Appendix 2: Extended Workforce Examples & Options Available for Postgraduates to Contribute to Teaching
The University’s extended workforce consists of a broad range of roles. A range of different roles offer opportunities for postgraduates to contribute to teaching at the University, supporting in particular the opportunity for personal growth and development to complement academic studies whilst other roles benefit from the experience of industry professionals (e.g. supporting assessment).
Examples are summarised below:
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
GTAs facilitate student learning, typically in a seminar or tutorial setting, under the supervision of, or in liaison with senior academic colleagues. They use existing teaching materials, or modify teaching materials to enhance existing session plans, within an established module.
This standard post is described as grade 6 level
Grade 6 - Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Demonstrator
Demonstrators support and further the understanding of principles being taught in lectures and develop the applied skills of students, through the demonstration and support of practical equipment, experiments and processes within a laboratory/workshop setting. This is typically to groups of undergraduate students. An academic member of staff may be present during the session. This standard post is described as grade 5 level.
This standard post is described as grade 5 level.
- Assistant Demonstrator
Assistant Demonstrators help further the understanding of principles being taught to undergraduates in lectures by supporting the demonstration of practical equipment, experiments and processes within a laboratory/workshop setting. Actual sessions will be led by someone else.
This standard post is described as grade 4 level.
Grade 4 - Assistant Demonstrator
Tutor
Where the volume and frequency of the work is variable or unpredictable, engagement of tutors on an occasional basis may be appropriate. Legitimate use of tutors may include:
- Cover for temporary absence of a member of staff, or partial cover e.g. research buy-out, or cover pending the commencement of an appointee.
- Cover for defined periods where expertise is not available from within the university in the short-term.
- Work related to one-off events or programmes where specific skills are required on a project or modular basis.
- Provision of technical skills or specialist expertise on a part-time, irregular basis to supplement the skills and expertise of colleagues in the business unit.
- Provision of industry/professional/practitioner expertise.
- Short-term work related to peaks in the academic cycle such as exams, assessments, graduation, registration.
Tutors will be qualified professionals engaged to provide expertise and support a course or members of academic staff in the performance of their teaching/lecturing duties.
This standard post is described as grade 6 level.
- PBL Facilitator (Medicine only)
This role facilitates Problem-Based Learning (PBL) tutorials in Years 1 and/or 2 of the undergraduate medical curriculum, conducts formative assessment interviews with students in facilitated groups and provides feedback on their performance in PBL.
PBL Facilitators must hold a first degree in medicine or a PhD in a biomedical science or other relevant discipline.
- Associate Tutor (School of Education)
Associate Tutors assess student teachers on placement in accordance with the requirements of the School of Education School Experience Partnership. The role also provides effective and timely feedback, both formative and summative, in support of student learning. The role also provides dissertation supervision of MEd or MsC students and specialist education teaching where the needs are limited.
Tutors must be registered with the General Teaching Council of Scotland.
This standard post is described as grade 8 level.
- Specialist Professional
Specialist Professionals are qualified and acknowledged subject experts in their field with a high level of knowledge, skills and experience in a specialist area and will contribute to specialist courses to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, using personal knowledge, skills and experience gained in a professional capacity to contribute to the student learning experience.
Advice should be sought from the local P&OD Team on local grading.
Any other job descriptions will be graded in accordance with normal University processes.
The inclusion of these job descriptions here is not intended to result in all such positions being filled on a casual basis. As stated in the Extended Workforce Policy, where there is a reasonable level of predicted activity and mutual commitment, this may merit engagement as an employee rather than as a casual worker and a fixed term contract should typically be offered.