Expectations and Responsibilities for ECRI Programme Leader(s) and Co-Leader(s) collaborating with ECRI Programme Partners (EPP)

ECRI Programme Partners (EPPs) are doctoral students, postdocs or fellows who engage with ECRI to represent their peers and help shape the professional development provision offered to early career researchers (ECR) at Imperial. The EPP scheme is designed to increase ECR engagement and representation at all levels of our provision. ECRs participate in this scheme as a development opportunity (PhDs are funded by a bursary using the central college process. For Postdocs and Fellows EPPs, time spent in this role counts towards their 10 development day allocation.  

Note: This roles and responsibilities document is intended to provide clarity around how to work with ECRI Programme Partners. Programme Leader(s) and Co-Leader(s) should also follow ECRI procedures for the approval and review of new and existing professional development courses.

Summary of duties: 

ECRI Programme Leaders and Co-Leaders will collaborate with EPPs in the following areas:

  • Co-commission the programme - identifying gaps in provision, looking at priorities, reviewing existing provision, helping to develop business cases for new provision and advising on the removal of existing courses, where appropriate.
  • Co-design courses – designing course material, workshops and other associated teaching activities. The EPP will be expected to consult with peers to seek further ideas and input. The level of contribution to the co-design would depend on the level of expertise of the EPP and time they have available.
  • Co-assess the programme - as part of the regular programme and course review and to make recommendations for changes to the programme. Note: participant feedback on individual facilitators will not form part of the material reviewed by EPPs.
  • Co-lead the recruitment of and handover to EPP successors.
  • Manage poor performance and termination of appointment of ECRI Programme Partners, should it be necessary (note: guidance on this process will be provided)

Recruitment

  • Review expressions of interest and appoint an EPP in consultation with the Associate Director (Early Career Researcher Development)
  • Conduct informal interviews might be necessary

Key Responsibilities:

In this collaboration, one of the key responsibility of programme leader(s) and co-leader(s) is to support the EPP in their development opportunity by:

  • Arranging regular meetings with their EPP.
  • Support the EPP’s development and their application for (Associate) Fellowship of the HEA / AdvanceHE (if applicable).
  • Arranging for the EPP to attend ECRI meetings when relevant.

Important Information – EPP Requirements

All EPPs are expected to have completed the core Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) modules/Educational Development Unit (EDU) Training/equivalent qualifications from prior institutions:

  • Introduction to Learning and Teaching (ECRI) or Teaching for learning (EDU)
  • Introduction to Assessment and Feedback (ECRI) for Learning or Assessment for active learning (EDU)

Doctoral Students: Imperial requires that any doctoral student wishing to undertake EPP work must have:

  • permission from their supervisor(s) prior to applying for the role.
  • completed or registered on ECRI training aligned with Descriptor 1 of the UKPSF as appropriate to their needs.
  • at least a term’s experience of GTA work or equivalent experience such as small group teaching or peer-learning experience.
  • a demonstrable interest in and/or attended courses from the programme to which they are applying.

Postdocs and Fellows: Imperial requires that any postdoc/fellow wishing to undertake EPP work must have:

  • support from their line manager prior to applying for the role.
  • completed or registered on ECRI/EDU/equivalent training aligned with Descriptor 1 of the UKPSF as appropriate to their needs.
  • at least a term’s experience of supporting teaching in a higher education institute GTA work or equivalent experience such as small group teaching or peer-learning experience.
  • a demonstrable interest in and/or attended courses from the programme to which they are applying.

N.B.: EPPs should not apply to more than two programmes.

Usually one student and one postdoc/ fellow partner per programme (the roles may be distributed differently in some circumstances). The length of that appointment will be one year. The maximum term is one year.  

Commitment

  • It is expected EPPs will contribute approximately six hours per month over 10-12 months depending on start date (approximately 9 days / academic year).
  • For postdocs and fellows this time can be counted toward their 10 development day allocation.
  • The ECRI Programme Leader(s) and EPP should discuss and mutually agree how best time should be given to the EPP role e.g. 1-2 hour weekly meetings might work best for some partnerships, whilst others might prefer to allocate 1 day per month.

Bursary

Doctoral student EPPs will be supported for their contribution via a bursary top-up of £1000, which will be paid in equal monthly instalments over the course of the appointment (i.e.10 payments of £100 each). 

For Postdocs and Fellows EPPs, time spent in this role counts towards their 10 development day allocation and therefore no further recompense is offered for the role.

Performance Management Procedure 

Part of the commitment made by the EPP is to work and collaborate with the ECRI Programme Leader(s) and co-leader(s). If the EPP is unable to fulfil their responsibilities for whatever reason, the EPP should discuss how to proceed with the ECRI Programme Leader(s) and co-leader(s) or contact the Manager of ECRI administration.   

  • In the event that the ECRI Programme Leader(s) and co-leader(s) is/are dissatisfied with the level of commitment displayed by the EPP, the following steps will be taken,
  • Informal conversation between ECRI Programme Leader(s) and co-leader(s) and EPP outlining areas for progress and a plan of implementation.
  • If the implementation plan is not realised, a formal conversation between the ECRI Programme Leader(s) and co-leader(s) and the EPP will take place and if necessary, the partnership will be terminated and for doctoral students the bursary top up will be stopped.