Senior University Teacher Criteria

Welcome to the Senior University Teacher criteria page. Below you will find all the core and additional criteria that are part of the teaching specialist pathway. Senior University Teachers should evidence their achievement against criteria at this level as part of the annual SRDS process.

Teaching Criteria

High Quality Teaching Practice (core)

Criteria

Lead and supervise delivery and assessment to ensure consistently high quality teaching, learning and student support.

Evidence of Achievement

Demonstrate your contribution to excellent programme outcomes and good levels of student progression and completion. Supplement this with other forms of evidence which could include:

  • Consistently excellent student feedback
  • Sustained excellent feedback from external examiners/ assessors.
  • Sustained excellent feedback from peer review of teaching.
  • Internal or external teaching awards.
  • Evidence of high quality PhD supervision as primary supervisor, supporting students to successfully complete their PhD during their funded period.

Curriculum Enhancement

Criteria

Adopting the Programme Level Approach, lead or significantly contribute to the design (or re-design), development and coordination of a programme of study or a number of programme modules that are accessible, inclusive and contribute to the University’s Teaching and Learning Strategy.

Evidence of Achievement

Leading or making a significant contribution to the review and re-design of an existing programme (or a number of programme modules) or the development of a new programme (or a number of programme modules) which has had a positive impact on the recruitment, retention, progress, completion and employability outcomes of students within your Department. Include evidence of using reflection and feedback to:

  • Develop or substantially revise and update programme content and delivery ensuring the application of innovative and appropriate teaching techniques and materials that embed the latest educational ideas and methods including the use of digital technologies.
  • Ensure compliance with quality standards, regulations and any accreditation requirements.
  • Develop employment focussed modules.
  • Provide placements and effective links with external organisations, for example from industry or the public sector.

Improving Teaching Practice

Criteria

Develop and implement ideas for improving own and others teaching design, delivery and assessment.

Evidence of Achievement

Evidence of continual development of own teaching practice and that of others leading to improved delivery and outcomes. Evidence must demonstrate successful completion of CPD, and any scholarly activity undertaken in order to build pedagogic knowledge, plus demonstration of their impact upon practice at a departmental or Faculty level. Examples of development include:

• HEA fellowship at level D3.
• Active membership of subject associations/professional/disciplinary groups that address matters of pedagogy and curriculum

Examples of impact include:

• Contribution to the development of practice that improves accessibility and inclusion.
• Innovative and appropriate use of new technologies.
• Contribution to the development of the discipline or area of professional practice regionally.
• Development of open educational resources for example, text books, articles, YouTube broadcasts, podcasts and massive open online courses (MOOCS).
• Contribution to Department, Faculty or University activities which aim to promote diversity and inclusion and/or internationalism.
• Income generation for teaching enhancement activities
• Successful management, coaching or mentoring of other teaching staff.
• Published teaching materials and other relevant outputs, which are used externally in comparable universities.
• External recognition of excellent teaching, invitations to disseminate practices externally, through working groups etc.

Leadership Criteria

Academic Citizenship (core)

Criteria

Actively contribute to the collective interests and values of the University through individual action and inclusive, collaborative working.

Evidence of Achievement

Demonstrable engagement in and contribution to a variety of Department, Faculty or University activities that contribute and build collegiality beyond an individual’s day to day activity and role. Examples include:

● Contributing effectively to a range of shared Departmental responsibilities.
● Leading specified initiatives at a Departmental or Faculty level.
● Sharing research or scholarly activity with colleagues through research or teaching seminars.
● Demonstrating responsibility for diversity and inclusion.
● Consistently engaging in and supporting strategic Departmental and Faculty initiatives, using position and influence to ensure others engage positively and understand the benefits.

Change and Innovation

Criteria

In a leadership capacity, constructively challenge established practice, structure and process in order to bring about positive change and improved outcomes.

Evidence of Achievement

Demonstrate your leadership of impactful change to practice, structure, culture or processes that leads to sustained positive outcomes and improvement. Roles in which you could demonstrate impact at this level are, but are not limited to, Deputy Director of Research and Innovation or Learning and Teaching, Admissions Director, Director of Student Recruitment, Impact Co-ordinator. Provide examples that display the following characteristics:

● Delivers Department, Faculty or University vision.
● Improves performance/efficiency.
● Identifies and actively responds to internal or external challenges or opportunities.
● Takes advantage of advancements in technology.
● Demonstrates entrepreneurial ambition.
● Actively engages colleagues, ensuring good levels of support.
● Involves calculated risk and ambition.
● Demonstrates responsibility for diversity and inclusion.

High Quality Management

Criteria

In a leadership role consistently take responsibility, provide support to others and make accountable and inclusive decisions in response to a range of emerging issues and opportunities.

Evidence of Achievement

Demonstrate effective management in a leadership role. Roles in which you could demonstrate impact at this level are, but are not limited to, Deputy Director of Research and Innovation or Learning and Teaching, Admissions Director, Director of Student Recruitment, Director of Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Impact Co-ordinator. Examples of effective management are set out below and individuals should exhibit all of these in undertaking their management role:

  • Taking responsibility within their given role
  • Making effective decisions, based on evidence/insight with an awareness of full impact and consequences.
  • Ensures engagement of all key stakeholders
  • Demonstrates taking responsibility for diversity and inclusion.
  • Providing support and developing others as a manager, mentor or role model.

Professional Standing and Wider Engagement

Professional Standing and Wider Engagement (core)

Criteria

Represent the institution and develop links with external contacts (within the profession or with business) to foster collaboration, at a regional and national level within area of specialism.

Evidence of Achievement

Provide a number of examples to demonstrate an appropriate level of professional standing and wider engagement. Examples of achievement in this area include:

  • Active membership of a major professional body (in some cases this may be specified and explicitly stated at Faculty or Department level).
  • Organisation of national conferences.
  • Development/involvement and/or leadership in academic and/or clinical/professional networks.
  • Invitations to give papers at highly regarded conferences.
  • Receipt of national prizes/awards.
  • Engagement in internal/external quality assurance activities.
  • Evidenced external recognition as an authority/significant practitioner in discipline.
  • Editor/member of editorial body of a periodical or journal of some standing.
  • Participation as a subject expert in consultancy or advisory activity and/or legal proceedings e.g. servicing local, regional, national advisory bodies.
  • Development and delivery of CPD programmes for external clients, developing collaborations with public, private and or third sector partners.
  • Media contributions in articles or appearances.
  • Honorary or visiting appointments at other prestigious institutions.
  • Acting as an external examiner at other prestigious institutions.
  • Being awarded a National Teaching Fellowship or similar prestigious fellowship.