Student Success Advisor

Job Description 

The Student Success Advisor posts in all HWU campuses, including the post in Malaysia campus (full-time, fixed term basis, for 2 years) will form part of a Global Student Success Hub based at the Scottish Campuses; and will be a key part of HWU’s strategy to improve student retention across all locations, focusing on student engagement, identify and belonging (as per the University Retention Strategy).  The role spans pre-arrival, induction and transition activities as well as those related to student success, engagement and retention. Advice and support would span the whole student lifecycle: thus the role of the postholders is not simply to support students at risk of leaving. 

The post-holders will report to the Manager – Wellbeing Services, Student Life, and will collaborate routinely with colleagues in the wider Student Wellbeing Services and equivalent services at all HWU campus locations. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

With specific reference to supporting student success, the key duties and responsibilities for Student Success will be common across the Scottish, Dubai and Malaysia Campuses and are envisaged as being as follows: 

1. Supporting a wide range of pre-arrival, induction and transition activities; 

2. Supporting a wide range of activities related to student success, engagement and retention; 

3. Early identification of, and initial contact with, students showing signs of being at risk of non-continuation, and providing advice and support to such students; 

4. Monitoring, highlighting and acting on “at risk” and nonengagement indicators; 

5. Liaising with key colleagues in Schools (eg Personal Tutors, the Year Co-ordinator, the School Officers and the School Student Office) and Professional Services (Student Counsellors, Advice and Support Hub, Student Union, Student Service Centre, Thinking of Leaving Service, Disability Service) to ensure a proactive, integrated and coherent approach to supporting students; 

6. Providing advice and support which spans the whole student lifecycle, e.g. Temporary Suspension of Studies; 

7. Mitigating Circumstances; 

8. Providing “drop-in sessions” in Schools and centrally located student services for all students; 

9. Provide targeted support and interventions to designated characteristic student groups, particularly at pre-arrival and transition stages; 

10. Supporting Schools/disciplines in the development and delivery of School/discipline specific retention and support initiatives; 

11. Promote the use of the Student Information Desk (SID) system as a means of managing engagement with students; 

12. Progressing any other tasks associated with supporting student success and the work of the Student Wellbeing Services at the Scottish Campuses and equivalent services in Dubai and Malaysia. 

All HWUM staff endeavours will embody our shared values of: Inspire, Collaborate, Belong, and Celebrate.  

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post and its general responsibilities. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.   

Person Specification 

This section details the attributes e.g. skills, knowledge/qualifications and competencies which are required in order to undertake the full remit of the role. 

Education & Qualifications: 

Degree level 

Experience:

Be a recent graduate of Heriot-Watt University 

Competencies, Skills & Knowledge:

• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills 

• Ability to present effectively to large groups (both students and HWU colleagues) 

• Excellent IT skills (particularly MS Office products) and ability to use effectively institutional student systems 

•  A confident, friendly manner

Special Factor:

A Malaysia citizen 

Essential Criteria – these are attributes without which a candidate would not be able to undertake the full remit of the role.  Applicants who do not clearly demonstrate in their application that they possess the essential requirements will normally be eliminated at the short-listing stage.   

Desirable Criteria – these are attributes which would be useful for the candidate to hold.  When shortlisting, these criteria will be considered when more than one applicant meets the essential criteria.    

Other Relevant Information   

We aim to hold interviews at the Malaysia Campus in Putrajaya on the week of 20 June 2026.  

For more information about Malaysia Campus, please visit http://www.hw.edu.my.   

For information about Purpose-Driven Education, please see our website: https://www.hw.ac.uk/malaysia/about/purpose-driven-education.htm  

Application Process 

Applications should be submitted to Careers system.    

Applications must be submitted by 13 June 2026.   If you are not contacted by the selection committee by 20 June 2026 then please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.  

The University is committed to equality of opportunity.