Imperial College recognises the importance of personal development for its staff; both to support them in existing roles whilst simultaneously working towards progression and longer-term career goals.
We know that evidence is key for being able to demonstrate the skills and experience needed to support promotion processes. Therefore, to support our Teaching Fellows, they are contractually entitled to take 10 development days per year to invest in their personal development, enabling them to build the necessary skills to excel in their current and future careers.
Internally provided courses are available to Imperial Teaching Fellows for the 10 Development Days
If you have any further questions, you can contact the HR Policy & Reward mailbox.
Guidance
Some information on your 10 development days:
- The 10 development days can be used for anything that would be developmental for you, and is beyond what would be expected as part of your usual role and responsibilities.
- They are in your contract.
- It’s important to remember to use your 10 development days effectively as they cannot be carried over to the next year.
- This provides an opportunity for you to identify potential skill gaps and be proactive in researching a solution.
- Keep a record of your development; what have you done, and what did you learn? Can you implement and develop your learning? The Teaching Fellows 10 development days template may be helpful for this.
- And remember, all POD, EDIC and EDU (including PG Cert, PG Dip, MEd) courses are free for Imperial teaching fellows.
- You can plan and discuss how to use your development days with your Line Manager, mentor, colleagues, EDU and CHERS.
- Reflecting on the activities you did, and how you will use your 10 development days should be a part of your annual review conversation (ARC). This gives you an opportunity to discuss with your line manager any further developmental strategy.
Common skills required to be a Teaching Fellow include:
- Independence
- Networking skills
- Pedagogic research and evaluation skills
- Awareness of technological innovations in teaching and learning
- Awareness of appropriate pedagogic theory and evidence
- Good communication
- Teamwork
- Awareness of the importance of Equality & Diversity
- Monitoring, reviewing and reflection
- Leadership and Management skills
How can you achieve these skills?
The list of options is endless, remember that some of these will be dependant on your department and/or role, or on your route for promotion (practitioner vs research):
- Workshops/courses/programmes and other training (internal - POD, EDIC and EDU - or external)
- Develop and deliver – Outreach and Engagement Activities
- Developing leadership skills
- Take part in a committee to broaden your profile beyond teaching e.g. Athena SWAN, Sustainability, EDI
- Applying for grants / bursaries to support conference attendance or teaching innovation projects
- Plan/organise or attend an event
- Setting up/running a Special Interest Group
- Setting up/running Student Shapers project, etc.
- Engage with governmental and/or professional bodies with regards teaching
- Working towards a professional body recognition e.g. FHEA or FAoME
- Active community participation e.g. teaching fellow network, talking teaching, CHERSNet
- Contribution to Imperials Festival of Learning and teaching or similar external events and conferences
- Mentoring more junior colleagues or participating in reverse mentoring
- Acting as a reviewer for Imperial's STAR Framework or EERP process
- Developing educational experience in roles such as module lead, personal tutor, project supervisor etc
- Reviewing for an educational journal
- Being an external examiner
- Publishing education practice or research in a report, blog, paper, textbook