Jump to Content

Current Projects

Review of Academic Promotions Scheme

The Office of the Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are commencing an extensive consultation process to review the Academic Promotions Scheme (APS). The review is based on a multifaceted methodology involving external benchmarking and expertise in tandem with internally conducted focus groups, written submissions, pulse survey, interviews and participatory workshops.

Background to the Review

The current APS was introduced in 2019 based on an extensive revision to the previous promotions process. To date there have been eight separate promotion rounds since the introduction of the 2019 policy and procedure. Recognising that there is both an opportunity and a necessity to learn from the operationalisation and implementation of the Academic Promotions Scheme, the University has initiated a comprehensive review in accordance with good practice.

Aims

The review aims to analyse the current APS, considering all the component elements from application to completion for the posts of Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor, Personal Professor, Professor In and Established Professor. This will include the perspectives of staff who have been promoted under the current APS, those who have applied and have been unsuccessful to date, in addition to the perceptions of academic staff who are eligible but have not yet applied for promotion.

Objectives

Engage with stakeholders using a multifaceted methodology including focus groups, written submissions, pulse surveys and participatory workshops.
Establish a comprehensive evidence base to inform analysis of the current Academic Promotions Scheme considering the Research and Scholarship; Teaching and Learning; and Academic Leadership and Contribution tracks.
Benchmark and analyse the University of Galway APS against the process in other HEIs in Ireland and a smaller relevant selection in the UK.
Analyse the Academic Promotions Scheme in relation to equality implications.
Provide recommendations regarding the Academic Promotions Scheme based on the findings of the review as appropriate.
Determine if there are any policy implications and proposed amendments required for the QA207 policy.
Present the findings to the University Management Team.
Compile a written report of the review for circulation to the University Management Team, Academic Council, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion – Human Resources Committee and Údarás na hOllscoile.

Review Group

Dr. Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (VPEDI) will Chair the Review Group and direct the process. The project sponsors are the President and Deputy President and Registrar.

The VPEDI is responsible for collecting the evidence in collaboration with the Review Group. The Review Group will analyse the current data on academic promotions, the number of applications, gender, and nationality where available, in addition to the application rates, outcomes and appeals data of the eight promotion rounds. The methodology will be based on desk research in addition to stakeholder engagement incorporating one-to-one interviews with the promotions committee, focus groups and/or workshops with academic staff and an invitation for written submissions using a template created for this purpose.

In the context of stakeholder engagement, we are very interested to hear your perspective through one or more of the above referenced consultation mechanisms. Your participation in the process is essential to inform the findings of the review. Staff engagement will be treated confidentially in the overall review context.