Student Advising Specialist

Job Purpose:

The Student Advising Specialist supports student success by providing individualized, student-centered guidance throughout the academic journey. This role helps students understand academic requirements, develop appropriate academic plans, navigate University policies and procedures, and access relevant academic and institutional support services. Working closely with the Associate Head of Student Advising, Academic Excellence, faculty, academic departments, the Registrar’s Office, Student Life, Career Services, Wellbeing, and other stakeholders, the Specialist monitors student progress, supports early intervention, maintains accurate advising records, and contributes to orientation, workshops, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Student Advising and Academic Planning

• Serve as an advisor for an assigned student caseload and provide individualized guidance on academic requirements, course planning, academic progression, research milestones, and degree completion.
• Assist students in developing academic and professional plans aligned with their strengths, interests, and goals.
• Explain relevant University policies, procedures, requirements, timelines, and available support services.
• Support students in navigating matters such as academic standing, probation, withdrawals, leaves of absence, appeals, and other academic processes.
• Refer students to the Registrar’s Office, academic departments, or relevant internal stakeholders where formal decisions or specialist guidance are required.

Student Progress and Early Intervention

• Monitor student progress and identify students who may be experiencing academic or personal challenges.
• Conduct timely outreach and follow-up with students identified through early-alert processes or stakeholder referrals.
• Provide appropriate guidance and coordinate referrals to academic, wellbeing, financial, career, accessibility, or other support services.
• Participate in case-review meetings and contribute to coordinated support plans.
• Escalate complex, sensitive, or high-risk cases to the Associate Head of Student Advising.

Student Support and Engagement

• Build professional advisor-student relationships that promote persistence, accountability, engagement, and academic achievement.
• Support student orientation, onboarding, transition, and academic-readiness activities.
• Deliver or support workshops and information sessions on academic planning, University policies, research readiness, professional development, and student success.
• Contribute to mentoring, peer-support, and student-engagement initiatives.
• Support students from diverse cultural, academic, and personal backgrounds through inclusive advising practices.

Collaboration and Referrals

• Collaborate with faculty advisors, program directors, research supervisors, academic departments, and administrative teams to coordinate student support.
• Work with the Registrar’s Office, Academic Excellence, Student Life, Career Services, Wellbeing, Financial Aid, and other services to support student needs.
• Participate in advising meetings, case reviews, and cross-functional working groups.
• Maintain clear communication with relevant stakeholders while protecting student confidentiality.
• Follow up on referrals and agreed actions to support timely resolution of student matters.

Advising Records, Systems and Reporting

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records of advising meetings, referrals, actions, and outcomes.
• Use the Student Information System, advising platforms, Customer Relationship Management systems, and reporting tools to manage student information and caseloads.
• Track advising activity, student progress, early interventions, and service outcomes.
• Prepare reports, summaries, dashboards, and updates for the Associate Head of Student Advising.
• Ensure student information is handled in accordance with institutional policies and confidentiality requirements.

Resources, Programs and Continuous Improvement

• Assist in developing advising guides, frequently asked questions, workshop materials, online resources, and student communications.
• Collect and analyze student feedback to identify service gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Contribute to the review and refinement of advising workflows, tools, templates, and resources.
• Remain current with good practices in academic advising, student development, student success, and higher education administration.
• Participate in professional development and training activities.

Other Duties

• Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.

Qualifications and Criteria:

Essential :

• Bachelor’s degree in related STEM discipline referred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in student advising, student affairs, academic support, student success, counselling support, or higher education administration.
• Experience providing individualized guidance and support to students in a higher education environment.
• Knowledge of academic policies, degree progression, advising practices, and student-support services.
• Experience monitoring student progress, supporting early intervention, and coordinating referrals.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience maintaining confidential student records and preparing advising reports.
• Proficiency with student information systems, advising platforms, Customer Relationship Management systems, and reporting tools.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse and international student populations.

Preferred :

• Experience in a research-intensive, international, or technology-focused university supporting culturally diverse and international student populations.
• Familiarity with UAE higher education, accreditation, and regulatory expectations.
• Professional certification or training in academic advising, coaching, counselling, student development, or case management.