Senior Associate - Students Counselor

The Student Counselor provides confidential counseling and student wellbeing support to postgraduate students at the KAPSARC School of Public Policy (KSPP). The role supports students’ personal and psychological wellbeing, academic success, adjustment to postgraduate study, and retention and progression toward timely degree completion.

The Counselor provides individual and, where appropriate, group counseling; conducts initial assessments of student needs; identifies students at risk of distress or academic disengagement; provides academic and professional development guidance within the scope of the role; and refers students to qualified internal or external specialist services when required.

The role also includes designing and delivering preventive wellbeing programs, workshops, and awareness activities, as well as supporting postgraduate orientation and student engagement.

The Counselor works collaboratively with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, faculty, and relevant institutional functions while maintaining strict confidentiality and adhering to professional counseling ethics, institutional policies, and applicable national regulations.

• Provide confidential individual counseling to postgraduate students addressing academic stress, research and coursework pressure, adjustment, work–life balance, interpersonal and personal challenges affecting student success.
• Conduct initial assessments of student needs and develop practical, time-bound support plans within the scope of the role.
• Provide limited group counseling or group support sessions where appropriate and based on student needs and service capacity.
• Support students through key postgraduate milestones, including coursework transitions, comprehensive examinations, and thesis or dissertation stages.
• Maintain professional boundaries, strict confidentiality, and professional counseling ethics at all times.
• Explain to students at the outset the nature of the counseling service and applicable limits of confidentiality.

• Provide academic coaching on study habits, time management, productivity, stress management, and adjustment to postgraduate study.
• Identify and support students at risk of academic disengagement, delayed progression, or withdrawal in coordination with Academic Affairs and program leadership.
• Support students in resolving academic or supervisory difficulties through appropriate institutional channels.
• Provide guidance on personal factors affecting academic progression without assuming responsibility for academic decisions, supervision, assessment, or grading.
• Provide career and professional development guidance relevant to postgraduate pathways and refer students to specialist career resources where appropriate.

• Identify students who may require specialist psychological, psychiatric, medical, or social support and refer them to qualified internal or external providers.
• Respond to student distress and crisis situations within the scope of the role, applying appropriate risk identification and immediate safety measures.
• Escalate immediate safety concerns without delay to designated institutional authorities and licensed clinical or emergency services in line with approved protocols.
• Follow up appropriately after referral while respecting student confidentiality and the boundaries of the referral.
• Maintain and periodically review a network of licensed external mental health and specialist service providers.
• Design and deliver workshops, seminars, and awareness sessions for postgraduate students on topics such as research resilience, stress management, time management, and productivity.
• Promote awareness of counseling and wellbeing…