Introduction.

Conferments of academic titles are made by the university’s Professorial Board on individuals who are considered to have achieved an outstanding record in an academic discipline. The titles reflect leadership, exceptional contribution (to the university, the discipline and the profession) and substantial reputation at both national and international level, in research and scholarship and/or teaching and learning as well as in academic management.

This document sets out the procedures and criteria for the conferment of academic titles upon suitably qualified individuals in recognition of academic achievements at Prowess University.

The procedure for appointment to a new position or conferment through the annual application process is detailed below.

 

Policy Statement on Equal Opportunities

Equality and diversity
The university is committed to open and diverse recruitment and promotion with equality and diversity at the heart of all relevant processes and decisions. The university will strive to achieve a diverse workforce, to ensure talent is not blocked from entering the university and/or progressing within it, and to support people from all backgrounds and cultures to realize their full potential.

Professorial Board panel members and other contributors to this process need to be fully aware of equality legislation and understand how discrimination can occur both directly and indirectly in such processes.
Shortlisting and selection whether at recruitment or promotion, will always be carried out without regard to age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, or religion or belief.

Recruitment and promotion processes and systems will be regularly reviewed to ensure hidden bias is removed

External Academic Referees

  • The names and contact details of five external referees of professorial standing, suited to comment on the applicant’s qualities with regard to the appropriate criteria will be required for a professorial appointment.
  • The referees must be independent of the applicant and should normally be of professorial standing in a discipline related to the applicant’s field of work. The referees must be independent in the sense that they have not supervised, worked closely or collaborated with the applicant on research, scholarship or consultancy projects in the last five years. They must also not be partners or family members.
  • Out of the five referees nominated by an applicant for a professorial post, the Professorial and Readership Board will seek references from any three of its choice. The Board will also seek additional references from two independent referees of its choice within the applicant’s field of work.
  • The role of external academic referees is to advise the Professorial Board on the suitability of the applicant under consideration for the title of Professor on the basis of the criteria through the provision of a written reference.

 

Criteria for Professorial Appointment

The title of Professor conferred by Prowess University demonstrates the appointee has made outstanding, significant and lasting contributions in their academic discipline nationally and internationally and to the university’s strategy and advancement, through leadership and high-level contributions to teaching, research, external income generation, knowledge transfer and public engagement. All applicants must, therefore, demonstrate this capacity in their applications in order to be successful.

The appointment of a Professor is guided by reference to outstanding, significant and lasting contributions nationally and internationally in the relevant discipline, as well as contributions to the university’s strategy and advancement, through leadership and high-level engagement across the pathways as set out in 1 to 4 below. Applicants should demonstrate that they contribute in at least three of the four pathways and excel in at least one. It is not expected that applicants will be able to match themselves against every criterion.

1. Contributions by research and scholarship of international calibre to the advancement of knowledge in a subject or profession over a sustained period

(a) Exceptional and internationally recognized achievement in research and scholarship and /or innovative application. Evidence may include an outstanding and sustained national and international research profile: innovative, distinctive, significant and substantial outputs of international quality as appropriate to the discipline; publication of highly-regarded books and papers; plus a substantial role in shaping Prowess University submission in external research assessments.

(b) Evidence of significant research collaborations with research funding bodies and evidence of external and substantial research grant support and income generation including commissions and/or consultancy.

(c) Joint or sole authorship of research publications, (e.g. refereed journals books, articles) presentation of research findings at major national and international conferences, design portfolios, creative artefacts.

(d) Successful supervision of research students.

(e) Contributions to the development of distinctive knowledge or outstanding practice or public policy in applied contexts such as business, commerce/consultancy, industrial engagement, creative work, public services and the arts, professional practice to include practice-based, performance or policy-making to the furtherance of the subject.

(f) Evidence of contributions at university, national and/or international level to the subject, and /or professional bodies /external esteem. This will include recognition as an expert in a field /profession both at national and international level; refereeing of articles for academic journals (peer-reviewed where appropriate); refereeing of grant applications for major funding bodies; membership of national and international panels and editorial boards and invitations to address national and international meetings and conferences.

2. Contributions made to new insights and the advancement of knowledge through learning and teaching activities of national and international calibre

(a) Significant contribution to the pedagogy of the subject and/or professional practice. Evidence may include involvement in learning and teaching at national and international level; external examining; presentations on pedagogy at conferences and contributions to pedagogy debate at national or international level; collaboration on inter- disciplinary / professional education and contribution to books and articles.

(b) Evidence of teaching innovation and/or course development for which the applicant has been a lead player; development of new teaching materials or methodologies influencing the pedagogy of the subject; a sustained reputation for teaching excellence, learning and teaching and assessment practice which may have been adopted internationally but also university-wide to enhance the student experience.

(c) Evidence of scholarship related to learning and teaching, including evidence of obtaining external funding for learning and teaching developments, joint or sole authorship of books and publications.

(d) National and international recognition, to include invitations to presentations, roles in professional bodies, relevant committee memberships and external leadership role in the development of an academic area.