Background information about the job or company

The University of Embu (UoEm) was established as a Constituent College of the University of Nairobi via a Legal Notice No. 65 of 17th June, 2011 by His Excellency the President. EUC is the successor of the former Embu Agricultural Staff Training (EAST) College which started in 1947 as an agricultural training school and was later renamed Embu Institute of Agriculture in 1968. In 1990, it was upgraded to be Embu Agricultural Staff Training (EAST) College whose mandate was to develop and implement short management and technical courses, and offer research and consultancy services to enhance performance in the agricultural sector.

The University of Embu (UoEm), in partnership with HERI-Africa, is establishing a Research Chair in Mathematics Education to lead high-impact research, capacity development, and innovation in foundational numeracy in Kenya and across Africa. The Chair will be based at the University of Embu (UoEm), with collaboration across the HERI-Africa network which will require occasional travel.

Responsibilities or duties

Key Result Areas

The Research Chair will:

• Provide intellectual and scholarly leadership in foundational numeracy research.
• Lead multi-country and multi-institutional research programs aligned with HERIAfrica’s mission.
• Strengthen research capacity through mentorship, postgraduate training, and institutional collaboration.
• Build strong networks across universities and other stakeholders.
• Ensure research findings are translated into policy and practice to enhance learning outcomes.
• Participate in resource mobilization efforts to support research in mathematics education

Key Responsibilities

Research Leadership and Strategy Development

• Develop and lead a multi-year research agenda focused on foundational numeracy.
• Establish systems to ensure research quality, ethical compliance, and effective dissemination of research findings.

Graduate Training and Supervision

• Strengthen postgraduate training programs at UoEm.
• Develop a pipeline of early-career scholars through training, workshops, and mentorship.

Collaboration, Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization

• Strengthen partnerships with universities, government agencies, and research organizations across Africa.
• Translate research findings into policy briefs, teaching tools, and evidence-based guidance.

Resource Mobilization & Grants Management

• Lead and contribute to fundraising efforts for mathematics education research.

Qualifications or requirements

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Professor or Associate Professor, or equivalent senior academic rank, in Mathematics Education or a related discipline.
• Strong publication record in mathematics education, foundational numeracy, or early-grade learning.
• Demonstrated ability to attract and manage research grants and funding, including multi-institutional or collaborative projects.
• Strong methodological expertise (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage policymakers and practitioners.
• Demonstrated integrity, leadership, and commitment to improving learning outcomes.

Experience needed

• At least 7 years of experience in education research, teacher education, or pedagogical innovation.

• Provide intellectual and scholarly leadership in foundational numeracy research.
• Lead multi-country and multi-institutional research programs aligned with HERIAfrica’s mission.
• Strengthen research capacity through mentorship, postgraduate training, and institutional collaboration.
• Build strong networks across universities and other stakeholders.
• Ensure research findings are translated into policy and practice to enhance learning outcomes.
• Participate in resource mobilization efforts to support research in mathematics education
• Develop and lead a multi-year research agenda focused on foundational numeracy.
• Establish systems to ensure research quality, ethical compliance, and effective dissemination of research findings.
• Strengthen postgraduate training programs at UoEm.
• Develop a pipeline of early-career scholars through training, workshops, and mentorship.
• Strengthen partnerships with universities, government agencies, and research organizations across Africa.
• Translate research findings into policy briefs, teaching tools, and evidence-based guidance.
• Lead and contribute to fundraising efforts for mathematics education research.

• Strong publication record in mathematics education, foundational numeracy, or early-grade learning.
• Demonstrated ability to attract and manage research grants and funding, including multi-institutional or collaborative projects.
• Strong methodological expertise (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage policymakers and practitioners.
• Demonstrated integrity, leadership, and commitment to improving learning outcomes.

• Professor or Associate Professor, or equivalent senior academic rank, in Mathematics Education or a related discipline.