The Probationer Pathway is specifically designed for academic staff on probation. The pathway will support you practically to develop your knowledge and application of effective approaches to teaching and learning, as well as make links from this to develop your application for fellowship of Advance HE.
Who should follow this programme?
Under the University’s minimum requirements for new teaching staff, lecturers on probation (permanent and fixed term contracts), are required to complete the Probationer Pathway part of their probation requirements.
Non-probationary staff can follow the Experiential Pathway to apply for fellowship.
What are the benefits?
By following the Probationer Pathway you will have the opportunity to:
- develop your understanding, skills, knowledge and confidence to prepare you to become a competent and effective teacher
- develop your ability to critically reflect on your practice to support your ongoing development as a practitioner
- make links between current research and scholarship in teaching and learning, using this to help you make decisions about your own teaching approaches
- work with colleagues from a range of subject disciplines and share ideas and practice
- develop your fellowship application with support and guidance from the Pathways team and peers
Not only does Pathways provide valuable advice on teaching and student support, but it also creates an opportunity for exchanging experiences and building a community of new staff members across departments and faculties.
Probationer Pathway participant 2023-24
Which sessions should I attend?
Attendance of the programme of sessions is mandatory for those on the Probationer Pathway. Depending on your contract status and the category of fellowship you are aiming to achieve, the Grid of Requirements below will help you determine what the particular requirements are:
- Grid of Requirements (new Probationers)
- Grid of Requirements (Transition)
- Grid of Requirements (Exemption)
The Planners below show the bookable dates for all sessions to be delivered in 2024-25. Use the session links to take you to the relevant session booking page:
- Planner to apply for Associate Fellow (AFHEA)
- Planner to apply for Fellow (FHEA)
- Research Sessions to be attended by Lecturers (Research and Teaching) to complete probationary requirements. (some links still to follow, click on the session name to access booking in Eventbrite)
Please note session numbers have been changed for 2024/25, if you have already attended any, refer to the Grid of Requirements (Transition) to see how the old numbers map to the new numbers.
What does the pathway involve?
You will participate in a programme of core sessions as part of a cohort of fellow probationary teaching staff. Delivered in-person and online, these sessions will introduce you to key aspects of teaching and learning practice, and help you to apply these to your own teaching contexts.
The programme also includes regular small-group tutorials designed to encourage reflection on your teaching and to share experiences with your peers.
All activity is designed to help you make links between your teaching practice and the Professional Standards Framework 2023, which will enable you to develop your application for Advance HE fellowship.
How do I apply for fellowship?
Full information about the application process will be given to you during the programme. This includes opportunities to receive feedback on your application as you develop it. A summary of key submission information is available via the links below:
Contact the Pathways team
To contact the Pathways team, email acdev@bath.ac.uk and one of the team will be in touch.