Staff appointed to Lecturer positions at levels A, B and C

University policy is that appointees to standard teaching-research 0.5+ continuing contracts at lecturer levels A, B and C will normally have a three year probationary period and completion of the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education (GCHE) (or the Health Professional or Law alternatives) will be a probationary requirement. In some cases, the University Teaching Qualification Committee (UTQC) may determine that all or part of this expectation has already been met. These cases are as follows:

Appointees with accredited teaching qualifications

The successful candidate has an accredited qualification in higher education teaching recognised as equivalent to the GCHE

The confirmation of this can occur at the time of offer, in which case the letter of offer will not contain the requirement. For a list of recognised equivalent qualifications see the approved list. The list will be updated as additional qualifications are recognised as equivalent.

The successful candidate has an accredited qualification in higher education teaching not on the approved list or has credentials involving the systematic study of higher education teaching

An application for recognition of equivalence can be made to the UTQC. The Chair of the Selection Committee, Head or Dean may ask for a fast tracked approval process to precede the appointment and, if approved, the letter of offer will not contain the requirement. Alternatively, an application may be made after the appointee has taken up the position. See Applying for recognition of equivalence of existing qualification or credentials.

Where the Committee recognises the previous systematic study of higher education teaching but is unable to grant full equivalence for the Graduate Certificate, partial credit (up to 12 points) may be granted. However, the appointee may also make a complementary case for Recognition for Prior Learning and, in some cases, the previous study in combination with RPL may be deemed by the UTQC to be equivalent to the Graduate Certificate. See Applying for recognition of equivalence of existing qualification or credentials.

The successful candidate has a teaching qualification but not for higher education teaching

An application for recognition of equivalence can be made to the UTQC. The Chair of the Selection Committee, Head or Dean may ask for a fast tracked approval process to precede the appointment and, if approved, the letter of offer will not contain the requirement. Alternatively, an application may be made after the appointee has taken up the position. See Applying for recognition of equivalence of existing qualification or credentials.

Appointees whose own specialism or field of expertise is teaching in higher education

From time to time, recognised expertise in the field of higher education teaching may warrant granting of exemption even though the prospective staff member does not have a formal teaching qualification. An example would be a person employed to develop and/or teach a course similar to the GCHE where the previous systematic study of higher education teaching will be a selection criteria. The Chair of the Selection Committee, Head or Dean may ask for a fast tracked approval process to precede the appointment and, if approved, the letter of offer will not contain the requirement. Alternatively, an application may be made after the appointee has taken up the position. See Applying for recognition of equivalence of existing qualification or credentials.

Appointees without accredited teaching qualifications

If an appointee does not have an accredited teaching qualification or credentials, but has documented sustained successful teaching experience and outcomes, the University Teaching Qualification Committee (UTQC) may grant some credit in recognition of prior learning, normally for up to a maximum of 12 points of credit towards the GCHE. This requires an application from the appointee. See Applying for credit in recognition of prior learning.

Appointees currently undertaking a doctorate

New appointees enrolled in a doctoral program will not be required to enrol in the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education (or equivalent) until the completion of the doctorate. If the doctorate has not been completed at the time of confirmation of appointment, then a schedule for enrolling in the Graduate Certificate will be included in negotiation of the staff member’s Engagement Profile as part of the Performance Management Scheme.