2.4Criteria for Professorial Appointment

A Professor is conferred by the University as a personal distinction and requires that an applicant can demonstrate that her/his reputation is over and above that of an Associate Professor

As a University with ambition to develop its research profile and its reputation for high quality research, the criteria for Professorial appointment will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure they remain relevant in relation to the professional profile and contribution expected of Professors at York St John. The current criteria for promotion to Professor are:

Teaching / Research / Leadership
Threshold Achievement
Evidence of all 15 criteria must be provided / (1) Working towards Senior Fellow of the UK Professional Standards Framework. Equivalent qualifications will be considered
(2) Regular engagement in School or University initiatives to enhance student learning.
(3) Leading on the enhancement of taught programmes and implementing changes.
(4) Evidence of contributing to University policy and practice in teaching and learning.
(5) Record of positive feedback from appropriate sources which indicates high regard for teaching approaches, e.g.module evaluations. / (1) Regular production of published or presented outputs likely to be rated as of rigour, originality and significance at a national level with some work achieving international recognition (inc. public performance of work/public exhibition of work/discoveries or inventions).
(2) Original contribution to practice or performance as appropriate to the discipline.
(3) Evidence of an established national reputation in a research field e.g. commissioned publications, conference organisation, invitations to participate in major conferences, editorships of proceedings, refereeing for learned societies, peer review journals and/or research councils. Depending on discipline, advising national and international policy bodies.
(4) Taking an active role in external research networks, groups, projects and professional networks. / (1) Undertaking a leadership role, such as programme leader or Chair of a Committee.
(2) Contribution to the development and performance of other colleagues through coaching, mentoring and peer support and/or contribution to staff development.
(3) Leading on a particular strategic initiative within the School or University.
(4) Leadership and management of research and/or teaching projects within the Faculty.
(5) Collegiality and contributing collaboratively with colleagues to a variety of tasks within the School, University and externally.
(6) Representing the work of the School or University externally.
Teaching / Research
High Performance / (6) Senior Fellow of UK Professional Standards Framework. Equivalent qualifications will be considered
(7) Evidence of a national reputation, e.g. external examining, invitations to teach elsewhere, leading teaching collaborations, teaching contributions for professional bodies, publication of a widely used textbook, contribution to national/international curriculum debate in the subject area, membership of education or training or committees of professional institutions*
(8) Contributing to the development of high quality and successful programmes that have attracted significant numbers of students
(9) Leading a School or subject in implementing and sharing innovative practice, e.g. to enhance e-learning, employability, internationalisation, research-informed teaching *
(10) Advising the University, national bodies and other HEIs in relation to teaching and learning in HE
(11) Leading activity that significantly enhances taught programmes and University pedagogic practice
(12) Leadership of University-wide and national initiatives to enhance student experience, engagement and/or performance *
(13) Active membership, involvement and/or leadership of national committees/bodies relating to learning and teaching, pedagogic practice and policy
(14) Regularly presenting at teaching and learning conferences* / (5) Regular production of published or presented outputs likely to be rated as of rigour, originality and significance at a national level with the majority of that work achieving international recognition (inc. public performance of work/public exhibition of work/discoveries or inventions, well-regarded as appropriate to the discipline). *
(6) Evidence of an established international reputation in a research field e.g. commissioned publications, conference organisation, regular invitations to participate in major conferences, editorships of proceedings*
(7) Acting as an external examiner for Postgraduate degrees (Masters, PhD) in other HEIs
(8) Attracting PhD students to the University
(9) Providing support for, and training of PGR students
(10) Submitting successful and significant grant and funding applications and undertaking other income generating activity.
(11) Providing specialist advice based on personal research leadership to outside agencies via committees, advisory boards, and consultancy
(12) Where applicable, commercial or industrial exploitation, if intrinsic to the research case, including national/international recognition of the quality of the work
(13) Engaging or leading activity that demonstrates national impact*.
Teaching cont... / Research cont...
High Performance / (15) Submitting successful grant and funding applications for pedagogic projects
(16) Well regarded publishing records of pedagogic research, learning materials or similar*
(17) Success in student led national and/or international teaching awards / (14) Providing research support and guidance for colleagues with some evidence of leadership

To apply, candidates must provide evidence of:

  • all ‘Threshold Achievements’ for Teaching, Research and Leadership; and
  • achieving the High Performance criteria under either Teaching or Research. For those candidates wishing to apply across both Teaching and Research evidence must be provided for achieving at least 50% of the High Performance criteria in both Teaching and Research, including at least 50% of the asterisked criteria in both categories.