Teaching and research descriptors
Level B
General standard
A Level B academic is expected to make
contributions to the teaching effort of the university
and to carry out activities to maintain and develop
her/his scholarly, research and/or professional
activities relevant to the profession or discipline.
Specific duties
Specific duties required of a Level B academic may
include:
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the conduct of tutorials, practical classes,
demonstrations, workshops, student field
excursions, clinical sessions and studio
sessions;
initiation and development of subject
material;
acting as subject coordinators;
the preparation and delivery of lectures and
seminars;
supervision of the program of study of
honours students or of postgraduate
students engaged in course work;
supervision of major honours or
postgraduate research projects;
the conduct of research;
involvement in professional activity;
development of course material with
appropriate advice from and support of
Supplementary descriptors for teaching and research
(practice) roles
Supplementary descriptors for teaching and research
(education-focused) roles
These supplementary descriptors set out principles of
equivalence for interpreting and applying the teaching and
research descriptors for practice academics.
These supplementary descriptors set out principles of
equivalence for interpreting and applying the teaching and
research descriptors for education-focused academics.
A Level B practice academic will work/have worked within the
relevant profession or industry and engaged specifically to
bring their industry experience to the teaching effort of the
university.
A Level B education-focused academic is expected to make a
solid contribution to teaching and learning within their
department, school or faculty and will be on a trajectory
towards leadership in educational delivery and design.
A level B practice academic will engage in professional activities
and may be involved in clinical or industry-based research.
Level B education-focused academics must demonstrate
potential to become leaders and innovators in educational
practice and design.
In addition to the specific duties of a Level B academic, some
of the duties of a Level B education-focused academic may
include:
 contributing to a range of activities associated with
the development and delivery of curriculum;
 developing skills in all aspects of teaching and
learning, including curriculum design and
development of teaching resources and teaching
innovations;
 maintaining currency in the discipline and increasing
knowledge of discipline-specific pedagogical
practice;
 potentially coordinating course modules and leading
team-teaching activities with other staff (as
appropriate to the discipline);
 systematically collecting and using feedback on
student learning, and using it to self-reflect and
adjust teaching approaches to improve student
learning outcomes;
 potentially engaging in collaborative design or
implementation of cross-faculty or cross-campus
teaching activities or projects; and
 having involvement in Honours and Research Higher
In addition to the specific duties of a Level B academic, some of
the duties of a Level B practice academic may include:
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bringing expertise from their profession/industry to
inform curriculum; and
providing links between the academy and industry.
A Level B practice academic is not expected to engage in
research but may contribute to scholarship-related activities
including the development of curriculum and teaching
materials.
Teaching and research descriptors
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Supplementary descriptors for teaching and research
(practice) roles
more senior staff;
marking and assessment;
consultation with students;
a range of administrative functions the
majority of which are connected with the
subjects in which the academic teaches;
and
attendance at departmental, school and/or
faculty meetings and/or membership of a
number of committees.
Skill base
A Level B academic shall have qualifications and/or
experience recognised by the university as
appropriate for the relevant discipline area. In many
cases a position at this level will require a doctoral or
masters qualification or equivalent accreditation and
standing. In determining experience relative to
qualifications, regard is had to teaching experience,
experience in research, experience outside tertiary
education, creative achievement, professional
contributions and/or contributions to technical
achievement.
Supplementary descriptors for teaching and research
(education-focused) roles
Degree supervision (where appropriate).
A level B education-focused academic will be expected to
devote the majority of their time and effort to teaching and
education-related endeavours with the remainder on
scholarship and administrative-related activities.
A Level B practice academic will be expected to have the skill
base of a Level B academic. A Level B practice academic may
have a doctoral or masters qualification but is more likely to
have equivalent professional or clinical experience.
A Level B education-focused academic is not required to
engage in research but will be expected to contribute to
scholarship-related activities, such as the development of
teaching resources and curriculum and maintain currency in
teaching pedagogies and methods.
A Level B education-focused academic will have the skills base
of a Level B academic.