Birmingham Academic Career Framework

The Birmingham Academic Career Framework (BACF) has now delivered revised career structures and titles. This includes a particular focus on the career structures we provide for lecturers, senior lecturers, readers and professors. We have also provided support for early career research and teaching fellows through the establishment of an Early Career Development Academy (ECDA).

Following extensive work we are pleased to confirm that the shape of the BACF has been agreed and our promotion criteria has been completely revamped. Furthermore, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion have been incorporated into the new framework.

The work undertaken over the last year includes three periods of extensive consultation. These consultations have really helped to shape the BACF. We appreciate that for many this has been a challenging year and we would like to thank you for finding the time to constructively engage.

The main elements of the BACF are now agreed as follows:

Revised Titles

Revising academic titles has allowed for more flexible career structures and development opportunities. Our career structure is now:

Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor

This revision is an important part of the BACF as Assistant Professors will join the University on a new five-year development programme, with the aim of being promoted to Associate Professor upon completion of the programme.

Core Pathways

Under the BACF, we have three new core pathways for our academic staff to follow:

Research and Education (previously the Teaching and Research pathway)
Education (previously the Teaching-focussed pathway)
Enterprise, Engagement and Impact

The fourth pathway of Research for Research Fellows and Senior Research Fellows will remain.

New Promotions Framework

We will introduce the new promotions framework, including new categories for citizenship, and Enterprise, Engagement and Impact.

This is comprised of the following:

Early Career Staff

The Early Career Development Academy (ECDA) launch coincided with the publication of the Birmingham Academic. This branch under the Birmingham Academic Career Framework is important as it ensures that early-career researchers are supported and enriched as they embark on their academic journey.

Why Were These Changes Needed?

The examples given in the promotions criteria are there to:

Give more opportunity for staff to understand the level of performance required for promotion
Act as a framework – candidates should demonstrate through the breadth and depth of their work how they believe they meet the requirements for promotion.

The examples are therefore intended as a guide as to how one might demonstrate through their work how they believe they have met the criteria for promotion. The number of examples will vary based on discipline and role.

The implementation of the ECDA is needed to foster increased support for academics who are just starting in their careers and ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to progress.