Academic Promotion
Generic Job Descriptions for Teaching Fellows, Senior Teaching Fellows and Lecturers (Teaching Focused), Senior Lecturers (Teaching Focused).
It is important that our promotion and reward systems clearly demonstrate how teaching is valued at Royal Holloway. Teaching, alongside research, forms our core business. Changes to the promotions tracks over the last few years demonstrate the importance we attach to excellence in teaching at Royal Holloway. The development of these pathways draw upon the work of the Higher Education Academy’s Professional Standards Framework which creates a ladder of development, knowledge and skills for higher education teaching. The framework is available at http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ukpsf
The aim of these pathways is to encourage and reward excellence among a group of staff whose contribution of teaching excellence will be critical to the achievement of the College’s strategic aim to be known for the high quality of its teaching.
Included below are a range of job descriptions which set out what is expected of those in each role. These may be used to inform your application together with details on the Criteria Matrix for the applicable role and overview role profiles included in the Academic Promotion Policy.
Please note that for promotion to Senior Lecturer or Professor candidates must meet all core and 50% of the supplementary criteria in each category on the relevant matrix to have fulfilled the requirements of the category. Where activity is not undertaken for contractual reasons in one area 70% of the supplementary criteria are required.
Job Description – Lecturer (Teaching Focused)
Post title / Lecturer (Teaching Focused)Department/School
Faculty
Accountable to / Head of Department/School
Accountable for
Main Purpose
Lecturers (Teaching Focused) are expected to teach and supervise at undergraduate and postgraduate level, taking full responsibility for the design, management and delivery of their teaching. They will also participate in departmental administration as requested by the Head of Department. Role holders will be expected to demonstrate up-to-date scholarship in line with the research-informed context teaching in their department, relevant academic literature in their field, and pedagogic research. They may publish work on pedagogy, and/or contribute to national and international policy, or the work of other organisations relevant to post-compulsory Education.
Key objectives and Accountabilities
1. To design, deliver and assess high quality teaching programmes, including where appropriate, delivery by distance learning.
2. To demonstrate and promote a high level of pedagogic and disciplinary scholarship, commensurate with the strategy and reputation of the department and the College.
3. To undertake teaching initiatives and other development work around teaching, learning and assessment.
4. To play a significant role in departmental, Faculty and College activities including departmental administrative duties as required.
5. To play a role in external engagement and impact by contributing to professional bodies, learned societies, College partnerships, opportunities for student placement and employment, and other relevant institutions and groups, as appropriate.
Main Contacts
Main contacts are students, other members of academic and administrative staff within the department and College, teachers in the field in other institutions, professional bodies and learned societies, and where relevant other professional or industrial contacts.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Post
1. Education
· Design and deliver high quality teaching across a range of programmes/ modules to all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate students through lectures, tutorials, supervisions, practicals and seminars, as appropriate. This may include delivery by distance learning.
· Design and deliver sound and where appropriate innovative approaches to the learning experience for students with the intention of challenging preconceptions and fostering debate. Develop the ability of students to engage in critical discourse, articulate self-expression and reasoned argument.
· Plan and deliver high quality teaching and feedback using a range of techniques to inspire and engage students.
· Identify learning needs of students and define appropriate learning objectives.
· Design and develop teaching materials, independently or in collaboration as required.
· Supervise the work of students, including field trips / placements where appropriate.
· Undertake and complete administrative duties required in the professional delivery of teaching.
· Set, mark, and assess work and examinations; select appropriate assessment instruments and criteria; and provide constructive and comprehensive feedback to students.
· Undertake Personal Advisor and Academic Tutor duties, and/or provide first-line support for sensitive issues, referring on as appropriate to services providing further assistance.
· Adopt an approachable and accessible attitude towards students, offering office hours, informal advice etc.
· Engage with up to date literature and expertise in their professional field.
· Engage in teaching initiatives, whether internally or externally
· Engage in continuous professional development within and/ or outside the College.
· Develop and engage with professional values linked to respect for divers learners, widening access, evidence based approaches and acknowledgment of the broader context of higher education.
2. Leadership, Enhancement, External Engagement and Impact
· Attend and contribute to departmental, Faculty and College meetings.
· Participate in undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment, where required.
· Take on roles related to the management of teaching in the department, and/or participate in department, Faculty or College working groups or Committees, as required.
· Engage in departmental activities such as attendance at open days or departmental UCAS days.
· Advise and provide support to less experienced colleagues.
· Build internal contacts and participate in internal networks for information, research purposes and to form relationships for future collaboration.
· Participate in external networks, for example to contribute to student recruitment, be active in learned societies and/or professional bodies, undertake external examining, secure student placements, market the institution, facilitate outreach work, generate income, obtain consultancy projects, or build relationships for future activities.
3. Departmental Requirements
To be completed with any departmental specific requirement relevant to the role
4. Undertake additional duties, as required by the Head of Department, consistent with the status and grading of the post.
The above list of duties may be adjusted in the light of the expertise of the appointed candidate.
As the needs of the College change so the above job profile, duties and location of the role within the College will be adjusted accordingly.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Knowledge and ExperienceEssential / · First degree in relevant subject
· Experience of high-quality teaching practice at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level in the department’s disciplinary area.
· Successful track record of supervising postgraduate taught students, in line with the discipline.
· Engagement in teaching initiatives and conversancy with pedagogic research relevant to their discipline or subject.
· Demonstrable high levels of scholarship and understanding of the current demands and trajectory of the discipline.
· A commitment to continuous professional development in relation to teaching, learning and assessment.
· A commitment to and understanding of relevant professional values.
Possession of a recognised teaching qualification relevant to the role (eg HEA Associate Fellow, PGCE etc).
Desirable / · PhD in relevant field (or near to completion)
Leadership, Planning and Organising
Essential / · Experience of managing own teaching, administrative and other relevant activities.
· Experience of co-ordinating with others to ensure student learning and teaching needs and expectations are met.
· Successful development of relationships with external individuals and agencies.
· Experience of bidding, planning for and organising initiatives that are based on learning, teaching and assessment.
Communicating, Influencing and Teamworking
Essential / · Experience of effective teamworking.
· Strong interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to teach and engage with students using a variety of different methods.
· Strong communication and presentation skills, with the proven ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with students, colleagues and external audiences.
Job Description – Senior Lecturer (Teaching Focused)
Post title / Senior Lecturer (Teaching Focused)Department/School
Faculty
Accountable to / Head of Department/School
Accountable for
Main Purpose
Senior Lecturers (Teaching Focused) are expected to show academic leadership. They will support the management and strategic planning processes of the department, Faculty and College. They will teach and supervise at undergraduate and postgraduate level, taking full responsibility for the design, management and delivery of their teaching. They will also participate in departmental administration as requested by the Head of Department, and Faculty / College activity when appropriate. Role holders will be expected to demonstrate up-to-date scholarship in line with the research-informed context teaching in their department, relevant academic literature in their field, and pedagogic research. They may publish work on pedagogy, and/or contribute to national and international policy, or the work of other organisations relevant to post-compulsory Education.
Key Objectives and Accountabilities
1. To design, deliver and assess high quality teaching in the form of units and programmes, including, where appropriate, delivery by distance or other forms of flexible or off-campus learning.
2. To demonstrate and promote a high level of pedagogic and disciplinary scholarship, commensurate with the strategy and reputation of the department and the College.
3. To undertake teaching initiatives (which could include pedagogic research) and other development work and to disseminate the outcomes of this both in the college and outside.
4. To play a significant, and where appropriate leading role in departmental, Faculty and College activities, including administrative duties as required.
5. To play a key role in external engagement and impact by contributing to professional bodies, learned societies, College partnerships, national or international bodies, opportunities for student placement and employment, and other relevant institutions and groups.
Main Contacts
Main contacts are students, other members of academic and administrative staff within the department, Faculty and College including senior figures, senior figures and teachers in the field in other institutions, professional bodies and learned societies, and where relevant other professional or industrial contacts.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Post
1. Education
· Design and deliver high quality teaching across a range of programmes/ modules to all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate students through lectures, tutorials, supervisions, practicals and seminars, as appropriate. This may include delivery by distance learning.
· Design and deliver sound and, where appropriate, innovative approaches to the learning experience for students with the intention of challenging preconceptions and fostering debate. Develop the ability of students to engage in critical discourse, articulate self-expression and reasoned argument.
· Plan and deliver high quality teaching and feedback using a range of techniques to inspire and engage students.
· Identify learning needs of students and define appropriate learning objectives.
· Design and develop teaching materials, independently or in collaboration as required.
· Supervise the work of students, including field trips / placements where appropriate.
· Undertake and complete administrative duties required in the professional delivery of teaching, taking a leadership role where appropriate.
· Set, mark, and assess work and examinations; select appropriate assessment instruments and criteria; and provide constructive and comprehensive feedback to students.
· Undertake and when appropriate leading on arrangements for Personal Advisor and Academic Tutor duties, and/or provide first-line support for sensitive issues, referring on as necessary to services providing further assistance.
· Adopt an approachable and accessible attitude towards students, offering office hours, informal advice etc.
· Engage with up to date literature and expertise in their academic and/or professional field.
· Engage in funded and unfunded teaching initiatives (which could include pedagogic research) and disseminate the outcomes in a variety of modes, including inside the college as well as outside
· Engage in continuous professional development within and/ or outside the College
· Develop and engage with professional values linked to respect for diverse learners, widening access, evidence based approaches and acknowledgment of the broader context of higher education.
2. Leadership, Enhancement, External Engagement and Impact
· Attend and contribute to departmental, Faculty and College meetings, where appropriate in a leadership role.
· Lead or participate in undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment, where required.
· Take on senior roles related to the management of teaching in the department, and/or participate in department, Faculty or College working groups or Committees, as required.
· Lead or engage as appropriate in departmental activities such as attendance at open days or departmental UCAS days.
· Advise and provide support to less experienced colleagues.
· Build internal contacts and participate in internal networks for information, research purposes and to form relationships for future collaboration.
· Participate and where appropriate lead external networks, for example on student recruitment, be active in learned societies and/or professional bodies, undertake external examining or work with exam boards secure student placements, market the institution, facilitate outreach work, generate income, obtain consultancy projects, or build relationships for future activities.
3. Departmental Requirements
To be completed with any departmental specific requirement relevant to the role
4. Undertake additional duties, as required by the Head of Department, consistent with the status and grading of the post.
The above list of duties may be adjusted in the light of the expertise of the appointed candidate.
As the needs of the College change so the above job profile, duties and location of the role within the College will be adjusted accordingly.
Person Specification
Essential / · Experience of high-quality teaching, learning and assessment practice and programme/unit design at undergraduate and postgraduate taught and/or professional doctorate level in the department’s disciplinary area.
· Successful track record of supervising postgraduate taught students, in line with the discipline.
· Able to lead teaching initiatives and innovations and be conversant with the findings of pedagogic research.
· Demonstrable high levels of disciplinary and pedagogic scholarship as applied to teaching and understanding of the current demands and trajectory of their discipline.
· A commitment to personal continuous professional development in relation to teaching, learning and assessment.
· An ongoing record of commitment to and understanding of relevant professional values.
· Membership at Fellowship level or above of the Higher Education Academy or in the process of applying for this
· A first degree in relevant subject
Desirable / PhD in relevant field
Essential / · Experience of managing significant teaching, administrative and other relevant activities.
· Sustained experience of leading and co-ordinating with others to ensure student learning and teaching needs and expectations are met.
· Successful record of developing relationships with and/or leading initiatives involving, external individuals, agencies, professional bodies and other organisations
· Sustained experience of bidding, planning for and implementing initiatives that are based in the fields of learning, teaching and/or assessment.
Communicating, Influencing and Teamworking
Essential / · Experience of effective teamworking and capacity to lead teams.
· Excellent interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to teach and engage with students using a variety of different methods.
· Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the proven ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with students, colleagues and external audiences.