at the Dubai Campus and equivalent services in Scotland and Malaysia.
The job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as priorities and requirements evolve.
Essential
Educated to first degree level
Be a recent (normally within the last two years) graduate of Heriot-Watt University, having successfully completed an Honours degree with the University.
Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to present effectively to large groups (both students and HWU colleagues).
Excellent IT skills (particularly MS Office products) and ability to learn and use effectively institutional student systems.
A confident, friendly manner.
Ability to empathise with and understand the needs of students from a wide variety of backgrounds
Ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment
Ability to build relationships with a variety of stakeholder groups and audiences
At Heriot-Watt we understand that being diverse makes us better which is why we support a culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and creative environment.
Heriot-Watt University Values
With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and professionally relevant, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry.
We are a vibrant, forward-looking university, well known for the quality of our degrees with employers actively seeking out our graduates. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland’s international university with an unsurpassed international in-country presence. We deliver degree programmes to circa 30,000 students in 143 countries around the world, have a further overseas campus in Dubai and boast the largest international student cohort in Scotland.
At Heriot-Watt we’ve created an environment that nurtures innovation and leadership - where our researchers, staff and students can realise their potential and develop their ambitions.
We are proud of our collegiate atmosphere and integrated teaching and research approach which has helped to build a community of committed academics and highly motivated students. Our focus on careers delivers results and we’ve an excellent reputation for graduate employability.
In addition to the Edinburgh campus, we currently have campuses in the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia. For all of our campuses we aim to provide stimulating, supportive environments conducive to effective learning and research, where staff and students can excel. At Heriot-Watt, we have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.
Our values describe our deeply held beliefs and our community spirit. They characterise not only how we are as a higher education institution but also frame how we want to be.
Belong
Collaborate
Inspire
Celebrate
As learning, living and working institution, we use our values as the building blocks of how we go about doing our work and how we each conduct ourselves as members of Heriot-Watt University. They represent what binds us together as a University community and help us to become the best at what we do.
For full details on our University, please view our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/about.htm
We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application promptly
‘How to Apply’
Interested applicants must submit applications attaching an updated CV and a cover letter.
Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete an on-demand-video interview as the first stage of the selection process. Successful candidates will then proceed to in-person formal interviews at our Dubai campus.
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities, and the start date will need to be delayed if the employment visa is not in place.
Job Info
Job Identification
5149
Job Category
Administration
Posting Date
11/12/2026
Apply Before
11/26/2026
Degree Level
First Degree
Job Schedule
Full time
Locations
Heriot-Watt University, Dubai, AE
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