Job Title: Founding Director-Centre for Critical Thinking and Writing

Reports to: Dean – Academic Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs

Location: Ashoka Campus, Sonipat

Experience (in years) : Minimum 20 years

Nature of work: Full time

About Ashoka University: https://www.ashoka.edu.in/

About the Department

Ashoka University is establishing a new Centre of Critical Thinking and Writing which will oversee various programmes related to writing, communication and teaching of Foundation Course on Introduction to Critical Thinking.

At a later stage, department will be in charge of excellence in academic writing, English Language Teaching (ELT), critical thinking, and pedagogy across disciplines. It will support students and faculty through teaching, one-on-one tutorials, workshops, research, and outreach. The Center will also play a major role in faculty enrichment, pedagogical training, and research on higher education practices.

As the Head of the Center, the incumbent will be responsible for strategic planning, curriculum development, research initiatives, faculty/staff management, and fostering a multidisciplinary culture of writing and critical thinking across the university. This is a senior leadership role that combines high-level teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities.

Role and Responsibilities:

Leadership & Administration

· Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the newly established Center.

· Oversee structural reorganization and integration of existing writing, communication, and critical thinking units.

· Manage a team of 15-20 members

· Build and promote a collaborative, multidisciplinary team drawing from diverse backgrounds (anthropology, history, translation, journalism, science communication, law, arts, etc.)





· Develop and manage the departmental budget, resources, and infrastructure

· Establish partnerships with Centres for Teaching and Learning at institutions abroad (like University of Pennsylvania and North-western University)

Teaching & Academic Programs

· Design, develop, and teach credited courses in writing, rhetoric, critical thinking, and pedagogy.

· Oversee one-on-one writing support tutorials and English communication courses

· Lead the development and delivery of:

o Core Academic Workshops (listening, speaking, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills — open to all students)

o Course-specific / discipline-embedded writing workshops (Visual Arts, Physics, ICT, History, Anthropology, etc.)

o Research-Writing Schools (twice a year) for MA, MLS, fourth-year UG, and PhD students across humanities, social sciences, and sciences

· Run the university-wide Introduction to Critical Thinking (ICT) Foundation Course

Research, Publications & Outreach

· Lead cutting-edge research on writing pedagogy, higher education practices, and critical thinking

· Organize International Conferences and Workshops on writing and pedagogy

· Promote scholarly publications and research projects by faculty and students

· Develop high-quality learning materials and open educational resources

· Facilitate faculty enrichment programs focused on pedagogy,



teaching practices, and writing across the curriculum.

Staff & Faculty Development

· Recruit, mentor, train, and evaluate Senior Writing Fellows and Writing Tutors for the Department

· Promote professional development of the team and broader university faculty in writing pedagogy

· Foster an inclusive and innovative environment that values diverse academic and professional backgrounds.

Qualifications:

· PhD in Communication/ Writing Studies/ English (with specialization in Composition/Rhetoric), Applied Linguistics, Education/Pedagogy, or a closely related field

· Minimum 20 years of relevant experience in university-level teaching, writing program administration, or pedagogy development (with at least 7 years at Professor or equivalent senior level)

Skills Required:

· Strong publication record in writing pedagogy, critical thinking, or related areas

· Demonstrated experience in designing and leading writing centres, multidisciplinary writing programs, or faculty development initiatives

· Proven leadership and administrative experience in higher education

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work across disciplines

Desired Attributes

· Experience in administrative leadership positions

· Experience in English Language Teaching (ELT) and academic writing support in multidisciplinary or international contexts

· Track record of securing grants or collaborations with international teaching & learning centres

· Familiarity with current trends in writing studies, critical pedagogy, and digital learning tools

· Experience in organizing international conferences, research schools, and faculty training programs

📌 Founding Director-Centre for Critical Thinking and Writing (Sonipat)
🏢 Ashoka University
📍 Sonipat