ACADEMIC PROMOTIONS ROADSHOW Alison Cross Professor Alistair Fitt

ACADEMIC PROMOTIONS ROADSHOW Alison Cross Professor Alistair Fitt Professor Julie Mc. Leod Professor Linda King 20 October 2015

AGENDA § Brookes academic structure – overview (Julie) § Promotion routes and processes – how to do it (Linda) § Myths (Alistair) § Q & A § Lunch

BROOKES’ ACADEMIC STRUCTURE PROFESSOR 4 3 2 1 Research Four levels Leading their field internationally Leading international contributor International reputation and recognition Nationally recognised level of excellence Teaching, Learning & Assessment Enterprise & KE Professional Achievement Academic Leadership Promotions exercise (two per year) READER (grade 12) PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

READERSHIP KEY CRITERIA § Externally-recognised national and an emerging international reputation for research and scholarship, and/or knowledge exchange. § Substantial body of high-quality peer reviewed publications or equivalent outputs for knowledge exchange. § Developing recognition for impact. § Successful record of securing significant peer-reviewed research funding and/or funding support for outputs leading to KE. § Clear and sustainable programme of research and/or KE work for the next three to five years. § Record of good teaching at UG and PG level. § Successful supervision of Ph. D students. § Contributions to innovations in teaching and learning. § Mentoring less experienced staff. § Evidence of contributions to faculty or department functions.

BROOKES’ ACADEMIC STRUCTURE PROFESSOR 4 3 2 1 Research Four levels Leading their field internationally Leading international contributor International reputation and recognition Nationally recognised level of excellence Teaching, Learning & Assessment Enterprise & KE Professional Achievement Academic Leadership Promotions exercise (two per year) READER (grade 12) PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

PLSE KEY CRITERIA § Substantial/sustained contribution to successful innovation in teaching and learning. § Significant contribution to the wider enhancement of the student experience. § Scholarship/research in aspects of teaching and learning and the student experience. § Active and inspiring participation in development activities for enhancing the student experience. § Leading role in the delivery of one or more of the graduate attributes within Faculty, and/or of other themes in the SESE. § Mentoring/supporting less experienced staff in development of teaching and learning practice. § Excellent teaching at UG and/or PG level, leading edge and relevant to contemporary contexts. § Successful completion of an HE teaching qualification and/or a fellowship of the HEA. § Supervision of Masters or Ph. D students § Positive contributions to department and/or faculty functions

BROOKES’ ACADEMIC STRUCTURE PROFESSOR 4 3 2 1 Research Four levels Leading their field internationally Leading international contributor International reputation and recognition Nationally recognised level of excellence Teaching, Learning & Assessment Enterprise & KE Professional Achievement Academic Leadership Promotions exercise (two per year) READER (grade 12) PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

PROFESSORIAL PROMOTIONS § Five routes: § § § Research Teaching, Learning and Assessment Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange Professional Achievement Academic Leadership § Four levels: 1. Nationally recognised level of excellence 2. International reputation and recognition 3. Leading their field internationally 4. Outstanding contribution – world leading in field § Two calls per year: § June (call 1), deadline 1 st day of semester 1 § October (call 2), deadline Christmas closure

PROFESSOR 4 3 2 1 Research Four levels Leading their field internationally Leading international contributor International reputation and recognition Nationally recognised level of excellence Teaching, Learning & Assessment Enterprise & KE Professional Achievement Academic Leadership PROFESSORSHIP - PRINCIPLES § achievement of high distinction § national and international recognition § based on past achievement and the expectation of continuing contribution at that level, including the capacity for and acceptance of responsibility for leadership within the University

RESEARCH STRAND § outstanding original contribution to the field of work and validation of this contribution; § sustained record of high quality publications and conference papers, where appropriate validated by number of citations or by other indices; § international and national standing of the applicant’s work validated by: § international networks and collaborations; § contribution to their academic community, public policy, industry, the professions, commerce, the public sector or voluntary organisations; § significant research income from, e. g. research grants, commercial exploitation of research; § Ph. D supervision leading to successful completion; § contribution to the Uo. A’s most recent REF.

TEACHING, LEARNING & ASSESSMENT STRAND § an established reputation as an excellent teacher and scholar, e. g. national teaching fellowship; § impact of approaches and innovations at national and international level; § high level pedagogic research, as demonstrated by publications etc, and how this has been received and utilised; § external experience of the evaluation of learning, teaching and assessment e. g. QAA reviewer, consistent involvement in external examining; § contribution to policy; § success in securing major external funding; § international standing

OTHER ROUTES § Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange § Professional Achievement § Academic Leadership

WIDER PROMOTION PATHWAYS PROFESSOR (SS 1 -4) Annual promotions round READER (grade 12) PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

PROMOTION PATHWAYS PROFESSOR (SS 1 -4) HEAD OF DEPARTMENT or SCHOOL (SS 2) Annual promotions round READER (grade 12) Apply for vacancy PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

PROMOTION PATHWAYS PVC DEAN PVC RKE / SE PROFESSOR (SS 1 -4) ASSOCIATE DEAN S&D (SS 3) HEAD OF DEPARTMENT or SCHOOL (SS 2) Annual promotions round READER (grade 12) ASSOCIATE DEAN RKE or SE (SS 2) Apply for vacancy PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

PROMOTION PATHWAYS PVC DEAN PVC RKE/SE PROFESSOR (SS 1 -4) ASSOCIATE DEAN S&D (3) HEAD OF DEPARTMENT or SCHOOL (2) Annual promotions round READER (grade 12) ASSOCIATE DEAN RKE or SE (2) Apply for vacancy PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

PROMOTION PATHWAYS PVC DEAN PVC RKE/SE PROFESSOR (SS 1 -4) ASSOCIATE DEAN S&D (3) HEAD OF DEPARTMENT or SCHOOL (2) Annual promotions round READER (grade 12) OBU OTHER INSTITUTIONS ASSOCIATE DEAN RKE or SE (2) Apply for vacancy PLSE (grade 12) PLQA (grade 12) Annual promotions round Programme Lead (grade 12) Apply for vacancy SENIOR LECTURER (grade 10/11) Annual exercise, after 12 months in post, match role profile LECTURER (grade 9)

PLANNING AN APPLICATION § Deciding which route? § § PDR Mentor Senior colleagues Review person spec, criteria

PLANNING AN APPLICATION § Deciding which route? § When is the right time? § Different for different people § When criteria are met (maybe not all) ? § Vacancy advertised

PLANNING AN APPLICATION § Deciding which route? § When is the right time? § Building the evidence § § § CV Criteria Never too early to plan Mentor Senior colleagues

PLANNING AN APPLICATION § Deciding which route § When is the right time? § Building the evidence § Finding a mentor/support § § § § Brookes research mentoring scheme Faculty mentoring scheme Informal Staff who have just been promoted HR personal and career development web pages OCSLD courses Leadership & management development (e. g. , Spring Board, Aurora, Prog Lead)

PLANNING AN APPLICATION § Deciding which route § When is the right time § Building the evidence § Finding a mentor § External profile, referees § § Network Present at conferences Engage with professional societies External referees – your choice, our choice (be known)

PLANNING AN APPLICATION § Deciding which route § When is the right time § Building the evidence § Finding a mentor § External profile, referees § Making an effective application § § § Criteria or person specification based Concise evidence Well laid out Not too brief, not too verbose Put yourself in the shortlisting/reviewer’s shoes Make good use of the application letter/covering statement

CASE STUDY - LINDA P 2 to Dean Grade PG Tutor Grants/Papers SL to R Dean to AD RKE Chair RDC BBSRC Peer Review R to P 1 to P 2 L to SL P 2 to P 3 time in years (29 years…) PVC temp

MYTHS § Lots of myths abound re the promotions system and PPC in general. I hear them retold again and again § Like most myths, many are completely false, but a few have just a grain of truth in them So let’s have……… THE TOP 10 CHART OF PROMOTION MYTHS:

MYTH 10 “I’m too young/old/senior/junior to apply” § Age is a protected characteristic. It would be illegal to discriminate on these grounds § We don’t care how senior or junior you are. We go by the criteria and if you meet these you’ll get promoted § Different people’s careers evolve at different rates – we understand this

MYTH 9 “PPC is a secret committee with ancient devilish mythical rituals – there’s no fair and sensible process going on and you’ll never know how to succeed” § The composition of PPC is public – it’s on the web § Every unsuccessful candidate gets personal “critical friend” feedback § We don’t do a transcript of the meeting and our discussions ARE confidential – but FOI means we can’t stop you seeing your references § PPC does not compare Patel with Bloggs – we go by the criteria

MYTH 8 “You can only apply if you have a big grant/lots of Ph. D students/were in the REF/are a national teaching fellow/etc. ” § No single thing guarantees success or failure (well OK a Nobel prize might do it, but…. ) § It’s all part of a general multi-faceted picture § Different applicants have different profiles and we try to cope with them all § Different kinds of things are also important in different subjects § Generally we go by the criteria

MYTH 7 “I couldn’t bear to fail, so I won’t risk applying” § If you do fail, then of course you’ll be disappointed § … but on the other hand if you don’t ask, then you don’t get § There are plenty of people around who will be happy to give you advice § They will tell you if you have a “serious” application or not – so challenge yourself and don’t always play safe

MYTH 6 “I can’t apply – somebody from my discipline was just promoted so it can’t be my turn yet” § We don’t have quotas § There are no limits on how many people can be promoted in each subject § Each case is decided on its own individual merits – how other people have done is not relevant § In general we go by the criteria

MYTH 5 “I can’t apply – I tried last time and was turned down” § Some universities enforce gaps between successive applications. We don’t. There is no rule like this § We treat every application on its merits and ALL applications will be equally considered and judged § HOWEVER – “number of separate tries” is not one of the criteria § If nothing’s really changed since last time you tried then we’re likely to spot this………….

MYTH 4 “I can’t apply – my Faculty/Department is short of money and they couldn’t afford it if I got promoted” § It may be true that they can’t afford it – but we don’t take this into account § How promotions are funded is never discussed – we go by the criteria § I suppose if times were really hard we might have to think about the cost – but we’d be upfront and tell you if we had to do this

MYTH 3 “Our superstar was offered a chair by the University of Transylvania and there’s no chance of keeping them – the next PPC is not due for 3 months ” § Yes this can happen (especially around REF time) but we have a process specifically designed to deal with this § We can and have fast-tracked cases like this by having an e-meeting of PPC § Note: in some cases the person has stayed. In other cases the answer from PPC has been “no” because we go by the criteria

MYTH 2 “There’s no point me applying – nobody on PPC knows about the history of 18 th century aardvark portraits” § The membership of PPC is chosen very carefully, but sure, we can’t be experts on EVERY subject § We are very experienced though and we know when we don’t know § We have a range of external referees at our disposal and we frequently take informal advice § (Whisper it softly, but actually different subjects are often not THAT different……)

MYTH 1 “The page limit doesn’t matter – I can just do it in 4 -pt and give some web links” § The page limits are there for a reason § We want you to make a good case and tell us the main reasons why you deserve promotion § We were getting 80 page applications recording every interaction for the last 10 years § A big part of promotion is to do with quality (not quantity) § Ask yourself – if I read my own 4 -pt application what would I see – desperation perhaps?

FINAL POINTS § We hope that this has busted some of the myths that we often hear about PPC § No, it’s not a perfect procedure, some subjectivity is involved, and referees can be unpredictable. But we try inordinately hard to be fair and consistent § Many of us have served on PPCs in a number of different places, both in the UK and abroad – things are surprisingly similar § Did you spot the phrase “we go by the criteria” a lot? Is this telling you something?

Questions Deadline for applications: Professor, Reader and PLSE Monday 21 December 2015