National Specialist - Programme Design and Development Policy

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) established to lead international efforts to combat hunger. With a mission to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all, FAO ensures that people have regular access to sufficient high-quality food to lead active and healthy lives. The organization has 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union, and operates in over 130 countries worldwide. The FAO-Country Office for Lesotho is specifically tasked with developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing strategies and projects aimed at transforming food, agriculture, and rural development in the country. One of the key projects currently supported by FAO is the initiative to transform the Lesotho Agricultural College (LAC) into a Centre of Excellence for Skills on Education, Innovation, Extension, and Agribusiness Development, which includes the development of a comprehensive Programme Design and Development Policy.

Job Overview:
The position of National Specialist focuses on assisting the Lesotho Agricultural College (LAC) in creating a robust Programme Design and Development Policy. This policy is essential for ensuring that LAC can effectively design, validate, review, and discontinue academic programs in compliance with national and international quality assurance standards. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including LAC leadership, academic staff, and external partners, to gather insights and draft a policy that addresses existing gaps in the current curriculum approval processes. The overall goal is to enhance the quality of education at LAC and position it favorably for full accreditation, thereby improving its capacity to deliver high-quality agricultural education and training.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Specialist include conducting a comprehensive review of LAC's current curriculum approval and program development processes, identifying any bottlenecks or gaps in compliance with the Council on Higher Education (CHE) Criterion 2.1.7(a) and the Lesotho Qualifications Framework (LQF). The specialist will benchmark LAC's practices against similar institutions, facilitate workshops with stakeholders to define core program design principles, and establish clear procedures for the program life cycle. Additionally, the specialist will support the development of an internal and external program audit schedule, draft the complete Programme Design and Development Policy document, and create an accompanying Implementation Plan. The role also involves presenting the draft policy to the LAC Project Steering Committee for review, incorporating feedback, and finalizing the policy document for institutional approval. Finally, the specialist will prepare a handover report summarizing the process and key recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree (Master's or higher) in Education, Higher Education Pedagogy, Curriculum Studies, or a closely related field. They should have a minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience in curriculum and program development, quality assurance, or higher education policy. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in English and Sesotho, as well as being a national of Lesotho or a resident with a valid work permit.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced degree, specifically a Master's degree or higher, in fields related to education, such as Higher Education Pedagogy or Curriculum Studies. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of curriculum development and quality assurance in higher education.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least seven years of relevant professional experience. This experience should be in areas such as curriculum and program development, quality assurance, or higher education policy. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in educational settings, particularly in roles that involve policy development or institutional frameworks.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and Sesotho is mandatory for this position. Candidates must demonstrate a working knowledge of both languages at a proficiency level of C. This bilingual requirement is essential for effective communication with various stakeholders involved in the program design and development process.

Additional Notes:
The position is a consultancy role that may involve a contract duration that is not specified in the job description. It is important to note that the role is focused on national candidates, specifically those who are citizens of Lesotho or residents with valid work permits. The position is expected to be full-time, and candidates will be assessed based on their qualifications, experience, and competencies as outlined in the job description.