In New Zealand the rank of Associate Professor is a much higher status than it may be in the US and is only achieved on merit by formal application. In New Zealand the ranks for academic staff are:

• Assistant Lecturer (entry level without PhD)
• Lecturer (entry level with PhD)
• Senior Lecturer (Career grade)
• Senior Lecturer Above the Bar
• Associate Professor (equivalent to Reader in the UK system)
• Professor
• Distinguished Professor

It may help you to know that we have 644 continuing (permanent) academic staff of whom:

• 10% are Lecturers
• 17% are Senior Lecturers
• 17% are Senior Lecturers Above the Bar
• 24% are Associate Professors
• 32% are Professors

We do not have a tenure or probationary period of employment. Generally academic staff are appointed to a continuing (permanent) position from day one. The promotions process is their means of progressing up the academic career ladder.

The University of Canterbury expects academic staff to achieve a balance between research, teaching, and service using, as a guide, 40% Research, 40% Teaching and 20% Service.

Independent advisors reports are called for in the case of promotion applications to Associate Professor and Professor.

The Independent Advisors will be asked to provide an impartial academic opinion of the applicant for promotion. They will be asked for their considered opinion whether the candidate has met the criteria for promotion, and in forming that view to draw on their understanding of the achievements expected of an Associate Professor or Professor in their particular field. 

An Independent Advisor will usually:

• Not have any personal relationship/connection with the applicant.
• Not be a close colleague, former supervisor or research collaborator.
• Be familiar with the promotions process in a university environment similar to UC.
• Be of high international standing.
• Be from the discipline or allied research field to the applicant.
• Be at the grade of Associate Professor or Professor.

In each promotion application, the University seeks two Independent Advisor reports.

• Independent Advisor Report (Word, 83KB)

Please send the completed report directly to the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (academic-promotions@canterbury.ac.nz).

Your report will be acknowledged by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Confidentiality

The University seeks a frank and critical assessment from you as an expert in the candidate's nominated field. The University operates under the provisions of the Official Information Act of New Zealand (1982) and as such the applications are considered by a senior committee which preserves total confidentiality in regard to the promotion documentation and Independent Advisor reports.

Under this Act your appraisal of the candidate's suitability for promotion will be treated as strictly confidential by the Committee. 

To be promoted to an Associate Professor you will be well known in your field and will be developing an international profile.

Your research/scholarship record will include papers in high-impact international journals or other appropriate outlets. You will show significant academic leadership and are likely to have developed a research group within your specialised field.

You will be able to evidence effective supervision of Master's Thesis and PhD students.

You will link your research/scholarship/creative work to your teaching and develop papers and courses inspired by your research. You will have clear evidence of innovative and sustained leadership in teaching and learning. You will also have displayed leadership in the wider academic community through, for example, chairing sessions at international conferences.

To be promoted to Professor you will be known internationally in your field. You will publish in high-quality peer-reviewed international journals, are likely to have edited texts or written books in your subject of study, and you will be on committees/editorial boards outside the University. You will show evidence of effective academic leadership by running a research programme, which will likely involve a group of researchers, and will have collaborations outside the University and normally internationally.

You will demonstrate evidence of leadership in curriculum/discipline development at both a national and international level, and will be acknowledged as an excellent teacher with your research/scholarship/creative work informing your teaching. You will be able to evidence effective supervision of Masters Thesis and PhD students.

You will be involved in senior University service beyond your department/school/Faculty. You are a visible and effective leader of the University and an internationally recognised leader in your specialist field.