POLICY
This policy outlines the processes for academic staff across all delivery sites to be added to the Leaders Institute (LI) Academic Staff Register, including determining the appropriate level of academic, professional and/or practice-based experience and expertise deemed equivalent to one qualification standard level above the course delivered.
SCOPE
All academic staff
PRINCIPLES
The Vice President Academic maintains an Academic Staff Register that lists approved academic staff and the units they are approved to teach. Approval of academic staff is guided by the following principles:
- academic staff are qualified in a relevant field, to at least one Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) qualification level higher than the subject being taught (AQF+1) or are to demonstrate equivalent professional experience. Guest or associate lecturers under supervision, professional experience supervisors and tutors under supervision are exempt from this requirement;
- Unit Coordinators should be AQF+1 to the unit;
- teaching staff will demonstrate continuing scholarship that informs their teaching;
- teaching staff who are not AQF+1 may be appointed, providing they can demonstrate professional equivalence to meet the learning needs of students;
- annual auditing will be undertaken to capture currency and equivalence of all teaching staff qualifications.
PROFESSIONAL EQUIVALENCE CRITERIA
Professional equivalence must be current (within last five years) and relevant to the Field of Education (FoE) of the unit being taught. Evidence can include:
- previous teaching experience at an Australian higher education institute or equivalent;
- workplace or practice-based experiences;
- leadership in development of professional standards or participation in relevant boards and professional networks;
- industry leadership experience that requires higher order judgement and expertise;
- letters of recommendation from senior industry leaders or industry awards;
- peer reviewed or other reputable publications, conference/seminar presentations or reports;
- leadership or management of peer reviewed research;
- supervision of Higher Degree Research students to completion;
- contributions to the discipline through participation in advisory boards;
- managing significant projects relevant to the discipline area.
Academic Staff Qualifications to Teach at AQF Level 8 and 9
| AQF Level to be taught | Professional Equivalence |
| Level 5 – Diploma | Level 7 qualification without relying on professional experience |
| Level 7 – Bachelor | Level 7 or above qualification and current registration to practice within the relevant profession (if applicable) plus three years professional experience in the last five years or study in a Level 8 course and some relevant professional experience, totalling three years |
| Level 8 – Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma | Level 8 qualification and current registration to practice within the relevant profession (if applicable) plus three years professional experience in the last five years or study in a relevant Level 9 course or above, plus some relevant professional experience, totalling three years. |
| Level 9 – Masters | Level 9 qualification and current registration to practice within the relevant profession (if applicable) plus five years teaching in the last 10 years or study in a relevant Level 10 course and some relevant professional experience, together totalling five years |
ADJUNCT AND HONORARY POSITIONS
Adjunct Lecturers and Adjunct Researchers may be appointed by LI to recognise significant achievement and contribution to learning and teaching, research and scholarship, professional practice and/or community engagement and social responsibility. These appointments are designed to be mutually beneficial to LI and to the academics. Appointments will also reflect the commitment of LI to diversity and equity.
Adjunct Academic Staff Criteria
An Adjunct Academic Staff member will demonstrate:
- appropriate representation of the values of LI;
- significant contribution to a relevant field of education or professional practice;
- community engagement and social responsibility;
- significant contribution to LI’s learning and teaching, if nominated as an Adjunct Lecturer;
- significant contribution to LI’s research and scholarship, if nominated as an Adjunct Researchers;
- appropriate academic qualification recognised by AQF, or professional equivalence.
An Adjunct Lecturer or Adjunct Researcher will not be:
- a current external member of Governing Board or its subcommittees
- a current external member of Academic Board, or subcommittees;
- not be current staff;
- serving Australian politicians; or
- recognised individuals for philanthropic donations alone.
Adjunct positions are not a paid appointment. However, the position does not preclude payment for sessional teaching, guest speaking, supervising research projects, or other activities. LI may provide access to library and research resources as appropriate.
Duties of Adjunct Lecturers and Adjunct Researchers are determined on a needs only basis and may include:
- preparing and delivering lectures, seminars and/or professional development workshops;
- contributing toward conferences and other research meetings;
- collaborating on research projects;
- supervising research projects.
Honorary Associate and Honorary Professor appointments are ongoing unless terminated by LI or the appointee.
Emeritus Professor
The honorary position of Emeritus Professor may be conferred upon retired LI academic staff holding the title of Professor who have given distinguished service to the Institute. A period of service of at least five years is normally required for a person to be eligible.
Conferral of the honorary position of Emeritus Professor will occur when the academic staff member retires or leaves the employ of the Institute. The title will not normally be conferred upon an academic staff member who resigns from LI to take up a post at another higher education institution.
An adjunct or honorary position may be withdrawn by the Vice President Academic at any time if it is in the best interest of LI. The person will be informed of the withdrawal in writing. There is no appeal process to the decision. Holders of adjunct or honorary positions may request termination of their appointment at any time.
PROCEDURES
ACADEMIC STAFF REGISTER
Academic staff and tutors are required to submit a copy of their full CV and certified supporting documents (e.g. testamurs) to the relevant Program Director (or delegated representative), including qualifications, higher education teaching experience, research and scholarship activity, and relevant industry and professional experience. Applicants seeking professional equivalence must include appropriate evidence.
The Program Director (or delegated representative) reviews the application and either commends or does not commend the application to the Vice President Academic for approval. If the Vice President Academic approves, the academic staff member is added to the LI Academic Staff Register.
RECORD KEEPING
LI maintains appropriate records that include details of how each individual academic staff member meets AQF+1 or professional equivalence.
ADJUNCT AND HONORARY APPOINTMENTS
Any member of academic staff may nominate adjunct and honorary appointments to Research and Scholarship Committee. Nominations should include evidence that the nominee meets the relevant criteria. If Research and Scholarship Committee accepts the nomination, it will be tabled to Academic Board for approval. If Research and Scholarship rejects the application, the person will be notified in writing. All nominations are strictly confidential until Academic Board approves an application.
Adjunct and honorary appointees are expected to update their LI Academic Staff Profile annually. If the honorary appointment ceases or is withdrawn, the relevant supervisor, or delegated representative, will ensure that the Academic Staff profile is withdrawn from the LI website.