1. ACADEMIC PROMOTIONS 2017/18
Claire Freeman Associate HR Director

2. Promotions Changes 2017/18
Pathways opened up to Teaching and Clinical staff up to professorial equivalent
Promotion pathway for Research staff introduced up to professorial equivalent
Application process handled via Vacancy Manager online application process
Removal of need for business case from Exec Dean for Teaching/Clinical applications
Research applications will need a business case to ensure the process works as intended

3. Academic Promotion Pathways
Teaching
Research
 Teaching/Clinical Career path
Traditional academic career path
undertaking both research and teaching
 Research Career path
Grade 8
Teaching Associate/Teaching Fellow
Lecturer
Research Associate/Research Fellow 9
Teaching Fellow
Research Fellow 10
Senior Teaching Fellow
Senior Lecturer
Senior Research Fellow
Associate Professorial Teaching Fellow
Reader Grade 10/Associate Professor
Reader/Associate Professorial Fellow
Prof salary bands
Professorial Teaching Fellow
Professor
Professorial Research Fellow

4. General Principles
Excellence
Citizenship
Contribution
Critical Reflection
Promotion is on the basis of excellence in relevant field
Citizenship is a pre-requisite at all levels and on all pathways
Majority of staff will continue to be those on balanced T&R profile
Please note, these slides only contain a summary of the promotions information – full details can be found on the HR website

5. Criteria Grade 8 to 9 Teaching & Research
Teaching & Research Grade 10+
Teaching & Clinical
Researchers

6. Indicators of Achievement
External Engagement
Learning & Teaching
Formal teaching qualifications
Engagement with student feedback processes (required)
Innovations in learning & teaching
Leadership in learning & teaching
experience
Leadership and senior level management roles in externally funded projects
Contribution to businesses, public sector and the community
Research
Publications
External grants
Research students
Patents and/or other evidence
Invitations to join conference committees, chair sessions etc.
International research collaborations
Awards, prizes and other markers of esteem
Dissemination
External recognition and collaborations
Positive impact on the student experience
External funding
Enhancing the University’s reputation/profile through leadership roles with professional/scholarly bodies
Contribution to the development of Government policy and standards
Evidence of impact

7. Teaching and Research promotions Grade 8 to Grade 9
Teaching & Learning
External Engagement
Research
Citizenship

8. Teaching & Research Promotions Senior Lecturer and Above
One area to be chosen from: Research; Teaching & Learning; External Engagement
Excellence
In the two other areas, ability and effectiveness thresholds must be met
Ability & effectiveness
Pre-requisite for all promotions. Pro-active contribution to School/University activities. Positive attitude as well as activity
Citizenship

9. T&R promotions: Excellence in Research
An established research profile, at least at national level, including a growing body of recent internationally excellent and leading publications (3* and 4*);
Evidence of research student supervision and successful completion;
developing research leadership including attracting grant income at levels appropriate for the subject area
Senior Lecturer
A rapidly developing international research profile on an upward trajectory
Established record of research student completion
Research leadership with a track record of, and current active grants at levels appropriate for the subject area.
Reader
Established international research profile
A record of internationally excellent and leading publications (3* and 4*) demonstrating impact on the subject area;
A well-established record of research student completion;
Strong leadership and team-building in research with a track record of research grant income and successful completion of externally funded research projects, appropriate to subject area
Professor

10. T&R promotions: Excellence in Teaching and Learning
SFHEA
Leading & embedding School-wide initiatives in teaching & learning
Pedagogical research e.g. authored textbooks, review articles etc
Successful supervision, management and mentoring of others
Coach and role model to other staff in teaching & learning
Senior Lecturer
Initiatives to improve student experience at School wide or University wide level
Ongoing activities in teaching mentoring & quality
Pipeline of pedagogical research with trajectory towards external authority acceptance
Recognition for expertise in teaching & learning innovation
Reader
Substantial experience in teaching and/or clinical leadership
Publication of textbooks with external acceptance as authority in subject area
Strategic teaching & learning initiatives with impact at University level and beyond
School and University-wide roles in relation to leadership in teaching & learning
Professor

11. T&R promotions: Excellence in External Engagement
INDICATORS:
leadership and senior level management roles in externally funded projects
contribution to businesses, the public sector and the community relevant to the University’s mission
enhancing the University’s reputation and external profile by taking leadership roles in professional and scholarly bodies
contributions to the development of government policy or standards
impact based on research outputs

12. Teaching & Clinical Promotions
Excellent teaching practice with considerable positive impact on learning outcomes
SFHEA
Pedagogic research and/or scholarship in subject areas taught
Effective admin and management roles e.g. Programme Director
Grade 9
Teaching Fellow
SFHEA plus ongoing activities in mentoring and quality of L&T
Leading & embedding School-wide initiatives in teaching & learning
Pedagogical research e.g. authored textbooks, review articles
Successful supervision/management of others
Coach and role model to other staff in teaching & learning
Senior Teaching Fellow
PFHEA
Initiatives to improve student experience at School wide or University wide level
Pipeline of pedagogical research with trajectory towards external authority acceptance
Associate Professorial Teaching Fellow
Substantial experience in teaching and/or clinical leadership
Publication of textbooks etc with external acceptance as authority in subject area
Strategic l&t initiatives with impact at University level and beyond
School and University-wide roles in relation to leadership in l&t
Professorial Teaching Fellow

13. Research Promotions Grade 9 Research Fellow Senior Research Fellow
Active current grants with ongoing potential to secure substantial funding as PI
Established profile with potential to deliver projects of significant impact
Beginning to demonstrate profile as world leading in the subject area
Significant contribution to effective management and leadership of research staff and students
Grade 9
Research Fellow
Proven ability to secure competitive research funding with funding pipeline
Successful delivery of high quality collaborative research, as PI or leading a substantial part of a large project
Track record of publications in leading peer-reviewed journals etc.
Effective management of research team(s) including mentoring and coaching research staff
Senior Research Fellow
Active current grants and potential to secure substantial funding as PI
Established profile with experience of delivering successful research projects
Significant contribution to the effective management and leadership of research staff and students
Associate Professorial Research Fellow
Substantial active current grants as PI with high levels of funding and strong ongoing prospects
Delivery of successful research projects with significant impact on the subject area, industry, business, society, the professions or public policy
Recognition within the international research community as world-leading in the subject area
School and University-wide roles in relation to leadership in research
Professorial Research Fellow

14. Referees
Should be:
sufficiently familiar to comment meaningfully on the application
professors, or people of professorial standing
familiar with the standards for promotion within UK research-led universities
from reputable institutions
a balance of UK and international referees where international reputation is being claimed
contacted prior to being nominated
should not normally be internal

15. The application form - making your case
Applications are made via Vacancy Manager using the weblink sent to individuals in launch .
Instructions are tailored to career path and level of application
Select the level of application and where relevant (T&R at SL and higher) the area of excellence
Attach your CV including a link to personal webpage
T&R and R will be asked to include links to strongest 3 publications within Aston Research Explorer
T&R and T&C will be asked to upload documents: summary of teaching feedback, module reflection forms
Give details of referees
Research staff must submit statement of support from Dean

16. Timeline and process Key dates for applicants:
Closing date 9 January 2018
School Promotions Boards 15 Jan – 3 Feb 2018
Outcome of School Boards w/c 12 Feb 2018
19 Feb 2018 deadline for revised and direct applications to University Committee
University Promotions Committee held 26 April 2018
May - June candidates will be notified (N.B. some candidates will be interviewed so final outcome will be later)
Interviews held June/July
Effective dates: 1 August 2018 (1 April for Grade 8-9)

17. Further Support
Annual process to review academics for promotion every year
Promotions mentors either line manager or specific promotion mentors
Staff to contact HR for referral to mentor e.g. female academic to be mentored by a senior female academic from outside own subject area or for mentoring on area of excellence
Technical support via HR Systems team for issues with the online application system

18. Questions?