37.1607, Jobs: General Linguistics: Director of the Center for Language Education, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Wed Apr 29 14:05:02 UTC 2026

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-1607. Wed Apr 29 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.1607, Jobs: General Linguistics: Director of the Center for Language Education, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

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Date: 29-Apr-2026
From: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology [hroffice at ust.hk]
Subject: General Linguistics: Director of the Center for Language Education, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Job Location: Hong Kong
Web Address: https://cle.hkust.edu.hk/
Job Title: Director of the Center for Language Education
Job Rank: Other

Specialty Areas: General Linguistics

Description:
Director of the Center for Language Education
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: Academic: School of
Humanities and Social Science
Description:
Founded in 1991, HKUST is a publicly funded international university
dedicated to undergraduate and postgraduate education and research in
science, engineering, business & management, and humanities & social
science. We seek to nurture students with entrepreneurial spirit,
innovative thinking, and global outlook and strive to work together to
make a strong societal impact.
The University is ranked as one of the most international universities
in Asia comprising four Schools and an Academy of Interdisciplinary
Studies and multiple research institutes/central research facilities;
and the Hong Kong government has recently endorsed our competitive bid
to develop a new Medical School. While actively growing, at present
there are around 970 faculty members, and an enrollment of about
11,000 undergraduate and 8,700 postgraduate students. English is the
language used in all teaching, research, and administration.
HKUST is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year with a strong
presence in global higher education. It has received many
international recognitions including citations and rankings; for
example, HKUST ranks 6th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, 3rd
in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024, and 19th
globally (1st in Hong Kong) in the Times Higher Education Impact
Rankings 2025. A total of 11 subjects offered by HKUST are ranked
among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by
Subject 2026. Moreover, it has consistently been ranked within the
world’s top 30 in the Global Employability University Ranking,
reflecting the strong competitiveness of its graduates.
At the heart of the University’s pursuit of excellence in teaching,
research, and societal impact lies uncompromising efforts to recruit
and retain the best talents globally and locally. We seek to diversify
HKUST’s critical mass of world-class academics, researchers, staff and
students in order to drive cutting-edge education and research
initiatives and deliver academic and administrative excellence. The
University promotes a diverse learning environment that enhances
student development of their creativity, innovative thinking and
global outlook, especially in today’s rapidly changing society, and
technological and AI development. Proactive faculty recruitment is
undertaken from around the world in all disciplines of the University.
HKUST upholds the values of diversity and an inclusive and
collaborative community.
Center for Language Education:
The Center for Language Education (CLE) is an academic teaching unit
within the School of Humanities and Social Science (SHSS). The primary
mission of the CLE is to deliver the University’s UGC-funded language
enhancement programs for English and Chinese to UG and PG students
from all Schools in the University.  The CLE has 72 full-time teaching
staff (16 Senior Lecturers, 50 Lecturer I, and 6 Lecturer II), 8
teaching/project support staff and 17 non-academic support staff
including its own full-time Instructional Designer.
The CLE has a dynamic and progressive outlook with a mindset of
continuous adaptation in response to changing needs. In 2024-25, the
CLE delivered a completely revamped Chinese curriculum with two
streams: i) Chinese as a foreign language for non-Chinese background
students and ii) Chinese for specific purposes for students with
Chinese proficiency from HKDSE Level 3 through to native Mandarin
speakers. A new English curriculum with two pathways has also been
introduced for the first time this year.
The CLE’s newly introduced curriculum has been designed to provide a
rich set of elective choices including Communication courses as well
as elective Broadening courses within the University’s Common Core.
Additionally, the Center makes a strong contribution to a Master of
Arts degree in International Language Education with separate
concentrations in English and Chinese teaching. It also has a small
but growing third languages program, including Japanese, Spanish, and
French, and an active program of extra-curricular activities to
promote language and culture. The Center also has an active scholarly
orientation. Together with the Department of Computer Science and
Engineering, it recently secured HKD 30 million for a bid from the QEF
to develop an AI-assisted VR English speaking programme in secondary
schools.
The Center has a robust, well-functioning internal management
structure and enjoys solid support from the University senior
management. This has allowed it to become a leader among language
centers especially in terms of pedagogical innovation with use of
technology for language learning, using approaches based on the latest
scholarship in language education. Its proactive approach to Human-AI
orchestration is a particular strength.
Job Functions:
The Director provides leadership and vision to achieve excellence in
language education at HKUST. With responsibility for a Center at the
cutting edge, there is great opportunity to shape language education
especially in terms of human-AI interaction for language learning at
scale. Reporting to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social
Science, a strong applicant will
 - provide strategic leadership and vision for CLE, and the center’s
goals and initiatives for language teaching, learning and assessment;
 - be a leader in language education with an international profile,
providing a visible external face which brings recognition to current
innovation in language education, while also building on strengths of
the Center for positive impact in the language education sector;
 - ensure teaching of the highest standard of quality assurance which
challenges all students to work to their potential;
 - maximise technological innovation for teaching in a way that
strictly adheres to pedagogic principles and ethical use;
 - work collaboratively with departments and units in the University
to ensure an approach to language education that aligns with
university practices and priorities;
 - be transparent in decision-making, with effective communication
within and beyond the CLE;
 - effectively deploy human, financial, and other resources.
Additionally, the CLE Director also holds the title of Associate Dean,
working closely with the Associate Provost Teaching & Learning to
ensure delivery of the mission of the University with regard to
language education. The CLE Director may also hold a concurrent
appointment as Associate Professor/Professor in the Division of
Humanities as appropriate depending on qualifications of the
candidate.
Terms & Applications/Nominations:
Terms of appointment and remuneration are highly competitive. Starting
salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Fringe
benefits including housing, annual leave, medical and dental benefits
will be provided as applicable to contract type. Fixed term contract
holders will receive gratuity payable upon completion of contract.
Appointment to the position will be offered a three-year fixed-term
contract, renewable subject to mutual agreement. If appropriate,
research active applicants with a substantial publication record may
be considered for a substantiation track appointment.
Additional information about the University and the Center for
Language Education is available on the websites https://hkust.edu.hk/
and https://cle.hkust.edu.hk/ respectively.
Qualifications:
Applicants should have
 - a doctoral degree in an area directly relevant to language
education;
 - a distinguished record of academic achievement with evidence of
scholarly expertise in language studies, applied linguistics or
language learning;
 - demonstrated commitment to excellence and leadership in curriculum
development and pedagogy;
 - a track record of driving innovation in education with an
understanding of the place of language education in a prestigious EMI
university in Hong Kong;
 - experience leveraging digital technologies for language teaching
and learning, with a depth of understanding of the potential for AI in
communication that is both effective and ethical;
 - administrative capability to lead a large academic teaching unit,
including resource management and team-building abilities;
 - excellent communication skills for use in a multilingual and
multicultural academic environment, and with stakeholders external to
the CLE, both within the university and beyond.
Application Instructions:
Applications should be submitted to the School of Humanities and
Social Science via Interfolio https://apply.interfolio.com/184790 with
(i) a cover letter and (ii) a full CV.
Review of applications will start from 1 May 2026 and will continue
until the position is filled.

Application Deadline: (Open until filled)
Web Address for Applications: https://apply.interfolio.com/184790
Contact Information:
        Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
        Email: hroffice at ust.hk

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