Activities

Supporting high quality and research-led education

initial professional development for early career researchers and part-time staff beginning their teaching careers;
continuing professional development opportunities for early career researchers and part-time staff with some experience of teaching and supporting learning and enabling them to align their practice to Standard Descriptor 1 of the UK Professional Standards Framework and become Associates of the Higher Education Academy;
with the Admissions Office, providing opportunities for the University's admissions tutors to undertake appropriate initial and continuing professional development;
opportunities for experienced staff to undertake continuing professional development in teaching, supporting student learning, and assessment;
with the Academic Support Office, providing opportunities for researchers and academic staff to be able to meet requirements for quality assurance, e.g. in programme planning and design;
with the Learning Technology Team, providing opportunities for academic staff to use technology to enhance student learning;
providing opportunities for researchers and academic staff new to supervision to acquire appropriate knowledge and skills and for established supervisors to refresh their practice;
supporting innovation in learning and teaching and rewarding excellence;
providing opportunities to disseminate good practice in learning and teaching internally and externally.

Enhancing research

providing opportunities for early career researchers to acquire the knowledge and skills to effectively manage their research projects and as far as possible complete them on time;
providing opportunities for researchers to develop the knowledge and skills to undertake their research projects, including information retrieval and effectively using information technology;
with the Research Office and the faculties, providing opportunities for researchers and academics to write successful applications for research grants;
providing opportunities for researchers and academics to develop their skills in writing for publication;
with the Research Office and the HR Training Team, providing opportunities for researchers and academic s involved in leadership roles and future research leaders to undertake appropriate development;
with the Research Office, Durham Business and Innovation Services, the Doctoral Training Centres, and Beacon North East providing opportunities for researchers and academics to maximise the impact of their research;
providing appropriate training in support of applications for postgraduate research studentships and research funding.

Enhancing the student experience

with Human Resources, providing opportunities for researchers and academic staff engaged in teaching and supporting learning to be aware of issues relating to diversity and supporting them to respond appropriately;
providing opportunities for early career researchers to enhance their personal effectiveness;
with the Student Counselling Service and the Colleges Division, providing opportunities for researchers and academics to reflect upon and develop pastoral aspects of their roles.

Enhancing employability

providing opportunities for early career researchers to develop employment-related skills and aptitudes;
with the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre (CEEC)providing opportunities for academic staff to develop ways of enhancing the employability of their students;
with the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre and the Doctoral Training Centres to provide opportunities for research students to undertake internships or work experience;
supporting CEEC in enhancing employability for postgraduates on taught programmes.

Supporting internationalisation

with Human Resources and the International Office, seek to improve the information, support and advice available to international staff and their families;
with the International Office, providing an induction programme for international research students;
with the English Language Centre, providing opportunities for international postgraduate students to enhance their research and writing skills;
providing opportunities for graduate teaching assistants and academic staff with little or no experience of UK higher education to be inducted into learning, teaching and assessment at Durham;
providing opportunities to support researchers and academic staff for pursuing the internationalisation of the curriculum and teaching, learning and assessment [In 2.5].

Enhancing enterprise and entrepreneurial education

with the CEEC and Business and Innovation Services, supporting early career researchers who wish to start a business;
with departments and Doctoral Training Centres, contribute to formal courses in enterprise for postgraduate research students and academic staff.