Office of Faculty Excellence and Advancement

OFEA leads faculty orientation programs for new joiners across major intake periods. These orientations provide an overview of academic operations, research and teaching support, faculty services, and institutional priorities. They also create opportunities for faculty to engage directly with University leadership and colleagues across key units, supporting a smooth transition into the MBZUAI academic community.

Midterm review

OFEA supports tenure-track faculty through the midterm review process, which serves as a formal assessment of progress, trajectory, and readiness for advancement. The Office provides guidance on review timelines, required materials, evaluation criteria, and committee processes. OFEA works with faculty and academic leadership to ensure that expectations are clearly communicated and that reviews are conducted consistently and in alignment with institutional standards.

Promotion review

OFEA supports faculty undergoing promotion review by providing clarity on promotion criteria, documentation requirements, and review procedures. This includes guidance for promotion to Associate Professor and promotion to Full Professor, as applicable across faculty tracks. The Office coordinates information sessions and works closely with academic leadership to support transparent, rigorous, and fair promotion evaluations aligned with international academic norms.

Tenure review and tenure clock

OFEA supports faculty throughout the tenure review process, including guidance on tenure criteria, external evaluation requirements, review timelines, and decision pathways.

The tenure process follows a defined tenure clock, with formal review milestones at key stages of the probationary period. OFEA provides clear information on the structure of the tenure clock, including midterm review, promotion review, and final tenure review, as well as policies related to tenure-clock stoppage under approved circumstances (such as parental leave or serious personal circumstances).

Faculty Review and Promotion Policy (PDF)