Professor in Inclusive Education at Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education

Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education (NUGSE) seeks a Full Professor in Inclusive Education to join its international faculty. The role involves contributing to NUGSE's vision as a world-class center for teaching and research, driving education reform in Kazakhstan. The successful candidate will hold a doctoral degree, demonstrate a robust research trajectory in inclusive education, and possess a distinguished track record in pedagogical innovation, including designing and delivering inclusive instruction in diverse settings. Responsibilities include academic leadership, research, teaching, and supervision at master’s and doctoral levels, with a focus on social justice and equity.

Must Have

• PhD in Inclusive Education (or relevant discipline) from a top-ranked English-medium university
• Excellent record of scholarly learning and teaching in undergraduate and/or postgraduate programmes
• Internationally established research reputation with publications in top-ranked peer-reviewed journals
• Success in obtaining globally competitive external research grants
• Demonstrated academic leadership that shapes global debates in inclusive education
• Evidence of at least 15 research publications (10 in Scopus Q1/Q2, 5 in last 3 years)
• Proven record of securing substantial competitive funding and leading large-scale research programmes
• Previous experience in the supervision, management and timely completion of doctoral students
• Proven high-level face-to-face and online teaching skills and course design
• Expertise in inclusive pedagogical frameworks (UDL, culturally responsive pedagogy)
• Capacity to assume a senior leadership role in teaching, research and service
• Thorough understanding of policies and conventions relevant to equity in education (SDG 4, UNCRPD)

Good to Have

• Leadership of relevant professional associations
• Knowledge of Kazakhstan and/ or Central Asia / post-Soviet contexts
• Representation on strategic bodies/committees at the university level
• Experience as an editor, associate editor or member of the editorial board of internationally recognised journals
• Experience conducting research or collaboration in multilingual and multicultural contexts

Perks & Benefits

• Internationally competitive salary
• Holiday leave of 56 days per annum
• Two flights for the appointee and dependents’ home per annum
• International health insurance
• Rent-free housing for the appointee and dependents
• Assistance for relocation expenses, including air fares for the appointee and dependents

Company Description

Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education (NUGSE) invites applications from an exceptional scholar to join our international faculty and contribute to our vision of becoming a world-class center for teaching and research in education, specifically inclusive education. In response to ongoing growth, NUGSE seeks to hire a Full Professor in Inclusive Education.

Nazarbayev University (NU), located in Astana, Kazakhstan, is a new Western-style, English-medium institution founded with the support of leading partner universities from around the world. It ranks #1 in Central Asia and the Caucasus region, #4 in CIS countries, and 401-500 in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026. The Graduate School of Education ranks among the top 176-200 universities in the world in the field of education. The university is only 15 years old. For more information, please visit our official website: nu.edu.kz.

NUGSE plays a pivotal role in driving education reform in Kazakhstan. We welcome faculty members who are passionate about making a difference through collaboration with schools, other universities, and the Ministry of Education and Science. GSE also houses a Research Institute, A Central Asian Research Centre for Educational Innovation and Transformation (CARCEIT), and a Professional Development Centre, playing a major role in educational research, policy advisory, and leadership capacity-building.

NUGSE launched its first Master’s and PhD programmes in September 2013, supported by strategic partners, the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education (UK) and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (USA). NUGSE offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, a Master of Arts in Multilingual Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education. The M.Sc. in Educational Leadership includes specialisations in School Education, Inclusive Education, and Higher Education.

NUGSE adopts an intersectional, social justice-based understanding of inclusive education that encompasses disability, ethnicity, gender, linguistic diversity, migration, poverty, rurality, and other forms of marginalisation reflected in contemporary international scholarship, e.g. epistemic justice.

Job Description

The successful applicant will hold a doctoral degree in education, preferably in inclusive education with a demonstrated research trajectory in one or more of the following areas of inclusive education: inclusive schooling, curriculum, assessment, psychology and counseling, assistive technology, rural and marginalized populations, leadership, policy and governance, intersecting areas such as culture and disability, and specialised educational needs. The candidate should present a robust scholarly portfolio that includes peer-reviewed publications, grant-funded projects, and evidence of sustained scholarly impact. A distinguished track record in pedagogical innovation is essential, including experience designing and delivering inclusive, evidence-based instruction in diverse educational settings.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL

1. PhD in a relevant discipline (preferably in inclusive education) from a top-ranked English-medium university.

2. Excellent record of scholarly learning and teaching in undergraduate and/or postgraduate programmes, including innovative curriculum design, academic programme development and leadership, and research supervision at master’s and doctoral levels. At least eight years of post-terminal degree teaching experience, with at least three years of teaching at the graduate level at respectable institutions of higher education.

3. Internationally established research reputation at the Professorial level underpinned by publications in top-ranked peer-reviewed journals, knowledge translation expertise, and success in obtaining globally competitive external research grants.

4. Demonstrate academic leadership that shapes global debates in inclusive education, including contributions to international research networks, editorial leadership, and advancement of theoretical and policy developments within the field.

5. Evidence of at least 15 research publications (at least 10 of them should be in Scopus-indexed Q1/Q2 journals, and at least five of them should be in the last three years).

6. Evidence of successful contribution to developing a direction of research, leading research projects as a primary investigator, including grants of national and international importance. The appointee should have a proven record of securing substantial competitive funding and leading large-scale, multi-institutional or multi-country research programmes that generate measurable impact on policy and practice.

7. Previous experience in the supervision, management and timely completion of doctoral students, including advising and improving on research excellence, career development and candidature management.

8. Evidence of positive engagement with research, community, industry and government to enhance the national standing of the discipline within the inclusive education sector.

9. Successful record of achieving milestones of strategic importance in leadership of teaching, research, and/ or project management. For example, leading large-scale, interdisciplinary, and/or community-based intervention research projects funded by national or international agencies (e.g., UNESCO, UNICEF, EU, Erasmus+, British Council.

10. Proven high-level face-to-face and online teaching skills, and course design employing varying modes and delivery designs for an inclusive education curriculum. Expertise in inclusive pedagogical frameworks such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy, and disability-inclusive curriculum and assessment design.

11. Capacity to assume a senior leadership role in teaching, research and service in the School and University. This includes leading major research clusters, contributing to academic programme innovation, supporting internationalisation efforts, and strengthening the School’s global visibility through strategic collaborations.

12. Thorough understanding of policies and conventions relevant to equity in education, such as ethnic and socio-cultural minorities, and economically disadvantaged groups, for example, Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 4, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, and the current global Beyond 2030 debates. The School particularly welcomes candidates whose work advances decolonial, culturally grounded, and Global South perspectives on inclusive education, enriching the epistemic diversity of research and teaching.

Additional Information

DESIRABLE

1. Leadership of relevant professional associations.

2. Knowledge of Kazakhstan and/ or Central Asia / post-Soviet contexts.

3. Representation on strategic bodies/committees at the university level and experience as an editor, associate editor or member of the editorial board of internationally recognised journals.

4. Experience conducting research or collaboration in multilingual and multicultural contexts; knowledge of regional languages is an asset but not required.

Conditions of Employment:

Initial appointment is on 3-year renewable contracts and will be subject to annual performance reviews. An attractive remuneration package will include:

• Internationally competitive salary;
• Holiday leave of 56 days per annum;
• Two flights for the appointee and dependents’ home per annum;
• International health insurance;
• Rent-free housing for the appointee and dependents;
• Assistance for relocation expenses, including air fares for the appointee and dependents.

Application Procedure

To apply, please submit the following documents, together with the names and contact details of two referees, online through the link no later than February 9, 2026.

1. Cover letter

• Specify the rank you are applying for: Full Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor.
• Explain your interest in working at NUGSE
• Align your qualifications with the criteria listed in the job posting: highlight relevant teaching, supervision, leadership, research impact, grants, publications, and service.
• Keep it concise (2-3 pages only).

2. Updated CV

• Structure: contact information, education, professional appointments (with dates), teaching and supervision experience, administrative/leadership roles, research projects and grants, publications (peer-reviewed, books, chapters), awards, service, and references.

3. Teaching Dossier

• Teaching philosophy statement: 1–2 pages describing your approach to teaching and learning, assessment methods, inclusivity and equity, use of technology, and evidence-based improvements.
• Sample course outlines: 1-2 courses (include course codes, titles, brief description, learning outcomes, assessment methods, and sample reading lists).
• Sample student evaluations: include anonymised representative feedback and, if available, summary metrics illustrating teaching effectiveness.

4. Research Statement

• Summarise your research agenda, goals for the next 3–5 years, and how your work contributes to the field.
• Highlight recent publications with DOIs or links.
• Mention ongoing projects, collaborations, and potential for future grants or partnerships.
• Include a short paragraph on how your research aligns with NUGSE’s priorities, if possible

5. Reference Letters (2–3)

• Choose referees who know your work well and can comment on your qualifications relative to the position you’re applying for.
• The referees should have active jobs at reputable universities and should be at or above the rank for which you are applying.
• Notify referees early and provide at least 2-3 weeks before the deadline to ensure timely submission.

Review of applications begins on February 10, 2026, and continues until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Interested candidates are encouraged to find out more about NUGSE at gse.nu.edu.kz and our Facebook page @nugse2014. Online interviews for shortlisted applicants will be scheduled during February-March 2026.

Informal enquiries about specific posts can be addressed to Mir Afzal Tajik (Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs) at afzal.mir@nu.edu.kz