Support for probationary staff

Chris PearceSchool of Engineering, Convenor of Research

LTC Away Day

Periodic Subject Review:Success of Mentoring System

School of Engineering recruited 23 probationary staff since 2010: • 12 lecturers, 10 research fellows (6 are tenure track), 1 UT – 40% from

outside UK• Aim is to develop this large cohort into academic leaders of the future

PSR reported unanimous support from the probationary staff for:• the allocation process [of work] ; • the link to the probationary process; • the formal appraisal meetings;General support provided to them by their mentors. The mentoring system allows for effective management of the workload of probationary staff who all agreed that they were assigned tasks appropriate to their skill set.

Probationary staff and Mentoring

• All probationary staff are assigned an experienced academic mentor (usually line managers)

• Workload is carefully managed to permit the rapid establishment of research activities:Teaching in Year 1 is restricted to 10 credits (20 hour lecture course), increasing to 20 credits in Year 2. Administration in Year 1 is minimal.

• Annual research grant-writing workshop:Illustrate good practice, practical advice, funding opportunities, key support mechanisms, feedback on draft proposals and facilitating mock panels (with ECRs chairing and speaking to the proposals of their peers)

• Annual new staff induction event:Social interaction, introduction to key people in School, School plans and objectives, research environment, L&T environment

This year we ran a parallel event for last year’s new starts

Further support for probationary staff

• Start-up package to help them establish their independent research activities: • A targeted infrastructure/equipment fund (£365k since 2011)• Offered at least one PhD studentship (UK or possibly EU)• Flexible budget of £8k (£5k year 1 and £3k year 2) to support travel,

networking and maintaining and developing international collaborations.

• Promotion of opportunities: College and Scottish Crucible, RSE Young Academy, Royal Society equipment grants, travel grants, etc.

More to be done:• Balance between research and teaching• Improve culture of collegiality• Developing broader contribution of staff