Academic Promotions
The goals of the University of Canterbury are to achieve internationally recognised excellence in scholarship, research and teaching. Academic staff are our most valued asset. We aim to actively support and encourage all staff to provide students with outstanding and inspiring research informed teaching. We aim to recruit and retain high quality staff, maximise their potential and reward them for effort, excellence and innovation. Academic promotion is one pathway that recognises and rewards the diversity of talents of our staff and supports them in their careers.
The University of Canterbury promotion processes aim to be clear, fair, equitable and transparent. The processes will be reviewed annually and further improved in the light of experience and feedback.
Staff are actively encouraged to apply for promotion and we have attempted to provide guidance as to the appropriate timing. Staff should actively engage with their Head of Department/School and other mentors to help make this decision.
For all promotions there are four categories of academic activity:
|
|
Staff do not need to excel in all of these and there are specific expectations associated with particular promotions. For example, early in their careers academics can be promoted by demonstrating competence in two of the categories, including either teaching or research. At higher levels of promotion (Associate Professor or Professor) there is an expectation that candidates will demonstrate outstanding competence in either research/scholarship/creative work or teaching together with clear evidence of effective academic leadership.
We also wish to recognise staff for contributions towards to the wider goals of the University of Canterbury. These include developing collegiality, along with commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi, equal opportunities, national and international linkages.
Referee or Independent Advisor information
If you are visiting this site because we have asked for your participation as either a Referee or an Independent Advisor, you may find the following helpful:
- A note regarding academic ranks in New Zealand compared to other countries and our promotion system (which is not tenure-based)
- The role of Referee (including report template)
- The role of the Independent Advisor (including report template)
- Guidelines for the promotion to Associate Professor
- Guidelines for the promotion to Professor
Professor Ian Town, Deputy Vice-Chancellor