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PROMOTIONS ANNEXURE A

CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION TO SENIOR GRADES

1. Academic Promotion.
1.6   Senior Lecturer (grade 9)
1.7   Reader (grade 9)
1.8   Professor (grade 10)
2 Research Promotion
2.1   Principal Research Associate (grade 9)
2.2   Professorial Research Associate (grade 10)
3 Teaching Fellow Promotion
3.1   Principal Teaching Fellow (grade 9)

N.B.    Promotion criteria for academic, research and teaching grades 7 and 8 are detailed in the relevant promotions procedure on the HR website.

1     CRITERIA FOR THE PROMOTION OF ACADEMIC STAFF

Consideration of all proposals for promotion should involve assessing the individual's overall contributions to UCL.  These can best be judged under the following headings:

Promotion through the academic grades of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor requires, by definition, evidence of scholarship.  Promotion cannot be achieved on the grounds of performance in the categories of either enabling or knowledge transfer / exchange alone.

Individuals successful in application for promotion to Professorial (grade 10) level should be aware of UCL's expectations of staff at this level.  These expectations are detailed in a set of agreed competencies which can be found here.

Evidence of contribution

1.1     Judgement of Research Contribution will require evidence for example, of all or some of the following:

1.2     Judgement of Teaching Contribution will require evidence both of excellence and of innovative contributions in all or some of the following:

1.3     Judgement of Knowledge Transfer/Exchange Contribution to those outside the academic community will require evidence of significant impact achieved in all or some of the following:

1.4     Judgement of Enabling Contribution will require evidence for example, of: -


1.5     Creative output

Whilst creative output can be produced, or practice undertaken as an integral part of a research process, in disciplines such as Fine Arts, Architecture and the Performing Arts, applicants for promotion must be able to demonstrate evidence of scholarship which contextualises and supports their artistic output, for example by published material, lectures, papers, commentaries etc.

It is essential that applicants present the research content of non-textual outputs.  In evaluating such work in research terms consideration should be given to:

1.6     Criteria for Promotion to Senior Lecturer (grade 9)

All activities are taken into account and evidence of achievement in both teaching and research is normally required.  Promotion may be based primarily on outstanding excellence and innovation in teaching, or on excellence in research at a national level together with excellence in teaching, knowledge transfer/exchange and enabling.  The promotions committee will take into account:

1.7     Criteria for Promotion to Reader (grade 9)

The predominant criterion is the research record. International recognition of achievement is expected, together with evidence that the potential already shown will lead to continued research achievement.  The promotions committee will take into account:

1.8     Criteria for Promotion to Professor (grade 10)

There are two routes for promotion to Professor.   Promotion is on the basis of:

In the latter case, evidence is required that the contribution is outstanding, that it is recognised nationally and / or internationally as such, and that it has been widely effective in improving or enhancing teaching practice (diligent and skilful teaching practice and / or an intensive teaching schedule are not, per se, an adequate basis for promotion in this context).

It is recognised therefore that not all candidates for promotion to Professor will meet all of the criteria.  The promotions committee will take into account:


2     CRITERIA FOR THE PROMOTION OF RESEARCH STAFF

Consideration of proposals for promotion involves primarily assessing achievement in research, i.e. contribution to the advancement of a subject by research and scholarship (defined as commitment to the synthesis of knowledge and continued learning in a broad field), or by equivalent creative and / or knowledge transfer / exchange activity.

In addition, but not mandatory, support can be gained from the individual's contribution to the Department.

All criteria in the individual grades will not be met by all candidates but will be dependent on the subject area of research.

Individuals successful in application for promotion to Professorial Research Associate (grade 10) level should be aware of UCL's expectations of staff at this level.  These expectations are detailed in a set of agreed competencies which can be found here.

2.1     Criteria for promotion to Principal Research Associate (grade 9)

In terms of research and knowledge transfer / exchange achievement, promotion to Grade 9 should be considered broadly equivalent to promotion of an academic staff member to Reader.   However, consideration must be given in each case to the opportunity that the candidate has had to build a CV of standard equivalent to this grade in view of the possible constraints that may have been experienced due to the method of funding.

The candidate would be expected to demonstrate all the criteria for research grades 7 and 8, but with the potential realised and evidenced by some or all of:

2.2     Criteria for promotion to Professorial Research Associate (grade 10)

In terms of research and knowledge transfer / exchange achievement, promotion to grade 10 should be considered broadly equivalent to promotion of an academic staff member to Professor.   However, consideration must be given in each case to the opportunity that the candidate has had to build a CV of standard equivalent to this grade in view of the possible constraints that may have been experienced due to the method of funding.  

The candidate would be expected to provide evidence of the criteria listed above but, in addition, the candidate would be expected to be recognised internationally in his / her field of research.  In addition evidence (as appropriate to the discipline) of a significant impact of knowledge transfer / exchange on practice or on quality of life through ongoing engagement with communities would need to be provided.

Cases would need to provide evidence of well developed enabling skills and a significant role in the management and / or administration of a research group or unit / department.

3     CRITERIA FOR THE PROMOTION OF TEACHING FELLOWS

Consideration of proposals for promotion involves primarily assessing achievement in teaching, i.e. contribution to, or leadership of the strategic development and management of a subject and / or teaching programme.  At a senior level this may involve the co-ordination of the work of a teaching team, and the creation of cross-faculty and cross-institutional teaching collaborations.

3.1     Criteria for promotion to Principal Teaching Fellow (grade 9)

In terms of teaching achievement, promotion to Grade 9 should be considered broadly equivalent in complexity to promotion of an academic staff member to Senior Lecturer or Reader, or a research member of staff to Principal Research Fellow (grade 9).  

As well as meeting the Senior Teaching Fellow (grade 8) promotion criteria applicants are expected to provide evidence to show how they fulfil some or all of the following grade 9 promotion criteria: