TRAC Time Allocation Schedules
Allocation of Activities - Academics
These notes are intended to assist academic staff in deciding into which category they
should allocate particular activities on a basis that is consistent across the campus and which
meets TRAC guidelines. Once the nature of the activity has been classified (using this table),
the funding source will determine whether the teaching is publicly funded or non-publicly
funded, and whether the research activity in internally or externally funded, as required on the
Time Allocation Schedule.
These further notes cover examples of campus activities and their allocation:Activity
Allocation
Preparing materials for lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops,
laboratory classes or projects, organising teaching-related fieldwork,
external placements for students
Delivering lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops
Supervising laboratory classes or student/class projects
Supervising undergraduate research projects
Contact time with students on educational matters, including
counselling, attending taught student fieldwork activities, visiting
students on external placements
Providing formal courses to other Departments or Universities where
these are part of the Department’s normal teaching activity
Writing text books and articles intended primarily for teaching purposes
Preparing and marking examination papers, including re-sits,
oral examinations/ vivas
Reading and assessing student dissertations, reading and marking
essays and other student work
Invigilation of examinations including external examining (both at own
and other institutions)
Teaching
Timetabling, examination boards, preparing course prospectuses,
School and Departmental committees relating to teaching, school
liaison, interviewing prospective students
Academic exchanges, development of teaching materials, development
of teaching skills, student exchanges
Scholarly work such as keeping up to date in your field or exploring new
areas for teaching activity
[Note that there may be overlap with Research: See note on splitting
Support time (below)]
Advancement and development of personal teaching knowledge and
skills through training or professional development courses
Support for
Teaching
Management of research projects, informal discussions, progress
reports
Production of research reports as required under the terms of the
specific research project
Research staff recruitment and supervision
Attending conferences, seminars and society meetings that are directly
connected with specific research projects
Collaboration with other Departments, Universities and Institutions on
specific research projects
Research-related fieldwork trips, laboratory or studio work
Research
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Teaching
Training and supervising postgraduate research students, including
training in methodologies, review of drafts and preparation of theses,
external examining of research students
Research - PGR
Drafting and submitting research proposals to external funding bodies;
negotiating research contracts
Unpaid advisory work for Government departments or committees and
professional bodies where it enhances or potentially benefits research
work
Scholarly work such as keeping up to date in your field, the
advancement and development of personal knowledge and skills in
relation to research, such as acquiring new technical skills, attending
professional conferences, spending time at other Institutions on
research exchange schemes
[Note that there may be overlap with Teaching: See note on splitting
Support time (below)]
General research administration including School and Departmental
research committees
Support for
Research
Clinical services provided to the NHS where the member of staff is
funded by the University
Paid consultancies undertaken during University time
Paid consultancies undertaken during own private time
Paid technology transfer work, including directorships of spin out and
start up companies
Paid advisory work for government departments or committees,
including Research Councils
Paid work editing professional journals and publications where the work
is undertaken in University time
Other
Drafting and negotiating contracts and agreements relating to
consultancies and other activities
Unpaid work on technology transfers, such as supporting patent
applications, licence negotiations, formation of start up and spin out
companies
Support for Other
Support time serving on general University committees or supporting
general campus activities such as residences and catering, fundraising,
promoting the University, liaison with administrative departments
Central University
Management
Administrative work that has no clear link with any of Teaching,
Research or Other
Split: Support for
Teaching/
Research/ Other
(Omit from TAS)
Split: Support for
Teaching/
Research
Support for
(Purpose of trip)
Teaching/
Research
Holidays and “normal” levels of sickness
Long-term sickness, or other lengthy absences (such as maternity and
paternity leave, jury service, or compassionate leave) where staff cover
is provided and allocated to the appropriate activities
Travel (such as to conferences, field trips; but not regular commuting)
(Omit from TAS)
Other
Note: When splitting Support time between Teaching/ Research/ Other (TRO), follow the
proportions of direct TRO, unless you can readily attribute support time on a more exact
basis.
Version: Jan’09
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