Promotions Procedure for Academic Staff

The University has in place procedures for academic staff to apply for promotion depending on their level/grade.

If you are interested in applying for promotion please ensure that you review the appropriate documentation and guidance before submitting your application.

Academic Staff Grades 7 - 9

Welcome to the Academic Promotion Toolkit which includes information and relevant documentation for the Academic Promotion Policy and Framework of Criteria.

Please click on the sections below to see further information about the Policy and Procedure, Framework of Criteria, application process and additional guidance materials.

You will also find information about briefing sessions available to hear more information as well as key timings for the 2024/25 annual exercise.

Promotion toolkit

Section 1 - The Promotion Policy and Procedure and Framework of Criteria

Policy and Procedure | Framework

Policy and Procedure

The Promotion Policy and Procedure replaces the existing Policy and Procedure set out how the promotions process is managed, including the use of the Framework of Criteria.

Key aspects of the Policy and Procedure include:

A decision-making process based on Heads of School completing an evaluation (that includes a requirement to consult other senior academic members of staff) and submitting this to a University committee for consideration, along with the application.
2 University Committees considering applications - one considering applications for Lecturer/ Advanced Research Fellow/Senior Lecturer/Senior Research Fellow and one considering applications for Reader and Chair.
Membership of the committees will include senior academic representatives, ensuring coverage of the range of disciplines, career tracks and gender and race balance.
The opportunity for applicants to disclose individual circumstances - recognising that circumstances (e.g., part time working, health matters, caring responsibilities and particularly during the pandemic) may have impacted on the volume of outputs. There is the opportunity for staff to disclose this information confidentially.
Information about declaring conflicts of interest and how such declarations will be managed. This includes the opportunity for staff to flag a conflict in terms of the membership of the committee considering their application.
Involvement of social bias observers on University Committees (which may include a trade union representative taking on this role).
Enhanced feedback for staff, both successful and unsuccessful with a focus, for unsuccessful applicants, on what steps can be taken to enhance a future application.

You can view the Policy/Procedure in the index of Toolkit documents below.

Framework of Criteria

The Framework of Criteria enhances the previous criteria used which were the National Academic Role Profiles (NARPs). The NARPs remain as the main method of role evaluation in the University.

The Framework of Criteria includes key Pillars relating to different academic activity:

Research.
Education.
Scholarship and/or Professional Practice.
Engagement, Innovation and Impact.
Clinical Service

For each Pillar, detailed criteria and supporting indicators (examples) are provided across three levels, demonstrating an increase in responsibility. The supporting indicators are examples and applicants are not required to provide evidence against all of them and may provide other examples not listed.

The Framework sets out the minimum thresholds as well as flexibility for applicants to provide evidence, according to their current academic career track, as well as the level of promotion being sought.

The Framework also highlights that all applicants must demonstrate baseline evidence of University Citizenship, including contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

You can view the Framework of Criteria in the index of Toolkit documents below.

Section 2 - Information about the Promotion Exercise

You can find out information about the key timings for the 2024/25 exercise below. Please note that the date for receipt of applications is 31 March 2025.

January/February 2025	Briefing sessions for staff - Introduction to the new Policy/Procedure and Framework of Criteria and Preparing an application for promotion.
February/March 2025	Period of time for staff to consider and prepare their promotion application.
31 March 2025	Closing date for applications to be submitted to Heads of School and promapps@abdn.ac.uk.
April/May 2025	Heads of School preparing their Head of School evaluation for each application, including consulting senior academic staff to inform this.
June 2025	First meetings of the University Promotion Committees.
September/October 2023	Second meetings of University Promotion Committees. Effective date of successful promotions - 1 August 2025.

Section 3 - Additional information and detail of briefing sessions

In this section you will find additional guidance materials, information about briefing sessions as well as information about the University Promotion Committee members.

You can find a copy of the promotion application form and other guidance materials, including frequently asked questions, in the index of Toolkit documents below.

Briefing Sessions

Briefing sessions will take place in January and early February - dates to be confirmed.

Sessions will be recorded and uploaded so that staff who are unable to attend can view them.

University Promotion Committee - Membership

The membership of University Promotion Committees 1 and 2 for the 2024/25 exercise will be published shortly after the closing date for applications (31 March 2025).

Section 4 - Academic Promotion Toolkit Index of Documents