Development Program for New Academics
• What does the program involve? • Can I participate? • What's available to support my teaching development?
• What's available to support my research? • How do I find out more?
What does the program involve?
The aim of the program is to assist your professional development You will negotiate a development agreement with your academic supervisor, have the option of mentoring support, participate in some core and some negotiated activities relevant to your academic development goals and interests and develop your academic portfolio. You will receive a 25% reduction in your teaching load for the first two years to enable you to participate.
Can I participate?
If you're a new associate lecturer or lecturer appointed full-time or at .7 fractional or above, you are expected to participate. If your appointment is at less than .7 fractional, you should negotiate with your academic supervisor about completing an appropriate proportion of the program. If you're appointed at senior lecturer or above, you may participate in the development program with the agreement of your Dean.
Further information about the program, including a pro-forma for your development agreement:
- Development Program for New Academic Staff: Guidelines for participants [PDF]
(You need Acrobat Reader software to read this pdf document. If you don't already have it, download it from Adobe.) - Development Program for New Academic Staff: Participant development agreement [Word doc]
- Developing an Academic Portfolio: Guidelines
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What's available to support my teaching development?
The Institute for Interactive Media and Learning provides a range of opportunities for learning and teaching development. If you like to discuss teaching with others, you can participate in subjects of interest from the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning or choose to complete the course. If you prefer to read about learning and teaching, you can ask for print-based self-managed learning packages. You can also borrow some videos on teaching and learning. IML also works with Faculties, academic units, course teams and groups on learning and teaching issues, including face-to-face teaching, e-learning and UTSOnline, assessment and subject and course design.
It can be very useful to ask colleagues - especially those with a reputation for good teaching -whether you can sit in on their classes and observe what they and their students do. Most good teachers will be happy to agree. Observing other teachers can be extremely useful for both new and more experienced teachers.
What's available to support my research?
Research support is available at university and Faculty levels. The Research and Innovation page on the UTS website has links to the Research and Innovation Office and other central information sites. The Research and Innovation Office provides central support and information for UTS researchers. It administers the Internal Research grants and other funding schemes. The Research and Innovation Office also provides information and assistance on Ethics and Biosafety requirements, and information on Environmental Health and Safety risk management processes for research.
Ask your academic supervisor or Associate Dean (Research) about research seeding opportunities, conference funding, access to research facilities and other forms of support in your Faculty or Institute.
How do I find out more?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Ask people. Being a new academic can be isolating and it's often up to you to talk with your academic colleagues, supervisor, admin staff in your Faculty and people from university support units. If you come to the orientations offered by IML and Staff Development, you'll meet people who can provide information and advice when you need it.
- Talk with your academic supervisor. Like you, supervisors are busy people, but they have a responsibility to support your professional development. If it's difficult to find informal time, make an appointment.
- Search the UTS website. You'll find links to a search facility, index and site map just below the black horizontal bar on the home page.
- Ask people. Being a new academic can be isolating and it's often up to you to talk with your academic colleagues, supervisor, admin staff in your Faculty and people from university support units. If you come to the orientations offered by IML and Staff Development, you'll meet people who can provide information and advice when you need it.