Position: Dean, School of Medicine

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Institution: Africa Health Sciences University (AHSU)
Reports to: Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Research
Application Deadline: November 15, 2026

About Africa Health Sciences University

Africa Health Sciences University (AHSU) is an emerging health sciences university dedicated to advancing excellence in medical education, research, innovation, and healthcare delivery.

In collaboration with King Faisal Hospital Rwanda and affiliated teaching hospitals, AHSU delivers postgraduate medical education programs and is working toward establishing an undergraduate medical education program.

As part of its institutional growth and commitment to developing a highly skilled healthcare workforce, AHSU seeks to recruit a dynamic, visionary, and experienced academic leader to serve as Dean of the School of Medicine.

Position Overview

The Dean will provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for the School of Medicine, overseeing existing postgraduate medical education programs while leading the development and establishment of a new undergraduate medical program.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in strengthening academic governance, curriculum development, accreditation, faculty capacity, clinical education, research, and institutional partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership and Institutional Development

• Provide strategic direction for the School of Medicine in alignment with AHSU's institutional vision and national health workforce priorities.
• Lead the development and implementation of the School's strategic and operational plans.
• Establish and strengthen academic governance structures, policies, and quality assurance systems.
• Promote institutional growth, academic excellence, innovation, and sustainability.

2. Postgraduate Medical Education

• Provide academic oversight of existing residency programs and support their continued development and expansion.
• Strengthen curriculum delivery, clinical supervision, competency-based assessment, and academic quality assurance.
• Support program directors in maintaining high standards of postgraduate medical training.
• Promote integration and collaboration between undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

3. Faculty Leadership and Development

• Lead faculty recruitment, development, mentorship, performance evaluation, and academic progression.
• Promote excellence in clinical teaching, assessment, educational leadership, and scholarship.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive academic environment.

4. Research, Innovation, and Academic Partnerships

• Strengthen research productivity, scholarly publications, and academic mentorship.
• Promote research collaborations and interdisciplinary innovation.
• Develop strategic partnerships with national and international universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutions.
• Support resource mobilization and institutional capacity-building initiatives.

5. Academic Quality Assurance and Accreditation

• Ensure compliance with national higher education regulations and professional accreditation requirements.
• Establish mechanisms for continuous program monitoring, evaluation, and improvement.
• Promote international best practices in medical education and institutional quality assurance.

6. Establishment of the Undergraduate Medical Program

• Lead the planning, design, and establishment of the undergraduate medical education program (MBBS/MD).
• Oversee curriculum development, including competency-based education, integration of basic and clinical sciences, and community-based learning.
• Coordinate program accreditation and regulatory approval processes with relevant national authorities.
• Lead academic workforce planning, faculty recruitment, and infrastructure readiness for the new program.
• Establish appropriate teaching, assessment, student progression, and program evaluation frameworks.
• Coordinate the development of clinical training arrangements with affiliated teaching hospitals and community-based training sites.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Medical degree (MD, MBBS, or equivalent) from a recognized institution.
• Postgraduate medical specialist qualification or equivalent advanced clinical training.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in clinical practice, medical education, or academic leadership, including significant leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development, academic program management, and quality assurance.
• Experience in undergraduate and/or postgraduate medical education.
• Demonstrated research engagement and scholarly contributions.
• Strong understanding of medical education accreditation and regulatory frameworks.
• PhD or equivalent degree in medicine (eg., Fellowship in Medicine), health sciences, health professions education, or a closely aligned field is strongly preferred.

Desirable

• Previous leadership experience as Dean, Associate Dean, Head of Department, Program Director, or equivalent.
• Experience in competency-based medical education, curriculum integration, and innovative teaching and assessment.
• Formal training in medical education, higher education leadership, or health management 
• Experience developing partnerships with teaching hospitals and international academic institutions.
• Experience establishing a new medical school or undergraduate medical program.

Key Competencies

• Visionary and strategic academic leadership.
• Strong institutional development and change management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Commitment to educational excellence, ethical leadership, and accountability.
• Ability to build and mentor high-performing academic teams.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.

Application Requirements

Interested candidates should submit:

1. A cover letter outlining their motivation and suitability for the position.
2. An updated curriculum vitae.
3. Copies of academic and professional qualifications.
4. A list of relevant research publications and scholarly contributions.
5. A brief statement (maximum two pages) outlining their vision for developing the AHSU School of Medicine, including the establishment of undergraduate medical education.
6. Institutional Support Letter
7. Contact details of three professional referees.

Applications should be submitted to: This link

Application Deadline: November 15, 2026

AHSU is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and academically enriching environment that promotes excellence in medical education, research, and innovation. We encourage applications from qualified candidates who are passionate about academic leadership, institutional development, and advancing the training of future healthcare professionals.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.