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Fulfilling requirements of a teaching and research contract

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  5. Fulfilling requirements of a teaching and research contract

I am on a teaching and research contract and need to fulfill the requirements of the contract

The University of Northampton (UON) has developed two kinds of academic contracts, recognising the different expertise and contributions of diverse colleagues:

  • The ‘T&S’ Academic Contract (Teaching & Scholarship) is designed for colleagues with a learning & teaching focus. It includes dedicated workload time for scholarly activity, as required, but does not include requirements around research outputs. Workload is allocated in accordance with UON Guidance for Populating Academic Workplans
  • The ‘T&R’ Academic Contract (Teaching & Research) is designed for those colleagues (typically post-doctoral) who can demonstrate a significant and ongoing track record of research and research outputs. In line with UON Guidance for Populating Academic Workplans, the T&R contract includes an annual allocation of research activity hours. This contract has a minimum requirement that at least two 2* quality outputs or the equivalent are produced every three years, however in practice we are keen to support the holders of these contracts to work towards reaching 3* outputs and above.

If you are on a T&R contract this is recognition of your significant and ongoing research activity. Congratulations and many thanks for the work you have done to reach this stage. The work of UON colleagues on T&R contracts is absolutely crucial to UON’s strategic commitment to foster excellent research, as well as our institutional performance in important sector rankings such as the Research Excellence Framework (REF).

It is hoped that the allocation of dedicated research activity hours through the T&R contract will enable you to develop exciting new research outputs and agendas in your area.

We have put together a range of resources and information to support you in fulfilling requirements of the T&R contract. Here you’ll find some development outcomes to help you think about your research profile and plans in relation to the requirements of the T&R contract.

We have also provided some example Performance and Development Review (PDR) objectives, embedded in some broader discussion topics support conversations with your line manager. You’ll also find some useful development activities and resources, and a ‘who’s who’ of useful contacts within the University to support you in broadening your support network.

We are planning to build a bank of good practice examples for colleagues who are on T&R contract, and the resources here will be continuously updated.

We hope you find this information useful. You can provide feedback via a research development feedback form at any time that suits you.

Scroll down for further information.

  • Here, you will find some example development objectives that we think will support you at this stage. They have been developed by a working group of diverse, multi-disciplinary colleagues. The themes were raised by colleagues in a cross-University survey about researcher needs, and are mapped to external benchmarks and sector good practice (e.g. Vitae), plus relevant internal strategies and policies.

    The objectives identify some key actions for you to complete. Staff needs are likely to be different as the research career progresses, but progression is not always linear and different forms of objectives and support may be required at different times. You may want to adapt them to your own needs, in consultation with your line manager, mentor or research lead.

    Developing identity as a researcher

    Support the development of a sense of belonging between you and other research colleagues internally and externally to the University. Continue to network with colleagues in your network or discipline and work on building collaborative projects with others. Seek support to enhance the quality of your research outputs, evidencing your contribution to your field.

    Broadening your research knowledge (skills) and experience

    Seek mentoring/peer support to enhance quality of your research outputs to develop work which has potential to be ‘recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour’ (REF 2*). Explore opportunities to engage in professional/researcher development activities (contact a Faculty Research Leader, Research Centre Leader, or the Graduate School to identify the most relevant opportunities)

    Equality, diversity and inclusion

    Consider how your research outputs might advance understandings of age, gender, race, disability, sexualities and other social-cultural identities.  Demonstrate engagement with equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) discussions and action in research through feeding your own experiences of the challenges and successes of embedding EDI into discussions you have with others. Plan ways to support other staff and students to embed EDI into their own research.

    Organisational expectations/vision

    In Performance and Development Review (PDR) discussions with your line manager, ensure that you have at least one objective aligned with Faculty/UON Key Performance Indicators for research and enterprise (e.g. planning for income generation, impact, or enhancing research environment). The PDR process should also monitor that there is progression towards achieving two REF-able outputs every three years as required by the T&R contract. Contact your Faculty Research Leader if there are areas of concern or opportunities to share good practice.

    Developing networks, partnerships/collaborations

    Initiate collaboration with internal and/or external communities of researchers in your subject area.

    Seek opportunities to disseminate your research in internal and external networks. Build and maintain your Pure research profile.  Actively share your research via presentations and quality peer reviewed outputs. Seek opportunities to engage in research networks at UON (e.g. joining an ongoing research project, joining the Faculty Ethics Committee as a reviewer, attendance at the UON annual research conference).

  • Colleagues and line managers have asked for guidance on setting Performance and Development Review (PDR) objectives relating to research. We have provided some example PDR objectives for colleagues at your stage. Examples can be selected and adapted to suit individual development priorities.

    1. Continue to work on peer-reviewed output(s) as per Teaching & Research contract, seeking mentoring/peer support to develop work which has potential to be ‘recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour’ (REF 2*) The PDR process should check that there is progression towards achieving two REF-able outputs every three years as required by the ‘Teaching and Research’ contract.

    • Focusing on research
    • Delivering high quality performance
    • Participate in the development of a bid for research/enterprise funding
    • Focusing on income and advancement

    2. Attendance at specific UON research methods development session(s) followed by dissemination of learning to colleagues

    • Focusing on research
    • Delivering excellent student or customer experience

    We want to empower researchers to explore their strengths and areas for future development. There is detailed information for managers of researchers, to which you can also signpost your manager, to help you underpin discussions about moving to a T&R contract. Some topics for discussion might include:

    • What information do you need to ensure you meet the requirements of the T&R contract? (Identify what you need to know, or anything that is not clear)
    • What guidance and support is available from other colleagues on T&R contracts in your team or Faculty?
    • What mentoring and support would help you to fulfil the requirements of the T&R contract?
    • How will your research activity hours be managed in practice? How can you, alongside your manager, enable you to make best use of this allocated time?
    • Which research outputs should you prioritise? How will you ensure that you have a clear plan in place to check and enhance the quality of your outputs as per the requirements of REF?

    If you or your manager would like support with these discussions, please contact your research lead, or the lead of a relevant research centre. The following section also provides some examples of good practice in this area.

  • In this section we have provided some examples of development activities [staff login required for staff intranet], top tips and good practice. UON colleagues have found these activities helpful, and we hope they will be useful to you at this stage. We will continue to update this section with examples and activities. Please share any feedback, or other examples you have found useful, on this research development feedback form. These fall under four categories, and you can ‘pick and mix’ according to your needs and development objectives:

    1. Information, policies and guidance for researchers at UON;
    2. Existing resources via recorded sessions previously held at UON, or offered via development platforms that we have a license for, including Linda.com and SAGE research methods;
    3. Forthcoming development sessions hosted by the University of Northampton;
    4. Case studies of support, mentoring and protecting research time for you to develop your own ideas of the support mechanisms you need.

  • A big part of building our research community is developing supportive links between different individuals and teams. We really want to you to feel supported as you progress your research aspirations, whatever those aspirations might be. Here, you will find a list of the people/teams/centres who are there to support you.

    They are a good first port of call for you to seek support and guidance and can signpost you to others if they aren’t able to help directly.

    Research and Innovation Funding Services Manager: Paul Bramble

    Faculty research leads:

    Faculty of Health, Education and Society: John Horton

    Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology: Lee Machado

    Faculty of Business and Law: Shaowei He

    Research Institutes and Centres | University of Northampton

  • Make sure that you read the current guidance on UON contracts carefully. Seek advice from your team, line manager and other UON colleagues about what works in relation to meeting the requirements of the T&R contract. As a part of the application for a T&R contract, you will need to demonstrate clear forward planning including a research publication/output plan. It is important that are realistic about what is feasible. Think about which research outputs to prioritise, and make sure you have a clear plan in place to check and enhance the quality of your outputs.

    If you have been on a T&R contract for some time and demonstrated consistent performance against the contract requirements, you should consider applying for the title of Associate Professor. The following section gives information to support colleagues on this next step of the research career.