Job Description
Job title
School / department
Grade
Line manager
Associate Pro vice-chancellor (Academic Development and
Scholarship) and Head of the Graduate School
Directorate
10
Vice-Chancellor
Main purpose of the job
It is proposed that two new posts be created to allow talented senior academics to take on an institutionwide role related to specific strategic objectives. The posts will permit individuals who are currently
working at Dean, Head of School or Director level to develop their careers in ways that involve driving
cultural change across the institution linked to specific KPI’s documented in Ambition 2018.
The first post will be tied to improving the scholarship of practice across the University. The role will
require a deep commitment to engendering cultural change through the application of the Boyer’s (1990)
categories and beyond. It will also mean constructing an institution wide strategy that involves all staff in
some element of research and scholarship including disciplinary based activity, creative engagement,
cross-subject interaction, pedagogic research and policy based analysis. A wide variety of outputs will be
key to ensuring the strategy is successful; an approach that will be backed by targeted resource.
It is also expected that the post-holder will assemble a structure and a centre that will attract national
and international scholars who have the gravitas to drive forward this agenda within and beyond the
confines of the University.
Key areas of responsibility
External (national and international) engagement

Create and lead a research centre on HE policy and practice that will attract international scholars

Develop a strategy to build capacity in pedagogical research across the university

Develop structures to secure international and European collaborations and staff exchanges; and
research and consultancy work

Develop UWL staff potential for publication in HE policy and pedagogical research

Develop an infrastructure for academic development that is accessible and enabling as well as
aligned to new workforce framework (including CPD programmes)
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
Develop a register of experts to offer a framework for consultancies and media interventions

Lead national and international high profile events and activities related to the scholarship of
teaching and learning

Engage the university with national and international networks and initiatives (eg HEA, ISSOTL,
SEDA, JISC, Leadership Foundation etc.)

Assemble staff exchanges and invited positions (professorial and visiting fellows)

Develop bid writing expertise

Represent the university at relevant national and international workshops, seminars and
conferences
Leading the Graduate School

Develop a strategy to support graduate students, working with PVC Research and Enterprise

Represent and further strengthen the identity of the Graduate School both within and outside the
university

Work with the Heads of School to assist them in developing and implementing the graduate
aspects of their strategic plan

Develop activities in support of the International Strategy, working with International Office

Inspire and oversee the learning experience of and training provision for all graduate students

Develop and improve learning and networking opportunities available to graduate students

Lead and manage training opportunities and learning arrangements for postgraduate students
and postdoctoral researchers in line with national requirements (especially VITAE) and UWL
priorities

Chair the Research Ethics Committee for non-clinical research

Manage the annual budget of the Graduate School

Oversee scholarship and bursary provision for graduate students, working with PVC Research and
Enterprise

Oversee regular review of all relevant activities within the Graduate School
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
Liaise on a regular basis with the Dean of Students, Careers, SU and other relevant stakeholders in
relation to graduate student issues

Contribute to annual audit reports with PVC Research and Enterprise

Submit an Annual Report on the Graduate School to AQSC and Academic Board
Enhancing the academic profile of workforce through pedagogical research

Create a culture in which academic staff have the skills and dispositions to deliver an outstanding
student experience through research-informed teaching

Develop academic staff potential to be future leaders in teaching and learning through building
capacity in pedagogical research and scholarship

Analyse academic profiles and provide a CPD infrastructure for developing academic scholarship
that is accessible and enabling as well as aligned to new workforce framework, working with HR

Seed, support, and sustain intellectual investment in pedagogical research

Co-ordinate and showcase pedagogical research and scholarship outputs

Develop mechanisms and structures to embed CPD opportunities in respect of pedagogical
research for all academic staff

Develop a ‘teaching portfolio’ policy for all those teaching, linking to appraisal, research
development and promotion, working with HR and linking to CPD

Develop, implement and regularly review research supervision training for academic staff

Foster opportunities for collaborative activities with graduate students
Lead editor of UWL Journal

Review and re-engineer existing journal to put in place a high quality well-regarded journal suited
to the activities of a modern university

Set a strategy for the journal and develop an effective and innovative editorial line

Construct an editorial infrastructure, in collaboration with key partners including library services

Lead the editorial function
o Actively seek the contribution of authors, editorial board, reviewers and sponsors for the
journal
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o Actively solicit manuscripts from leading practitioners, academics, and community or
industry partners
o Coordinate, assign, and balance the work of editors and reviewers
o Oversee submission, review, subscription and publication processes
o Uphold all ethics and conflict of interest policies in dealings with authors, reviewers and
editors, reporting to Ethics committee where relevant
o Actively involve editorial board in the direction of the journal
o Actively promote the journal to the relevant community

Seek active contribution of UWL staff, alumni, partners and industry or community stakeholders

Participate in panels or other public discussions

Review and contribute to periodic monitoring reports

Chair meetings
Additional roles may include

Deputizing for senior colleagues

Chairing University-wide committees

Any other deemed relevant to this function as decided by the Vice-Chancellor
In addition to the above areas of responsibility the position maybe be required to undertake any other
reasonable duties relating to the broad scope of the position.
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Person Specification
Criteria
Qualifications and/or
membership of
professional bodies
Knowledge and
experience
Essential
Desirable
PhD or professional doctorate
Fellow of the HEA
Successful track record of leadership
within a Higher Education institution
Excellent track record of
publications in a recognised
academic area
Editorial board and refereeing
experience
Evidence of research income
generation and enterprise activity
Experience of organising and
managing an academic centre
Excellent external networks
Specific skills to the
job
Strategic awareness of Higher
Education institution
Ability to drive cultural change
across the University
Ability to work successfully as part of
a senior management team
Evidence of turning strategy into
reality with a proven track record of
achievement
Evidence of international academic
standing
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Effect management and delivery of
projects
Evidence of building partnerships
internally and externally, and
specifically collaborative working
both nationally and internationally
General skills
Strong leadership and management
skills to be able to lead projects and
teams
Ability to lead teams and influence
institutional and external
stakeholders
Evidence of taking accountability
and decision making within a senior
management position
Strong interpersonal skills
Outstanding verbal and written
communication skills
Clear evidence of handling, sharing,
and analysing information
Developed and sound influencing
skills
Other
Evidence of continued professional
development
Commitment to the University vision
and ethos
Disclosure and
Barring Scheme
This post does not require a DBS check
Essential Criteria are those, without which, a candidate would not be able to do the job. Applicants who have not clearly demonstrated in their
application that they possess the essential requirements will normally be rejected at the shortlisting stage.
Desirable Criteria are those that would be useful for the post holder to possess and will be considered when more than one applicant meets
the essential require
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