Professors at the University of Northampton

1.0	Purpose and scope

1.1	This document details the process and criteria for internal progression to the post of Professor.

1.2	Professorships are awarded in recognition of a distinguished record of achievement, conferred as a mark of authority, respect and standing in relation to a staff member’s discipline or field. The University of Northampton confers Professorships to members of staff in relation to three areas or strands: Research, Professional Practice/Enterprise, and Learning and Teaching.

1.3	Under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor or Deputy Vice-Chancellor, each area will be represented by a Strand Leader:
•	Research: Dean of Research, Impact and Innovation.
•	Professional Practice/Enterprise: Director of Enterprise and Employability.
•	Learning and Teaching: Director of Library and Learning Services.

1.4	Following a call for Professors, successful applicants will be subject to the criteria, duties and responsibilities contained in the Professorial Job Description. This will be monitored annually through the PDR process.

2.0	Eligibility Criteria

2.1	Candidates will normally be employees who hold a permanent contract with the University of Northampton, full or part-time (0.2 FTE or above). Fixed-term employees may apply but should be aware that they may only hold the post while they are employed by the University.

2.2	Candidates should be holders of a Doctorate or be able to demonstrate sustained professional expertise and experience equivalent to Level 8.

2.3	Applicants will be assessed against the strand criteria listed below.

3.0 Criteria for the conferment of a Professorship

3.1.	This section identifies the prerequisite criteria for all candidates, as well as the assessed specific criteria for those applying under each strand. In their applications, candidates must clearly map their evidence against the relevant criteria. They should describe their current role and contribution across the evidence base they provide.

3.2.	Prerequisite criteria that apply to all candidates, applying for a professorial post, irrespective of the strand they apply for. 

a.	Substantive, established leadership. To meet this criterion, candidates may wish to provide evidence such as (indicative list):

•	evidence of outstanding and sustained leadership in advancing the University’s strategic aims, nationally and internationally
•	having had significant and successful leadership roles, within or outside the University, on projects or activities that align to the applicant’s areas of work at the University
•	a major role in supporting the development of others in areas consistent with the University’s strategic plan
•	a lead role in promoting diversity and inclusion
•	a contribution to the wider academic or relevant industry sector(s) that demonstrates a commitment to the University’s Changemaker values.

b.	Recognised professional standing. To meet this criterion, candidates may wish to provide evidence in the form of clear, verifiable indicators of external recognition and standing, for example (indicative list):

•	academic and/or professional qualifications appropriate to their discipline or field, normally including a higher degree (e.g. a PhD or equivalent) and, where relevant, professional qualifications at a high level, such as Fellowship of an appropriate professional body
•	evidence of status as a national and international reference point in relation to their own expertise
•	recent membership of and active engagement in significant national or international committees and boards
•	membership of and active engagement in learned organisations
•	nationally and internationally recognised awards and prizes
•	honorary and visiting titles
•	other engagements that evidence high external reputation and visibility.

c.	Excellent organisational, communication and digital skills, with demonstrable capability in the use of appropriate technologies in an academic setting.
a.	

4.0	Assessed criterion for each Professorial strand

4.1	 For candidates who wish to be considered under the Research strand: proven international research standing.

To meet this criterion, applicants should provide evidence to demonstrate all of the following:

i.	generation of research impact at international level, including at least three REF-able outputs (rated 3* or above) in the last five years, demonstrating how these research outputs have led to new knowledge or practices, recognised by peers as being of international quality, normally through peer review
ii.	an established record of authorship or co-authorship for the creation of other REF- able research outputs (monographs, publications, patents, software, artistic works and others) 
iii.	evidence of leading on/actively engaging with research impact case studies 
iv.	editorship of significant volumes and/or editorial contributions to national and international peer-reviewed journals or equivalent, as appropriate to the academic discipline.
v.	a track record of successful leadership and income generation from external research funding (typically as Principal Investigator) in the last five years and a plan for grant capture in the 24 months following professorial appointment
vi.	experience of leading colleagues in their training, skills acquisition, research ethics, research bidding and career development
vii.	extensive experience, as first supervisor, in the supervision of doctoral research through to completion
viii.	extensive experience as an external examiner at PhD level
ix.	regular invitations to address learned, scholarly and professional meetings and conferences, typically as the main keynote speaker.
x.	a strategy/plan to sustain research projects outcomes, income, and impact.

4.1.	For candidates who wish to be considered under the Professional Practice/Enterprise strand: proven international standing in Professional Practice or Enterprise.

To meet this criterion, applicants should provide evidence to demonstrate all of the following:

i.	generation of sustained international impact on the business, industry, public or NGO and charitable sectors through an established record of successful development of practice(s), recognised as of exceptional quality by the relevant sector and peers
ii.	successful leadership roles within professional, industrial, commercial or practitioner spheres (directors, consultants, policy groups, etc.) that demonstrates professional or industry esteem and relevance to the development and implementation of national and international professional practice and policy
iii.	evidence of leadership in creating social, environmental. economic, or cultural impact or changes in professional practice in the last five years 
iv.	successful collaborations with external partners within and beyond the relevant sector, including evidence of benefit and impact, financial or otherwise
v.	regular invitations to act as keynote speaker, consultant or advisor to major national, governmental and international agencies
vi.	a track record of successful leadership and income generation from external funding, consultancy, and other funding streams in the last five years, including a plan for income generation and impact in the 24 months following professorial appointment
vii.	contributions to high-level entrepreneurial work in the University’s interest or evidence of contribution to sustained continuous improvement in professional practice
viii.	awards by national and/or international agencies
ix.	evidence of extending, enhancing and sustaining standing in professional practice and/or enterprise over time, including active engagement in CPD activity
x.	evidence of leadership on the practices of others, including helping colleagues to enhance their own professional standing.

4.2	For candidates who wish to be considered under the Learning and Teaching strand: proven international standing in Learning and Teaching.

To meet this criterion, applicants should provide evidence to demonstrate all of the following:

i.	major and sustained generation of positive impact on the experience and achievement of students through an established record of successful pedagogic innovation and/or the scholarship of teaching and learning that leads to new knowledge or practices recognised internationally as being of high quality
ii.	a sustained and significant record of national and international reach, influence and visibility in effective teaching practices within and outside their own subject area
iii.	a leadership role in disseminating, embedding and sustaining effective teaching practices, including full engagement in peer observation
iv.	success in leading on University-wide projects in the area of learning and teaching, including securing bids
v.	having held down a key leadership role in learning and teaching in a higher education institution (e.g., Subject Leader, Deputy Subject Leader, Programme Leader or equivalent) for a minimum of four years
vi.	achievement of professional recognition in learning and teaching at the level of Senior Fellow of the HEA, Principal Fellow of the HEA, National Teaching Fellow or equivalent
vii.	a record of enabling and supporting colleagues to obtain professional recognition at the appropriate level (Fellowships) through mentoring and significant contributions to the design and delivery of recognised staff development programmes
viii.	a substantial contribution to the learning and teaching components of the University’s Strategic Plan
ix.	sustained leadership in pedagogic research, evidenced through peer-reviewed publications.
i.	

5.0	Application Process

5.1	There will be an annual call for Professorships. 

5.2	Candidates will submit their applications to HR, by the agreed deadline and these will be forwarded to a panel for shortlisting. The panel will typically be chaired by the DVC or nominee, and comprise of the Dean of Research, Impact and Innovation, the Director of Library and Learning Services, the Director of Enterprise and Employability and an internal Professor.

5.3	The shortlisting panel will determine which applicants have demonstrated they fully meet the criteria under the relevant strand and can be put forward for interview. Unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback from the relevant strand leader.

5.4	The interview panel will typically be chaired by the VC, DVC or nominee, and comprise of an external professor, an internal professor, other members of the Deanery and, where appropriate, the Director of Enterprise and Employability and the Director of Library and Learning Services. All applicants will receive feedback from a panel member post-interview.

5.5	The documentation required is as follows:
a)	A completed cover sheet (see appendix 1);
b)	A personal letter of application, indicating which strand the application should be considered under and summarising the key points that the panel should consider in respect of the applicant, including any development needs (maximum: one side of A4 in total);
c)	A record of achievement, clearly set against the criteria shown in section 4, with relevant supporting evidence for each of the relevant items within the criteria (five sides of A4 maximum);
d)	Supporting statements from two external referees of professorial rank or equivalent, within the same or a closely related field to that of the applicant.

6.0 Mentoring, development, and support of Professors

6.1.	Unless otherwise agreed, successful candidates will be entitled to, and expected to engage in, mentoring, CPD and support, as outlined in this section. Suitable arrangements for this provision will be made between the Professor and the relevant Dean, Research Institute Leader or Director.
6.1.	
6.2.	Successful candidates, in consultation with the relevant Dean, Research Institute Leader or Director, will identify a suitable mentor. The role of the mentor is to enable progression and development of the new professor through work towards pre-agreed PDR targets. The mentor can be internal or external to the University. Where the mentor is external to the University, the relevant Faculty, Department or Institute will bear the cost.

6.3.	Programme of CPD activities for Professors.
Professors are expected to fully engage in the following activities:
-	Workshops and activities suitable for all Professors.
-	Workshops and activities designed specifically for Professors who applied under each strand:
a.	Research - developed and coordinated by the Dean of Research, Impact and Innovation (Strand Leader) or their nominee.
b.	Professional Practice/Enterprise - developed and coordinated by the Director of Enterprise and Employability (Strand Leader) or their nominee.
c.	Learning and Teaching - developed and coordinated by the Director of Library and Learning Services (Strand Leader) or their nominee.

7.0	Grading on appointment

7.1	Appointments through this process will normally be made at Grade 9. In exceptional circumstances, the panel may appoint at Grade 10, based on the Grade 10 criteria contained in the Job Description and Person Specification document for Professors.

8.0 Equality Impact Analysis: this policy has been subject to an equality impact analysis

Appendix 1

Application for Professorship Cover Form

Name of Candidate:		
Name of Dean or Director:		
Strand under which the application should be considered (tick as appropriate)	-	Research
-	Professional Practice/Enterprise
-	Learning and Teaching	

Applicant’s brief rationale in support of this application (up to 100 words)		

Please add this cover sheet to the items listed under 5.5 and email all documents to hr@northampton.ac.uk