Education-focused roles represent a large and rapidly increasing share of the academic workforce in UK higher education. This expansion has resulted in the emergence of dedicated career tracks running in parallel with established teaching and research routes. Role descriptors and promotion criteria for these roles typically require evidence of…

The research literature emphasises the emergence -- in the English context particularly -- of performative accountabilities associated with metrics-based evaluation. Recent studies observe uneven effects of such evaluations at organisational level. This UK-based study examines academics' perceptions of the fairness of organisational…

Performance appraisal is one of the key management tools which identifies employees' strengths and weaknesses. Usually, this is the major mechanism of gathering information for rewarding/training employees based on their performance, and hence a key to achieve organisational goals by creating a satisfied workforce. Therefore, this study was aimed…

This report and the accompanying online repository (https://sfdora.org/dora-case-studies/) bring together and analyse case studies in responsible academic career assessment. The case studies are intended to serve as inspiration for institutions planning to become or already engaged in a complex review process, and to provide potential pathways of…

The creation of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) represents a significant development concerning the teaching mission of the university in the UK. This paper considers the background to, and the development of, the TEF. It explains the context from which the TEF emerged and unpacks a series of rationales which illustrate the need for, and…

Writing journal articles is essential for academics and professionals to develop their ideas, make an impact in their fields and progress in their careers. Research assessment makes successful performance in this form of writing even more important. This article describes a course on writing journal articles and draws on interviews with…

With ongoing research assessment in higher education and the introduction of master's-level work in initial teacher education, the growing need for teacher educators to develop research identities is discussed in relation to mentoring and support in two universities. Twelve interviews--with three teacher educators and three research mentors from…

Legislation requiring site-based performance management in British schools gave rise to the development of practitioner research networks, in which instrumental performance appraisal has predominated over humanist and critical approaches. Even marginalized networks have involved important collaborations among teachers, higher education…

This study adopted Jarzabkowski's (2005) qualitative, activity-based strategy as practice method to investigate leadership and management of interdisciplinary work. Interviews were conducted with 10 academics in Australia and the United Kingdom. Challenges raised by leaders of academic work can be grouped at various levels according to which…

Discusses various aspects of the role of external examiner as advanced by the parliament of the United Kingdom through the authority of the Academic Audit Unit. Addresses the examination of postgraduate research student, the examination of undergraduates within classroom situations, the qualifications needed by external examiners, and…

The mechanisms, objectives, and uses of performance assessment in public service occupations in the United Kingdom and other countries are examined and their implications for use in higher education are discussed. It is suggested that politically, the relationship of professional providers and consumers will increase in significance. (MSE)

The Course Evaluation Scheme involved staff members from a variety of departments in the evaluation of one another's courses. Peer evaluation, as opposed to evaluation by senior colleagues, students or educational consultants, makes this scheme potentially most acceptable to staff for assessing university teaching. (CE)

The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) graded research output of academic departments in the United Kingdom. A citation study of anatomy, genetics, and archaeology articles (1988-1992) found a relationship between the total number of citations received, or average number of citations per faculty member, and the RAE score, suggesting that citation…

Looks at the validity and value of performance indicators used to allocate resources among and within British universities. Questions the relationship of performance indicators with actual quality of research and teaching. Considers the limited role of such indicators within a more appropriate system of appraisal. (Author/LS)

Evaluation of faculty by executive program participants provides a useful teaching-effectiveness measure. Ratings of individual teaching characteristics can help identify the relative weights of certain characteristics, thereby enabling faculty to concentrate improvement efforts on characteristics yielding the biggest payoff. Faculty effectiveness…