ACADEMIC ADJUNCT APPOINTMENT POLICY
1.0 Definitions
1.1 The following words and expressions shall have the meaning hereby assigned to them:
1.1.1 Academic Credentials: A certification of Qualifications issued by post-secondary institution, recognized by the State of Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education, indicating that an individual successfully completed a particular course of study at a specified degree level (e.g. Diplomas, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate Degree or other Terminal Degree).
1.1.2 Academic Rank: The rank held by the Academic Members in the University, having hierarchical titles such as Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Senior Lecturer, Senior Technical Instructor, Lecturer, Technical Instructor, Assistant Lecturer, Workshop/Lab/Clinical Instructor, Assistant Technical Instructor, Trades Technical Instructor, and Teaching Assistant.
1.1.3 Academic Management: Academic Members assigned administrative duties of a: President, Vice President, Associate Vice President, Academic Manager, Director, Dean, Associate/Assistant Dean, Department Head, Program Head and other Heads (as applicable).
1.1.4 Academic Members: Faculty Members and Instructional Members.
1.1.5 Academic Unit: An entity within the University that delivers Courses for Programs or for entry into Programs.
1.1.6 Adjunct Academic Member: An individual who is appointed to contribute their professional standing, and specialist expertise to Teaching and/or Research at the University.
1.1.7 Business Unit: Any function of the University headed by the President, Vice-president, Associate Vice-President, Director, Manager, Dean, Head, or Academic Manager, as the case may be.
1.1.8 Course: A set of Learning Sessions in a particular subject, with a defined scope and duration, and specific Learning Outcomes.
1.1.9 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs): The knowledge, skills, and competencies a Student can demonstrate immediately upon completion of a Course.
1.1.10 Employee: Any person with an Employment Contract directly with the University.
1.1.11 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.
1.1.12 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.
1.1.13 Job Description: A document which outlines the details of a position including the position title, Business Unit, reporting line, job purpose, duties and responsibilities, key accountabilities, working relationships, qualifications, experience, competencies, and other specifics.
1.1.14 Learning Outcomes: The knowledge, skills, and competencies that a Student can demonstrate upon completion of an educational activity, Course, or Program.
1.1.15 Learning Sessions: Classes, labs, placements or work term prescribed by a Course.
1.1.16 President: The President of the University.
1.1.17 Program: A prescribed set of Courses leading to a qualification, including a Certificate, Diploma (2 years), Advanced Diploma (3 years), Bachelor, Post Graduate Diploma, Master, or Doctorate, according to the Qatar National Qualifications Framework.
1.1.18 Qatar National Qualifications Framework (QNQF): A structured system that classifies and standardizes qualifications in Qatar based on knowledge, skill, and competency levels to ensure alignment between education, training, and workforce requirements, enhancing the quality, comparability, and recognition of qualifications both nationally and internationally.
1.1.19 Qualification: A certificate awarded to an individual by an authorized organization acknowledging that such an individual has successfully achieved the learning outcomes of the relevant qualification in terms of knowledge, skills, and competencies according to specific standards and evaluation instruments, as per the Qatar National Qualifications Framework.
1.1.20 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.
1.1.21 Scholarly Work: Scholarly and academic works that have been made independently, at the initiative of the Originator, for Teaching and other educational purposes, including use in Learning Sessions at the University. This category also includes:
1.1.21.1 academic textbooks that were not developed using University Resources;
1.1.21.2 academic journal articles, conference papers, and related presentations;
1.1.21.3 research proposals;
1.1.21.4 notes created only for the Originator’s own personal use;
1.1.21.5 theses and dissertations;
1.1.21.6 novels and poems;
1.1.21.7 works of fine art.
Scholarly Work does not include any data conceived or generated using University Resources, or during the course or scope of employment/registration/appointment at the University by a member of the University Community and/or Visitor.
1.1.22 Staff: Person(s) employed by the University.
1.1.23 Student: A person who is presently enrolled at the University in a Credit Course or who is designated by the University as a Student.
1.1.24 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.
1.1.25 Terminal Degree: The highest degree awarded in a given discipline.
1.1.26 University: University of Doha for Science and Technology established by Emiri Resolution No. 13 of 2022.
1.2 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.
1.3 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
2.0 Policy Purpose
2.1 The purpose of this policy is to define the rules and regulations of hiring Adjunct Academic Members including their Qualifications, rights, and responsibilities.
3.0 Policy Scope
3.1 This policy applies to distinguished academic individuals, not designated as University Staff, who have the potential to make significant contributions to the University’s Teaching and/or Research.
4.0 Policy Statements
4.1 Adjunct status is considered as a courtesy or honorary appointment made by the University to recognize the special requirement for skills and knowledge of an individual not designated as University Staff, which are needed to contribute to the University through either Teaching, conducting Research, or fostering partnerships between the University and industry, the profession or the wider community.
4.2 Adjunct titles may be conferred on individuals who are recognized as experts in fields relevant to the University’s Programs, without the requirement to have an academic career background.
4.3 Adjunct Academic Members must be appointed to one of the following Academic Ranks: Adjunct Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor, or Adjunct Professor.
4.4 An Adjunct Academic Member’s title must be based upon the individual’s experience and the Program to which they are affiliated.
4.5 An adjunct position is conferred for up to three years and may be renewed.
4.6 Academic Adjunct Appointment Criteria
4.6.1 Academic Credentials criteria for appointments of Adjunct Academic Member
4.6.1.1 The general baseline standard to be appointed requires a doctorate or master’s, or Terminal Degree in the Teaching discipline, or the relevant area of Research.
4.6.2 Additional Criteria for appointments of Adjunct Academic Member
4.6.2.1 It is acceptable for any of the following criteria to be used as justification for the appointment of an Adjunct Academic Member: outstanding professional experience, professional licensure, certification, or a demonstrated competency as defined in the relevant procedures which allows for effective Teaching or Research.
4.7 Academic Adjunct Appointment Ranking Criteria
4.7.1 An appointment must follow the below criteria to determine the Academic Rank of the Adjunct Academic Member:
4.7.1.1 Adjunct Professor
4.7.1.1.1 All pertinent Qualifications indicated for Professor, as per the approved Job Description and the applicable Academic Qualification Policy (PL-AC-03).
4.7.1.1.2 Normally, ten (10) years of distinguished Teaching or other appropriate professional experience.
4.7.1.1.3 Established reputation among the leaders of the profession or discipline or notable contribution as a professional person in public service.
4.7.1.2 Adjunct Associate Professor
4.7.1.2.1 All pertinent Qualifications indicated for Associate Professor, as per the approved Job Description and the applicable Academic Qualification Policy (PL-AC-03).
4.7.1.2.2 Normally, eight (8) years of Teaching or other professional experience.
4.7.1.2.3 Professional recognition as demonstrated by such achievements as election to a learned society in the relevant professional field, Scholarly Work of quality, and/or other appropriate criteria.
4.7.1.3 Adjunct Assistant Professor
4.7.1.3.1 All pertinent Qualifications indicated for Assistant Professor, as per the approved Job Description and the applicable Academic Qualification Policy (PL-AC-03).
4.7.1.3.2 The possession of a doctorate, or the typical Terminal Degree in the profession in which the doctorate is; an uncommon or non-existent degree; or possession of a first professional degree.
4.7.1.3.3 Normally, three (3) years of experience (Adjunct, clinical, Research or visiting, as appropriate) or other suitable professional experience.
4.7.1.3.4 Demonstrated competence in Teaching.
4.7.1.4 Adjunct Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer
4.7.1.4.1 Outstanding professional experience, professional licensure, certification, demonstrated competency, which allows for effective Teaching and fulfillment of Student Course Learning Outcomes, to be used in lieu of formal academic Qualifications.
4.7.1.4.2 Demonstrated competence in Teaching.
4.8 Management of Adjunct Appointments
4.8.1 The Dean/Academic Manager may nominate an Adjunct Academic Member, based on the Academic Unit Program/accreditation requirements, to the Vice President, Academics.
4.8.2 Adjunct Academic Member required to teach will be hired as part-time Employees, following the applicable part-time employment process defined in the Academic Recruitment Procedure (PR-AC-23).
4.9 Adjunct Academic Member’s Possible Responsibilities
4.9.1 Participate in Teaching, Teaching supervision, Program development, developing and administering Student assessments, and reporting grades and attendance.
4.9.2 Supervise Student Research projects.
4.9.3 Collaborate with the Academic Members on Research.
4.10 Adjunct Academic Member Privileges
4.10.1 Adjunct Academic Members are granted the privileges stated in the procedure relevant to this policy.
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-HR-01: Human Resource Policy.
6.2 PL-AC-03: Academic Qualifications Policy.
6.3 PR-AC-23: Academic Recruitment Procedure.