Kisii University, a public institution of higher learning in Kenya, in collaboration with the Harnessing Education Research for Impact in Africa (HERI-Africa) initiative, invites applications for a senior academic and research leadership position. This opportunity is part of a broader continental effort to strengthen education research, improve its relevance to policy and practice, and expand its contribution to improved learning outcomes across Africa.
This advertisement is suitable for publication on third-party job boards and is intended to provide comprehensive information to potential applicants regarding the role, scope of work, institutional context, and application process. The position outlined below is open to qualified candidates who meet the stated requirements and who are interested in contributing to high-impact research and capacity development in language education.
Introduction
Higher education institutions across Africa are increasingly expected to play a central role in generating research that informs policy, strengthens education systems, and improves learning outcomes. Kisii University recognizes this responsibility and continues to invest in strategic partnerships that enhance its research profile and regional impact. Through its collaboration with HERI-Africa, Kisii University seeks to position itself as a leading hub for education research, with a specific focus on language education as a foundation for effective teaching, learning, and lifelong opportunities.
The Harnessing Education Research for Impact in Africa (HERI-Africa) is a Pan-African initiative that brings together governments, universities, and civil society research organizations. The initiative aims to significantly increase the productivity and impact of education research on the continent, with an ambitious goal of raising the contribution of research-informed practice from approximately 3 percent to 30 percent by the year 2050. HERI-Africa focuses not only on generating research outputs but also on ensuring that research findings are translated into practical interventions that improve learning, student transitions, and long-term educational outcomes.
As part of this initiative, Kisii University is establishing a Research Chair in Language Education. The Research Chair will play a central role in advancing high-quality research, strengthening postgraduate training, mentoring early-career researchers, and fostering collaboration across institutions and countries. The position is designed for a senior academic with extensive experience in language education research and a demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-country research programs.
Position Overview
Position Title: Research Chair (Languages Education)
Department: Office of the Registrar (Administration)
Project: HERI-Africa Project
Institution: Kisii University, Kenya
Number of Vacancies: 1
Experience Level: Senior level, minimum of 10 years of relevant research experience
Open Date: January 6, 2026
Closing Date: January 19, 2026
The Research Chair in Language Education will be based at Kisii University and will work closely with the HERI-Africa network. The role requires occasional travel to engage with partner institutions, policymakers, and other stakeholders across Africa. The position combines academic leadership, research management, postgraduate supervision, and knowledge mobilization responsibilities, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that research contributes to tangible improvements in education systems.
Role Overview
The Research Chair in Language Education is a strategic leadership role within the HERI-Africa project at Kisii University. The individual appointed to this position will provide intellectual direction and scholarly leadership in the field of language education, with a focus on research that addresses critical challenges in teaching and learning languages in diverse African contexts.
The role is designed to strengthen Kisii University’s capacity to conduct high-impact research while also contributing to regional and continental research agendas. The Research Chair will be expected to lead multi-institutional research initiatives, mentor postgraduate students and early-career researchers, and work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that research findings inform policy and practice.
The position requires a strong balance between academic scholarship and applied research. The Research Chair will be expected to produce high-quality research outputs, attract external research funding, and support the development of sustainable research systems within the university and across partner institutions.
Key Result Areas
The Research Chair in Language Education will be responsible for delivering results across several interconnected areas. These result areas reflect the objectives of the HERI-Africa initiative and the strategic priorities of Kisii University.
Intellectual and Scholarly Leadership
The Research Chair is expected to provide leadership in shaping the intellectual direction of language education research within the institution and across the HERI-Africa network. This includes setting research priorities, guiding scholarly discourse, and ensuring that research activities align with both national and continental education goals.
Multi-Country and Multi-Institutional Research
The role involves leading and coordinating research programs that span multiple countries and institutions. These programs should address shared challenges in language education, draw on comparative perspectives, and contribute to a broader understanding of effective language teaching and learning in African contexts.
Research Capacity Strengthening
A core focus of the position is to strengthen research capacity through mentorship, postgraduate training, and institutional collaboration. The Research Chair will contribute to building a pipeline of skilled researchers who can sustain high-quality education research over the long term.
Stakeholder Engagement and Networking
The Research Chair will be responsible for building and maintaining strong networks with universities, government agencies, research organizations, and other stakeholders. These networks are essential for collaborative research, resource mobilization, and the translation of research into practice.
Policy and Practice Impact
Ensuring that research findings are used to inform policy and improve educational practice is a key expectation of the role. The Research Chair will work to translate research outputs into formats that are accessible and relevant to policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders.
Resource Mobilization
The position includes responsibility for participating in and leading resource mobilization efforts to support language education research. This involves identifying funding opportunities, developing grant proposals, and managing funded research projects.
Detailed Job Description
The duties and responsibilities of the Research Chair in Language Education are outlined below. These responsibilities are grouped into thematic areas to provide clarity and facilitate understanding of the scope of the role.
- Research Leadership and Strategy Development
The Research Chair will lead the development and implementation of a multi-year research agenda focused on language education. This agenda should address priority issues in language teaching and learning, with attention to equity, access, quality, and relevance in diverse educational contexts.
Responsibilities in this area include identifying key research questions, designing research programs that integrate qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approaches, and ensuring that research activities are aligned with the objectives of the HERI-Africa initiative. The Research Chair will establish systems and processes to ensure high standards of research quality, ethical compliance, and effective dissemination of findings.
The role also involves overseeing the coordination of research teams, managing timelines and deliverables, and ensuring that research outputs meet international academic standards. The Research Chair will be expected to contribute to scholarly publications, conference presentations, and other forms of academic dissemination.
- Graduate Training and Supervision
Strengthening postgraduate training is a central component of the Research Chair’s mandate. The individual in this role will contribute to the development and enhancement of postgraduate programs at Kisii University, with a particular focus on language education and related fields.
The Research Chair will supervise postgraduate students, including master’s and doctoral candidates, and provide mentorship to early-career researchers. This includes supporting students and researchers in developing research proposals, conducting data collection and analysis, and preparing publications.
In addition to formal supervision, the Research Chair will be expected to organize and facilitate training workshops, seminars, and short courses aimed at building research skills. These activities should contribute to the development of a strong research culture within the university and among partner institutions.
- Collaboration, Partnerships, and Knowledge Mobilization
The Research Chair will play a key role in strengthening partnerships with universities, government agencies, and research organizations across Africa. This involves initiating and sustaining collaborative research projects, participating in joint funding applications, and contributing to regional and continental research networks.
An important aspect of this role is knowledge mobilization. The Research Chair will work to ensure that research findings are translated into practical outputs such as policy briefs, teaching resources, and evidence-based guidance. These outputs should be designed to support decision-making by policymakers and to inform practice by educators and other stakeholders.
The role requires active engagement with stakeholders beyond academia, including education ministries, curriculum development agencies, teacher training institutions, and civil society organizations. Through these engagements, the Research Chair will contribute to bridging the gap between research and practice.
- Resource Mobilization and Grants Management
The Research Chair will lead and contribute to fundraising efforts to support language education research. This includes identifying potential funding sources, developing competitive grant proposals, and building relationships with funding agencies and donors.
Once funding is secured, the Research Chair will be responsible for overseeing the management of research grants. This includes ensuring compliance with donor requirements, managing budgets, coordinating project activities, and reporting on progress and outcomes.
Effective grants management is essential to sustaining research activities and ensuring accountability. The Research Chair will work closely with university administration and project partners to ensure that funded projects are implemented efficiently and transparently.
Required Qualifications and Experience
Applicants for the position of Research Chair in Language Education must meet the qualifications and experience outlined below. These requirements reflect the seniority and complexity of the role.
The position requires an individual who holds the rank of Professor or Associate Professor, or an equivalent senior academic rank, in language education or a related discipline. The successful candidate must have a strong publication record in language education, linguistics, or applied linguistics, demonstrating sustained scholarly contribution to the field.
Applicants must have demonstrated experience in attracting and managing research grants and funding, including experience with multi-institutional or collaborative research projects. A minimum of ten years of experience in language education research, language studies, or linguistics is required.
The role requires strong methodological expertise, which may include qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approaches. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with policymakers, practitioners, and other non-academic stakeholders.
In addition to technical expertise, the position requires demonstrated integrity, leadership, and a commitment to improving learning outcomes through research and evidence-based practice.
Terms and Institutional Context
The Research Chair will be based at Kisii University and will operate within the Office of the Registrar (Administration), working closely with academic departments, research units, and external partners. The position is aligned with the objectives of the HERI-Africa project and contributes to the university’s broader research and innovation agenda.
The role involves collaboration with partners across Africa and may require occasional travel to participate in meetings, workshops, and conferences. The Research Chair will be expected to represent Kisii University and the HERI-Africa initiative in professional and academic forums.
Application Procedure
Applications for this position should be submitted through the official Kisii University recruitment process. Interested candidates are required to complete the following steps:
- Visit the Kisii University website at www.kisiiuniversity.ac.ke, select the Careers section, and complete the application process as guided.
- Submit an application package that includes the following documents:
- An application letter.
- A detailed curriculum vitae signed on all pages. The curriculum vitae must include contact details of three referees.
- Copies of certified academic and professional certificates.
- A copy of the National Identification Card or Passport.
- A copy of the current pay slip, where applicable.
- Other relevant testimonials.
The complete application package in soft copy form must be submitted not later than midnight on Monday, January 19, 2026, via email to [email protected].
Applications should be addressed to:
The Vice-Chancellor
Kisii University
P.O. Box 408-40200
Kisii
Kenya
Additional Information
Only qualified and shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Successful candidates will be required to satisfy the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Persons living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Kisii University does not charge any fees at any stage of the job application process.
Kisii University is an equal opportunity employer.
