ACADEMIC PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY
1.0 Definitions
1.1 The following words and expressions shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them:
1.1.1 Academic Appraisal: A structured evaluation process designed to assess Academic Members performance’s effectiveness and efficiency, and improve their professional performance, development, and achievements.
1.1.2 Academic Members: Faculty Members and Instructional Members.
1.1.3 Academic Promotion: Advancement to the next higher Academic Rank through formal academic recognition by the University of a specified record of achievement by the full-time Academic Member, and of the Academic Member’s potential to make a continuing contribution to the University’s mission and Strategic Priorities in (a) Teaching, (b) Scholarly/Creative Activities, and (c) Service.
1.1.4 Academic Professional Development: Planned activities and events that provide for and contribute to the personal and professional improvement of Academic Members, and are intended to help Academic Members improve their professional knowledge, competence, skill, and effectiveness.
1.1.5 Academic Unit: An entity within the University that delivers Courses for Programs or for entry into Programs.
1.1.6 Faculty Members: Members of the Teaching and/or Research staff, whether on part-time or full-time contracts, holding the following ranks: Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Senior Lecturer/Senior Technical Instructor, or Lecturer/Technical Instructor.
1.1.7 Instructional Members: Members of the Teaching staff, whether on part-time or full-time contracts, holding the following titles: Assistant Lecturer/or Workshop/Lab/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Technical Instructor, Trades Technical Instructor, or Teaching Assistant.
1.1.8 Research: The systematic and organized investigation of a subject/topic, and study of the materials and sources in order to establish new knowledge and/or reach new conclusions.
1.1.9 Scholarly/Creative Activities: The empirical (experiential and applied) Research that is aligned to the focus of the University, and the orientation of the vocational and technical type of the education the University is providing, and intellectual attainment including; published journal papers, peer reviewed conference articles, book chapters, as well as other activities that are peer reviewed and/or publicly disseminated and which include the discovery of new knowledge; development of new materials/practices and/or new uses for existing materials/practices; and which broaden and expand the learning communities in which Academic Members function and in which the University is situated.
1.1.10 Service: Engagement by Academic Members in University wide or departmental activities such as leadership on University committees, program development and accreditation support activities, special project assignments, Academic Advising, or other such work in fulfillment of the University's strategic and academic priorities; in their professional organizations through attendance at meetings, professional presentations, or other such work; and service to the broader community such as representing the University in the broader community, professional presentations to audiences outside the campus; or other such activities.
1.1.11 Teaching: The delivery of theoretical and/or practical instruction for the purpose of student learning and development, that is generally organized by disciplines and/or interdisciplinarity of study and administered within an established mode and timeframe.
1.1.12 University: University of Doha for Science and Technology established by Emiri Resolution No. 13 of 2022.
1.2 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
1.3 Where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
2.0 Policy Purpose
2.1 This policy establishes the expectations for Academic Professional Development as the Academic Members advance in their careers with the University.
3.0 Policy Scope
3.1 This policy applies to full-time Academic Members at the University.
4.0 Policy Statement(s)
4.1 Subject to the availability of resources, the University endeavors to support Academic Members in their continuous growth through Academic Professional Development, stemming from the understanding that investing in Academic Members' development, where possible, directly contributes to Student success, Research impact, and the University's standing as a center of academic excellence while strengthening its engagement with external stakeholders.
4.2 Academic Professional Development activities, cover pedagogic and instructional skills, and/or Teaching subject matter / discipline-specific Academic Professional Development, as defined in the relevant procedure Academic Professional Development Procedure (PR-AC-11).
4.3 Full-time Academic members are expected to participate in the University and college Academic Professional Development activities.
4.4 Part-time and temporary Academic Members are encouraged to participate in the University and college Academic Professional Development activities, subject to the Dean/Academic Manager’s and the Vice-President, Academics’ approval.
5.0 Procedures
5.1 The Vice-President, Academics will ensure that procedures are developed for the execution of this policy and are implemented accordingly.
6.0 Related Documents
6.1 PL-AC-02: Academic Credentials Policy.
6.2 PL-AC-04: Academic Promotion Policy.
6.3 PL-AC-09: Academic Appraisal Policy.
6.4 PL-AC-12: Academic Members’ Retention Policy.
6.5 PR-AC-11: Academic Professional Development Procedure.