1. ACADEMIC PROMOTIONS 2018/19
Full information on the HR website:
Claire Freeman Associate HR Director

2. Promotions Changes 2018/19
Further improvements to the Vacancy Manager online application process
Focus on quality of research output to demonstrate ability and effectiveness (T&R staff)
Focus on contribution to the University’s beneficiaries in line with the University Strategy
Citizenship to be evidenced in line with the values set out in the University’s Strategy
Scheme now covers progression within professorial bandings linked to professorial role descriptors

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
Excellence, with focus according to career path
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
Those who teach are required to demonstrate critical reflection

5. Application categories
Grade 8 to 9 Teaching & Research
Teaching & Research Grade 10+
Teaching & Clinical
Researchers
Professorial

6. Teaching & Research: Indicators of Achievement
External Engagement
Learning & Teaching
Positive impact on the student experience
Engagement with student feedback processes (required)
Innovations and leadership in learning & teaching
Contribution to businesses and the professions
Evidence of impact on beneficiaries
Contribution to the development of government policy and standards
Research
Publications
External grants
Patents granted
Impact
Invitations to join conference committees, chair sessions etc.
International research collaborations
Awards, prizes and other markers of esteem
Research students
External recognition and collaborations
External funding for pedagogic research
Formal teaching qualifications
Leadership roles with professional/scholarly bodies
Contribution to public debate e.g. via print, broadcast or internet media

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

8. Teaching & Research Promotions Senior Lecturer (Grade 10) 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
Established research profile, at least at national level, a growing body of recent internationally excellent and leading publications (3* and 4*);
Research student completion
Developing research leadership including attracting grant income and impact generation
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 and impact generation
Reader
Established international research profile
A record of internationally excellent and leading publications (3* and 4*) demonstrating impact on the subject area;
Strong leadership in research with a track record of research grant income and successful delivery of externally funded research projects and impact generation
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
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
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 leadership roles in teaching & learning
Professor

11. T&R promotions: Excellence in External Engagement
INDICATORS:
Contribution to businesses, public sector, 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
Contribution to public debate e.g. through print media, broadcast media, internet media
Emerging leadership in at least 3 indicators (above)
Exceptional demonstrable impact on the University’s profile and acclaim in at least one of the indicators
Senior Lecturer
Significant management roles in at least 3 indicator areas
National level of external personal recognition/acclaim
Reader
Excellent leadership across at least 3 of the indicators
Exceptional level of demonstrable contribution and national/international external personal recognition/acclaim
Professor

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 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. Ongoing potential to secure substantial funding
Established profile with potential to projects of significant impact
Beginning to demonstrate profile as world leading in the subject area
Effective management and leadership of research staff and students
Grade 9
Research Fellow
Proven ability to secure competitive research funding with pipeline
PI/ leading substantial part of high quality collaborative project
Track record of publications in leading peer-reviewed journals
Effective management of research team(s), 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
Emerging profile as world leading in the subject area
Significant management and leadership of research staff and students
Associate Professorial Research Fellow
PI with high levels of funding and strong ongoing prospects
Research projects with significant impact on the subject area, industry, business, society, the professions or public policy
International recognition as world-leading in the subject area
School/University-wide roles in relation to leadership in research
Professorial Research Fellow

14. Professorial Re-banding Promotions
Applications made via Vacancy Manager
No referees or external assessors required
Consideration of applications by University Promotions Committee
Application cannot be made for progressing by more than one pay band e.g. Band 1 to Band 2 or Band 2 to Band 3
Application can only be made by those already in professorial pay banding

15. Referees
Should be:
only needed at Grade Senior Lecturer, Reader and entry to Professorial
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 established institutions*
a balance of UK and international referees where international reputation is being claimed
contacted prior to being nominated
should not normally be internal**

16. 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 if relevant
Research staff must submit statement of support from Dean

17. Timeline and process Key dates for applicants:
Closing date 9 January 2019
School Promotions Boards 14 Jan – 4 Feb 2019
Outcome of School Boards from 5 Feb 2019
14 Feb 2019 deadline for revised and direct applications to University Committee
University Promotions Committee held 30 April 2019
From 15 May 2019 candidates will be notified of University Promotion Committee outcome (N.B. some candidates will be interviewed so final outcome will be later)
Interviews held June/July
Effective dates: 1 August 2019 (1 April for Grade 8-9)

18. 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

19. Further Questions?