Academic Career and Reward Framework

On 4 December, the ACRF Steering Group approved the consultation and implementation timeline for the framework. The Conference of Colleges is setting up a working group to examine the college-related implications of the framework.   

An overview of the ACRF was presented to Divisional representatives or Divisional Boards for feedback (presentation to MSD will take place on 14 January 2025). These consultations were followed by deep dive sessions for divisional representatives from November to mid-December, focusing on the development of promotion criteria relating to Research, Education, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in HE, and Citizenship. 

The ACRF Steering Group considered the first draft of the Oxford Academic Careers Framework, which incorporated feedback from the summer deep dives held with the Group, and from consultations with select Heads of Department. It also reviewed an initial mapping of the current staff population to the framework, and policy implications. Approval to seek wider feedback was given. 

Deep dive discussions with subsets of the Steering Group took place in September/October around policy, workload, pathways, mechanisms and implications for colleges, to inform the framework.   

Sector benchmarking study, establishment of guiding principles, feedback on initial proposals from focus groups, and engagement across Divisions and Colleges. Data gathering on workload. 

Work underway to gather information from colleges about how academic workload is managed

In-depth analysis of recent Staff Experience Survey responses relating to academic workload 

Steering Group received a report on insight from staff focus groups on workload

March 2024

Three staff focus groups held to gain insight into the current balance of duties and experiences of staff with teaching and research responsibilities in relation to workload.

Focus group participants were drawn from a broad spread of teaching and research roles and contract types, across the divisions and disciplinary areas, including college staff. 

Further research undertaken to gather input from a range of divisions and departments on workload models, job descriptions and pinch-points in current workload systems. 

Initial information gathered on the workload models currently in place both within the University and in other Russell Group institutions.

Terms of reference for benchmarking agreed by the Steering Group.

Benchmarking carried out over the summer, with outcomes to be reported to both the Steering Group for this project and the Steering Committee for the Vice-Chancellor's Pay and Conditions review.