Scholarship Development
Scholarship Development is a systematic approach towards defining continuing academic development as a scholar and establishes expectations for scholarship activities at the University.
It applies to the positions of Lecturer (annually) and Senior Lecturer (biennially) on the confirmation path or in confirmed positions. Associate Professors and Professors may participate in Scholarship Development Process if they wish, but are covered by a separate performance review process.
The review period is between October and September.
Scholarship Development Process
- Staff member member prepares an up-to-date curriculum vitae in the standard format.
- At the beginning of the review period, the scholarship reflection form (SDP1) is completed. This Form provides a framework for the process and need not be rigorously adhered to providing the staff member and facilitator have sufficient information to develop the Scholarship Plan. The form contains three sections:
- a reflection on scholarship activities under each of the four areas of scholarship
- a Draft Scholarship Plan
- a list of suggested questions for the staff member to reflect on before having a Scholarship Reflection Discussion with the facilitator.
- The updated CV and completed Form are given to the facilitator who will meet with the staff member to discuss the staff member's scholarship activities and plan. The discussion will generally focus on the questions included in Section C but these are by no means exclusive.
- The staff member and the facilitator agree goals to be achieved over the next twelve months. These will be described in the Scholarship Plan (SDP2), and will form the basis of the process in subsequent years.
This process provides for ongoing development:
Elements of the Sholarship Development Process
Scholarship Plan
A step in your continuing development as a scholar is to define what you hope to accomplish in the year under preview using reflection on past achievements as a guide.
Your scholarship plan represents a set of expectations agreed between yourself and, on behalf of the University, your facilitator. This plan records your development as a scholar. The statement of expectations establishes a basis for your own, and the University's, reviewing of your work. In addition to the agreed scholarship expectations, you might like to reflect on the overall pattern of your work and your future plans. For instance, how do your scholarly activities fit together, and what would you like to accomplish in the next three to five years?
Curriculum Vitae
At the University of Otago, the standard format curriculum vitae (CV) is used to depict the scope and productivity of your activities as a scholar. The CV records your achievements. The year to year plan signals the proposed enhancement.
The CV format, including instructions for completing it, is available here.
Scholarship Reflection
The main purposes of reflection are
- to comment on the theme flowing through your research and discovery, teaching and learning, application and integration activities during the period under review.
- to plan your future scholarship development as informed by your reflection.
Personal Reflection
The Scholarship Reflection form (SDP1) should be completed for this purpose. In the first instance, you should reflect on your scholarship activities during the period under review before developing a Draft Scholarship Plan for the following 12 month period. You should also reflect on the list of suggested questions contained in Section C.
Your updated CV and completed form should then be submitted to your facilitator.
Head of Department/Facilitator's Reflection
Upon receipt of your CV and completed Scholarship Reflection form, your facilitator will carry out a similar reflection before holding the Scholarship Development Discussion with you.
Scholarship Development Discussion
The purposes of this discussion between yourself and your facilitator are to
- share your respective reflections with each other;
- consider the questions raised in Section C of the Scholarship Reflection form.
- plan your future scholarship development by completing a revised Scholarship Plan established for the following year.
During the discussion you should address the goals, preparation, methods, results and presentation of your scholarship activities.
- Critique yourself and propose further developmental activities.
- Highlight what was special about your pursuits and accomplishments. Display the thinking behind your work.
When you and your facilitator reflect on, and review, your scholarship activities at the end of each formal review period, you should revise your Scholarship Plan in the light of changing circumstances and interests.
Once you have completed the Scholarship Plan, you and your facilitator should place your signatures on it as an indication of your mutual agreement with the scholarship expectations. The document is then returned to your Head of Department for placement in your departmental personal file. This copy of the Form is then used for the start of the next year's process.
Scholarship Facilitators
The Scholarship Plan is developed in conjunction with a facilitator who will normally be the Head of Department. However, in large departments, the Head of Department may designate senior academic colleagues as facilitators. It is expected that the Head of Department will normally facilitate all those staff who are at the early stages of their career and those who may need the greatest academic leadership to achieve their aspirations and the University's expectations.
Staff have a right to choose a facilitator other than the Head of Department from the list of departmental facilitators.
