Employment and training guidance for Assistant Lecturers

Employing graduate teachers (AL/GLA)

Our People Supporting Strategy (PSS) highlights our institutional commitment to an inclusive working environment to every member of our community so that together we can create a workplace which enables its people to do their best. PGR students play an invaluable role in supporting the University’s delivery of excellent teaching through their role as Assistant Lecturers (formerly GTAs) and Graduate Laboratory Assistants (GLA). In recognition of this, the University pays and contracts ALs and GLAs in line with other employees to ensure they are treated fairly. To support teaching excellence, it is important that departments provide support and development throughout the role in addition to the core central training provided.

The following information covers recruitment, contracts, pay, expectations of the role and the department, training and support, and lastly, opportunities for those who don’t teach but are interested in developing the education side of an academic role.

The following two guidance documents should provide all the information needed to recruit, contract, train and support your graduate teaching staff.

• Guidance for departments employing Assistant Lecturers (AL) (.pdf)
• Guidance for departments employing Graduate Laboratory Assistants (GLAs) (.pdf)

These documents will also provide a complete overview of the role, expectations, and responsibilities of ALs, GLAs and their departments, so should be helpful for both graduate teachers and departments who employ them. If you know the information you need you can also access much of it directly using the links below.

Recruitment, contracts and pay (for ALs/ GLAs)

• Advertising roles (.docx)
• AL job description template (.docx)
• GLA job description template (.doc)
• AL employment checklist (.docx)

Please note: If the links above do not work, try copying the link address into your browser. You will need to login to your Essex account to access these documents.

For more info about recruitment, contracts and pay, contact: staffing@essex.ac.uk

Expectations and support (for ALs/ GLAs/AL Co-ordinators)

• Quick guide for departments managing ALs (.pdf)
• Quick guide for Assistant Lecturers (.pdf)
• Example Departmental AL/GLA Handbooks
  • LiFTS AL Handbook (.pdf)
  • EBS AL Handbook (.pdf)
  • Life Sciences GLA Handbook (.pdf)
  • CSEE AL/GLA Handbook (.pdf)
• Marking Policy (.pdf) (see section 4)
  • Form to request FDE approval for marking coursework and/or exams
• Assistant Lecturer Resources (Moodle Log-in required): A wide range of support materials to assist with development of education practice.

Education development opportunities for PGRs who don’t teach

PGR students NOT in an AL role can engage with a range of education development opportunities that can be accessed online, in Moodle and which need to be booked through Proficio and/or be paid for by drawing down Proficio funds.

• Introduction to teaching in HE online course - this is a mixture of videos and online content with a certificate of completion. (Moodle Log-in required)
• Education Insights workshops (contact develop@essex.ac.uk to book)
• Assistant Lecturer Resources (Moodle Log-in required) You can access all the teaching support materials available to ALs
• Develop at Essex - a virtual space for you to develop and enhance your professional performance at the University.
• Peer Mentoring Database - to connect with, shadow /observe and discuss how academics approach different aspects of their teaching practice. (Moodle Log-in required)
• “Interested in teaching in Higher Education?” (contact develop@essex.ac.uk to book).
• Department-specific education training (arranged within Departments).
• LinkedIn Learning (Log in with Essex credentials):
  • Learning to Teach Online
  • New to teaching? OD recommends list (a curated list of videos and short courses)
• Teaching MOOCs - the following short courses all provide a good introduction to teaching in HE
  • Take your teaching online (OU OpenLearn)
  • Assessment in Higher Education: Professional Development for Teachers (Coursera)
  • University Teaching (Coursera)
  • Teaching in University Science Laboratories (Developing Best Practice) (Coursera)