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Criteria for Professorial Contribution Bands

Introduction

1 The success of the University depends on academic excellence.

2 The professorial contribution bands play a part in achieving academic excellence by

providing a framework through which individuals may progress according to transparent criteria based on academic excellence. The clarity on the contributions expected at each stage of the framework is intended to assist individuals to shape their careers and achieve their potential. In so doing, the professorial contribution bands should also assist with the achievement of the potential of the University.

3 Each professorial contribution band outlines a vision of the demonstrable achievements for

a professor at that level.

4 To be eligible for a Professorship, an individual will normally have identifiable

achievements under each of the three headings: • Research

• Teaching

• Academic Citizenship (including leadership and enhancement) 5 However, in some cases, the role will be focused more predominantly, or exceptionally

exclusively, on either teaching or research.

6 In a limited number of teaching-focused cases, a Professorship may be based on Teaching

Leadership and Teaching Related Research, and Academic Citizenship. In these cases, some or all of the Research will be replaced by both Teaching Leadership, and Teaching

Related Research.1

7 Knowledge Exchange and Impact criteria are included under the criteria for Research,

Teaching, and Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research. 8 In exceptional cases, a Professor may have evidence of continued success only in the

Research criteria and Academic Citizenship of a particular band that lead the University to conclude that band is appropriate.

9 The criteria should be applied additively. For example, a professor in band 3 will usually

meet the criteria for bands 1 to 3 inclusive. 10 The status and title of ‘Professor’ will apply to individuals in Bands 1 to 3.

11 An application for promotion to one of the professorial contribution bands may normally

only be re-submitted 2 years or more after the previous application.

1 A professor focused on Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research will have the title of

Professor.

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Equality of Opportunity

The University is committed to the development of an academic workforce where staff progress on individual merit, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. In particular, whilst requiring that in all cases the quality of work is considered against the usual criteria, the University will ensure that staff are not treated less favourably because of specific individual circumstances such as the following:

• Absence on maternity, paternity, parental or adoption leave • Disability, a medical condition or ill health (permanent or temporary)

• Part-time or other flexible working arrangements • Absence due to caring commitments • Career breaks of six months or over

The University will take into account effects resulting from the above on a staff member’s ability to demonstrate sustained performance against contribution requirements, but will still expect the staff member to demonstrate the achievement of the normal quality criteria. Thus, while no dilution of the required quality of inputs and outputs would be accepted, (subject to any appropriate threshold) the quantity of the contribution inputs and outputs would be considered in the following contexts, for example:

A member of staff who has taken maternity/parental/adoption leave may have a ‘gap’ in input and/or output. In these circumstances, a reduction in quantity would be taken into consideration.

Where a member of staff works part-time, the expected quantity of their input and output would be in relation to their working hours.

Where a member of staff’s disability, medical condition or ill health has an impact on the quantity of their input and/or output, this will be taken into consideration.

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CRITERIA FOR BAND 1

1 Band 1 will normally be for both internal and external candidates newly promoted to

Professor. 2 Band 1 is also sufficiently broad to allow progression within the band as new professors

develop their career and standing. A new professor will typically be in Band 1 between 2 and 5 years before meeting the criteria for Band 2.

3 The Band 1 role and promotion to professor is normally based on:

• outstanding original research which has a significant and demonstrable international impact, and

• a strong record of teaching, and • a strong record of academic citizenship (including leadership and enhancement).

4 However, in some cases, the role will be focused more predominantly or exceptionally

exclusively on either teaching or research. 5 In order to reward absolutely outstanding teachers, promotion to professor maysometimes

be based on institutional and national/international leadership in teaching, and leading on, and making exceptionally innovative and significant contributions to teaching related research, including either the creation of new resources or other evidence of exceptional teaching. In these cases, the Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research replaces, and is equivalent to meeting some or all of the Research criteria.

6 The criteria will be applied in a manner appropriate to the discipline. It is recognised

therefore that not all candidates for promotion to professor will meet all of the criteria, but

a significant number of the following must be demonstrated.

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Research

i) Evidence of an outstanding and sustained international research profile with innovative,

distinctive and significant and substantial outputs of international quality as appropriate to the discipline. (Appendix A, examples refer)

ii) Evidence of a sustained record of generating and managing the means required to deliver

innovative and distinctive international research. As appropriate to the discipline, evidence of successful and sustained collaborations with other research teams/institutions and significant and sustained success in obtaining research grants, individually or as a team leader, or key co-investigator. (Appendix A, examples refer)

iii) An appropriate number of high quality postgraduate research students attracted on a

continuing basis, and successfully supervising them to completion of their research degree studies.

iv) Evidence (as appropriate to the discipline) of excellent scholarship and/or research that

makes a demonstrable contribution to society and the economy, and is of benefit to the University. This includes the diverse ways in which research-related knowledge and scholarship and skills benefit individual, organisations and nations by:

• Fostering global economic performance, and specifically the economic

competitiveness of the UK;

• Increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy;

• Enhancing quality of life, health and creative output. 2

This might include applied and collaborative research, consultancy, development and delivery of CPD programmes for external clients, licensing of IP, the creating of spin-out companies and nationally significant collaborations that increase the effectiveness of public, private and/or voluntary and community partners.

v) Evidence of major contribution to widening participation, schools outreach or public

understanding of the discipline.

Teaching

i) Evidence, over a significant period, of developing and delivering excellence and

enhancement in design and delivery of teaching (including learning activities, teaching materials), assessment, and evaluation of impact on student learning, contributing to high quality undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that promote and improve the student learning experience.

ii) Evidence of outstanding and sustained leadership in teaching and/or pedagogy which

promotes and enhances the student learning experience. This is likely to include evidence of: (a) developing and delivering progressive changes that enhance the curriculum, learning activities/teaching materials, assessment, and of evaluating their impact on the student learning experience, and (b) improving the teaching and learning performance of colleagues within the discipline or College or University by influencing and inspiring them regarding pedagogy.

iii) Regularly an external examiner on taught programmes for prestigious institutions, and

periodic invitations to take part in teaching review panels at prestigious universities.

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In order to reward absolutely outstanding teachers, Professors focused on both Teaching Leadership, and Teaching Related Research will normally (in addition to meeting the Teaching criteria above and the criteria on Academic Citizenship) meet a majority of the Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research criteria below.

i) Evidence of sustained excellence in teaching as indicated by, for example, module

evaluation data, student performance, external examiner comments, peer observation and other relevant and verifiable sources of information.

ii) Evidence of significant institutional leadership (across a College or more widely across

the University) in relation to the management, development and enhancement of teaching and assessment.

ii) Evidence of exceptionally innovative and significant contributions to teaching-related

research in the field nationally and/or internationally eg pedagogic research leading to publication in learned journals, or the development and implementation of new methods of learning, including authorship of text books and the creation of new resources.

iii) Evidence of leading the development and enhancement of learning and teaching in the

field nationally and/or internationally, and engagement with the practitioner community.

iv) Evidence of leadership role in the development of other academic staff both within the College and the University, and in widening participation, outreach, public understanding of the subject discipline.

v) Where appropriate, a significant contribution to postgraduate taught programmes,

attracting such students on a continuing basis, and successfully supervising them to completion of their studies.

vi) Evidence (as appropriate to the discipline) of an involvement in Knowledge Exchange

which has a significant and demonstrable social and/or economic impact and benefit to the University. This might include applied and collaborative research (perhaps by relating the literature in teaching and learning to improve student learning and lead improvements in teaching nationally and/or internationally), consultancy, development and delivery of CPD programmes for external clients, licensing of IP, the creating of spin- out companies and nationally significant collaboration with public bodies.

Academic Citizenship (including Leadership and Enhancement)

i) Evidence of well-developed management skills and evidence of significant contributions to

the administration of a Department/School/College;

ii) Evidence of outstanding academic leadership and a proven ability to lead, develop and motivate colleagues and co-workers, working as part of a team to achieve School, College, or University goals. This may include mentoring and guidance.

iii) Evidence of contributions to peer review bodies, committees, Research Councils,

appointment panels outside the institution, institutional, college or school reviews, government committees, professional organisations or learned societies and the like.

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CRITERIA FOR BAND 2 1 Band 2 will normally be viewed as the appropriate Band for accomplished Professors of

considerable established academic standing and distinction. 2 Progression from Band 1 to Band 2 will be viewed as a reasonable career expectation, over

time, subject to evidence of achievement. Most professors will spend the majority of their professorial career in band 2, with the aspiration of progressing to band 3.

3 The span of time between the research outputs that conferred promotion to Professor on

Band 1, and the sustained and continuing achievements that merit entry to Band 2, will clearly differ in individual cases. Normally a period of at least two years and up to five years will have elapsed.

4 The criteria for placement in, or advancement to, Band 2 are the same as promotion to the

Professorship under the same three headings. However, to enter Band 2, individuals will be expected to demonstrate a continued production of outstanding Research (or in a limited number of cases Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research), at a greater level of attested and sustained success, supported, where appropriate to the discipline, by significant achievement in Knowledge Exchange or Impact. In addition, there will normally be a strong record in, and continuing commitment to Teaching, supported further by significant achievement in Academic Citizenship (including Leadership and Enhancement).

5 A Professor in Band 2 will have a high-level, international and well-established reputation

in her/his chosen field, with a sustained record of significant academic achievement, adding substantially to the achievement that enabled promotion to Professor on Band 1. He/she may, in addition, have outstanding achievements under more headings than was previously the case.

6 She/he will be expected to demonstrate how he/she has broadened as a member of the

academic community, probably (but not necessarily) by having seized further opportunities to show leadership, as evidenced by advising government, NGOs or research funding bodies, the holding of office in learned societies or professional bodies, or other evidence of recognised authority.

7 Professors who reach this band must demonstrate that they continue to meet the criteria of

a Band 1 Professor and that in addition they meet the criteria outlined below as appropriate to the discipline.

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Research

In addition to the Band 1 research criteria of an outstanding and sustained international research profile, evidence of successful collaborations with other research teams/institutions, significant and sustained success in obtaining research grants/projects, and an appropriate number of research students supervised:

i) Evidence of active involvement in the development and achievement of the research

strategy within the College.

ii) Evidence of acknowledgment of the importance of one’s work, for example through:

o The award of Fellowships or learned societies, or o Highly prestigious prizes or other honours.

iii) Evidence of substantial engagement with national or international partners in the public

dissemination of information that have an impact by benefitting the community, or the population at large or the commercial sector. (Some examples of partners in the area of Knowledge Exchange and Impact are given under Band 1).

Teaching

i) Evidence of active, sustained leadership of review (or development of) the curriculum or

teaching/assessment methodologies, or the management of teaching within Birmingham.

Professors focused on both Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research will normally (in addition to meeting the Band 2 criteria on Teaching and Academic Citizenship) meet each of the Band 1 Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research criteria, as well as those criteria below.

i) Evidence of significant promotion of the university’s strategic aims with regard to education

and active involvement in the development and achievement of the teaching and learning strategy within the College.

ii) Evidence of external national and international recognition of the importance of one’s own

work, for example through: o The award of a significant teaching focused scholarship, highly prestigious prizes or

other honours for scholarship and leadership in teaching.

o Invitation to advise teaching and learning units or strategy at other Higher Education Institutions.

iii) Evidence of substantial engagement with national or international partners in the public

dissemination of information that has impact of public or commercial benefit. For example, Project Leader for a funded educational enhancement project (e.g. JISC funding, HEA funding) with impact equivalent to that of a research grant or project of a Band 2 professor. (Some examples of partners in Knowledge Exchange and Impact are given under Band1).

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Academic Citizenship (including Leadership and Enhancement)

In addition, to the Band 1 criteria, evidence of a successful and effective contribution to the

achievement of Birmingham's strategic goals beyond the area of research and teaching (for

example, in widening participation, in implementing the International Strategy, advancing equality

and diversity, through negotiating complex partnerships, representing Birmingham on matters of

key importance overseas or in the city or region, or through fundraising).

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CRITERIA FOR BAND 3

1 Band 3 will be viewed as the Band reflecting an unusually highly accomplished sustained

and continuing record of academic achievement. These exceptional individuals are normally widely recognised as such by their peers.

2 The step difference in contribution between Bands 2 and 3 will be assumed to be

significantly greater than the step difference between Bands 1 and 2. 3 The work of Professors in Band 3 will not only have made a significant and substantive

contribution to their chosen field, but will have shaped, and show evidence of continuing to shape, its contours. Their influence on the work of others will be demonstrable (for example, through high levels of citation). Their reputation, already well-established, will still be rising, as evidenced by continuing as well as past achievement. Their very high distinction and standing in Research will normally be accompanied by a strong record in Teaching, and by significant achievements and reputation in Academic Citizenship (including (Leadership and Enhancement). In a limited number of teaching focused professor cases, Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research criteria will be met instead of the Research criteria.

4 In exceptional cases, a Professor may have demonstrable achievements in only the

Research criteria that lead the University to conclude a Band 3 is appropriate.

5 Overall, it will be evident that an exceptional level of academic authority has now been

added to the broadening of their contribution to academic life facilitated and recognized by appointment or promotion to a Professorship. They will have seized further high-level opportunities to show leadership, as evidenced by for example advising international governmental, non-governmental and professional bodies, research funding bodies, and holding office in esteemed learned societies or other organizations, councils and panels with visible authority, as appropriate to the discipline.

6 The criteria will be applied in a manner appropriate to the discipline.

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Research

i) Evidence of successful collaborations with major international or major national research

teams or institutions; ii) Establishing, leading and developing research centres of international and national

importance; iii) Evidence of sustained success in obtaining research grants and leading projects (with

respect to funding availability within the discipline), together with sustained success in supervising staff, and post-doctoral as well as research students;

iv) Evidence of active involvement in the development and achievement of the research strategy within the College or University;

v) International visiting Professorships; vi) Receipt of senior Research Fellowships awarded by funding bodies or learned societies,

as appropriate to the discipline, or similar fellowships competitively awarded, also as appropriate to the discipline;

vii) Prestigious prizes or awards as appropriate to the discipline; viii) Editorship of internationally eminent journals;

ix) Regular invitations to deliver named lectures or keynote/plenary addresses to international or major national research meetings, and the leading conferences in the field;

x) Invitations to deliver master classes or workshops and top-echelon participation in practice-based colloquia at international or major national level;

xi) Substantial engagement with national or international partners in the public dissemination of information that has an impact by benefitting the community, or the population at large or the commercial, creative and heritage sectors, including leadership of consortia in this area;

xii) Significant engagement with industry or other end-users of research; xiii) Successful commercialization of research outputs; xiv) Generation of Third Stream income and/or public impact of manifest benefit to the

College; xv) Award of patents or licences; xvi) Prominent involvement at office-holding or equivalent seniority in the establishment of

externally funded endowments for scientific or cultural activity or research; xvii) Substantial partnerships in the area of knowledge transfer (e.g. Government Departments

& non-Departmental Public Bodies, charities, International Foundations, museums, arts and science festivals, substantial contribution to national or international media broadcasts, particularly series etc).

Teaching

i) A sustained and continuing record of excellence in teaching; ii) Evidence of leadership of development (or review) of the curriculum or

teaching/assessment methodologies or the management of teaching within the Faculty or College;

iii) Evidence of substantial national/international peer esteem in teaching.

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Professors focused on both Teaching Leadership and Teaching related Research will normally (in addition to meeting the Band 3 criteria on Teaching Leadership and Teaching Related Research, and Academic Citizenship) meet each of the criteria below.

i) Evidence of international peer esteem in teaching, including:

a. evidence of successful collaborations with major international or major national teaching development or educational enhancement teams or institutions. For example, quality assurance activities in Higher Education, such as membership of QAA panels or equivalent.

b. Regular invitations to deliver named lectures or key note/plenary addresses to international teaching scholarship meetings, and the leading conferences in teaching related research in the field.

c. Invitations to deliver master classes or workshops and top-echelon participation in practice based colloquia at international level.

ii) Evidence of sustained success in obtaining funding for leading educational enhancement

projects (with respect to funding availability), together with sustained success in supervising staff and post-doctoral as well as research students.

iii) Editorship of internationally eminent journals (normally relating to teaching) OR member of the editorial board with teaching responsibility in internationally eminent journals.

iv) International visiting professorships in connection with teaching. v) Prestigious prizes or awards related to scholarship in teaching, as appropriate to the

discipline (and equivalent to research prizes or awards at Band 3); vi) Evidence of major active role in the delivery of teaching enhancement and teaching

strategy institutionally (within the College or University). vii) Where appropriate to the discipline, the candidate will normally also meet Knowledge

Exchange and Impact criteria with excellent scholarship in teaching that makes a demonstrable contribution to society and the economy, as follows:

a. Substantial engagement with national or international partners in the public dissemination of information that has an impact by benefitting the community or the population at large, or the commercial, creative and heritage sectors, including leadership of consortia in this area;

b. Significant engagement with industry or other end users of research;

c. Successful commercialisation of scholarship in teaching outputs. For example, on- line teaching resources.

d. Generation of Third Stream income and/or public impact of manifest benefit to the College.

e. Award of patents or licenses.

f. Prominent involvement at office-holding or equivalent seniority in the establishment of externally funded endowments for scholarship in teaching.

g. Substantial partnerships in the area of Knowledge Exchange (e.g. Government Departments & non-Departmental Public Bodies, charities, International Foundations, museums, arts and science festivals, substantial contribution to national or international media broadcasts, particularly series etc.

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Academic Citizenship (including Leadership and Enhancement)

In addition to the Band 2 academic citizenship criteria:

i) Evidence of academic leadership and a proven ability to lead, develop and motivate colleagues, working to achieve substantive Departmental/School, College or University goals;

ii) Evidence of a successful and effective contribution to the achievement of the University’s strategic goals beyond the area of research and teaching, for example through negotiating complex partnerships, representing the University externally on matters of key importance, or through fundraising or other income generation;

iii) Active membership or leadership of national or international research sponsorship or evaluation panels, or other relevant committees, societies and funding bodies, including Research Councils’ boards or sub-committees;

iv) Active participation in tenure reviews or professorial appointments at major overseas universities.

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3

Research Councils UK: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/kei/Pages/home.aspx

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Appendix A

Band 1 - Examples of evidence of sustained record of demonstrable research achievement, given the norms for the field

i) Proven and sustained success in research leadership and/or managing staff and other

resources of a significant academic area or project; ii) Substantial experience of successful bids for research awards and research contracts. iii) A substantial and sustained range of published work, such as articles in leading refereed

journals, authored books, contributions to edited volumes, reports etc. iv) Other forms of assessable outputs, including: conference contributions, patent/published

patent applications, software, internet publications, performances, compositions, designs, artefacts, exhibitions, research reports for external bodies, devices and/or products, digital or visual media, scholarly editions, research datasets and databases.

v) Evidence of impact of peer reviewed publications describing major discoveries, observations or innovative applications, as evidenced by citation rates or other appropriate norms for the field.

vi) Academic distinctions (e.g. academic awards, acting as a referee for leading academic journals and funding bodies, grant reviewer for awarding bodies)

vii) Invited addresses to, or organization of, international or major national research meetings and conferences;

viii) Significant research degree appointments as external examiner; ix) Significant indications of esteem within and beyond academia, such as senior visiting

appointments, and high-profile invitations to participate in public, printed or broadcast debate.