Training programmes to develop your career
Working within higher education, whether starting out in a learning support or teaching capacity, or with a focus on research, can offer a highly rewarding career, but it is only natural to want to progress and to enhance your professional development for the betterment of both your own prospects and to enhance your practice when working with students. There are a range of opportunities to consider when working in an academic role that will assist you with the development of your skills and expertise.
Read our guide on training programmes and opportunities to develop your career as an academic.
Familiarise yourself with your institution’s provision
As educational institutions, universities are fully aware of and committed to the enhancement of their staff body and this will include those with both teaching and research responsibilities. It will therefore be essential to familiarise yourself with your institution’s own opportunities for professional development.
This could include in-house training programmes linked to curriculum development, technology-enhanced learning and teaching practice, or opportunities with external organisations. For example, many institutions support their staff to achieve Advance HE’s Fellowship, which focuses on the effectiveness of practice in teaching or support of high-quality learning by considering professional values, application of core knowledge and effective and inclusive practice. This is directly linked to the Professional Standards Framework in the UK Higher Education sector and achieving fellowship demonstrates a personal and institutional commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in HE.
Other opportunities for career development for academics offered internally by universities could include membership to committees where individuals might take on further responsibilities, and internal training courses and workshops to enhance your research, teaching and leadership skills. Additionally, many universities offer mentoring programmes where new career academics receive guidance and support from experienced colleagues.
Funding linked to career development
Other training programmes or opportunities to look out for as an early-career academic will be linked to applying for funding. For instance, exploring and identifying research fellowships, which offer funding for researchers to pursue their own projects, typically for fixed periods, and to enhance both their project management and leadership skills.
Applications to such opportunities typically require a research proposal, a host institution and a sponsor, and may involve a recruitment / selection process. Some fellowships will be linked to specific fields of study, whilst others might have a direct link with industry. Just some examples of fellowships might include the Royal Society University Research Fellowship, aiming to support early-career scientists to become leaders in their field; The British Academy International Fellowship, supporting researchers from overseas to conduct research in the United Kingdom; the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships, supporting early-career researchers in engineering; and the University of Reading Fellowships, offering opportunities linked to humanities and social sciences. Host institutions are typically UK universities or research organisations who are eligible to receive UKRI funding.
A further consideration linked to enhancing your career will be professional development funds. These funds offer financial support to attend conferences and workshops and to engage in a range of other development activities, including research initiatives aimed at improving teaching, learning, and the overall student experience. These will, typically, be provided through the institution you are employed by, including internal schemes, but might also be through external grants. It is always worth finding out through your line manager and other academic colleagues if they are aware of any support available.
Consider your career “phase” linked to your development
It will be important to carefully and strategically consider your career planning, ensuring you align your short-term goals with your longer-term aspirations, identifying realistic and attainable objectives that will contribute to your ongoing development and success.
If you are an early-career academic – typically years one to four – you will need to focus on:
- Securing research funding from national or international organisations;
- Publishing your work in work in high-quality journals and other relevant publications;
- Receiving mentorship from a mid-career or advanced-career academic;
- Focussing on your teaching practice, which might include pursuing Associate or Senior Fellowship of Advance HE’s programme, for example.
If you are a mid-career professional further considerations for you might be:
- Applying to and embarking on prestigious national and international fellowships;
- Securing leadership roles within your department or faculty;
- Providing mentorship to early-career academics and;
- Contributing more broadly to institutional development initiatives.
If you are an advanced academic career professional then your objectives might link to:
- Applying to senior positions at your own or other institutions;
- Seeking leadership roles and effectively contributing to policy development – both at your own institution and across the sector and;
- Working towards a Reader title – signifying your substantial contribution to your field through your research – or Professor title – acknowledging your high level of expertise in your chosen discipline.
Networking and collaboration
Working in academia and the HE sector is fast-paced and keeping abreast with new trends and developments can be challenging. Therefore, a willingness to network with academic colleagues, as well as those working out in industry will be essential.
By engaging with and facilitating networking opportunities, especially with industry professionals, you will be in a stronger position to forge new collaborations, and to hear about further development and funding opportunities. There are many benefits to establishing partnerships with internal and external individuals and organisations, not least to your own professional development in being able to adopt a flexible research model, with the chance to engage with industry without compromising your commitment to teaching.
Key areas to develop your career as an academic
Overall, there will be a range of internal and external opportunities, including training programmes, workshops and initiatives to support you with your career development, but to summarise, when identifying strategic career goals, you should keep the following in mind:
- Research and scholarship: seeking opportunities to develop your research skills and expertise, securing funding, and publishing your work in high-impact journals or industry publications, depending on your field
- Teaching and learning: identifying opportunities to enhance your teaching methods, develop new modules and courses, and to improve your practice to support student learning and improving student outcomes
- Leadership and management: pursuing opportunities to develop your leadership skills, including becoming a senior lecturer, course leader, or head of department and consistently contributing to university-wide initiatives to address the institution’s strategy and vision
- Project management: consistently developing and demonstrating your ability to effectively manage competing priorities, including specific research projects, resources, funding applications and deadlines
- Collaboration and networking: highlighting your commitment to building and maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues – both at your own institution and across the sector, as well as out in industry
It is essential to acknowledge that career development within academia requires careful thought and genuine commitment to progression. Therefore, it is essential to set clear goals from the outset, ensuring you break these down into manageable tasks and establish your boundaries early on to prevent burnout. Many of the opportunities we have described in this article can be pursued over the course of an academic career and it will be important to find the right balance and trajectory for you as a professional when considering your own evolving needs and aspirations for the future.
Leave a Reply