An honorary appointment is a voluntary arrangement, which allows individuals from business and institutions other than universities, as well as NHS Trusts, to cooperate with academic staff at the University. It is available to individuals who participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and/or to cooperate on joint research to the mutual benefit of both them and the University.
An honorary appointment is not a contract of employment and honorary appointments will not receive any remuneration for work they undertake in their honorary capacity. All candidates for honorary appointments should be judged against the same standards of output as for substantive University positions albeit that activities with or on behalf of the University are clearly secondary to a candidate’s substantive role and this should be taken into account when considering the appointment.
The University reserves the right to terminate an honorary appointment at any time and for any reason prior to its expiry and if, in the future, the honorary appointment is appointed to a substantive role within the University, their honorary appointment will cease.
There is a separate process to give an individual a University IT account and Library access. To do this please visit the IT Services SharePoint page.
Please note this process differs from our visiting professor and visiting research roles. Visiting professors are appointed by the dean of faculty and are expected to contribute to the expertise of our staff. Visiting researchers are appointed in relation to time bound projects which specific research outputs.
Who is eligible?
All applicants must:
contribute to the University’s teaching and/or research endeavours
not be the subject of a disciplinary or capability process
not be the subject of an investigation of non-compliance with regulations by the applicant’s employer
Types of honorary appointment
Honorary Professor
Criteria
To be conferred on a person with involvement in the University that is regular and significant. The appointee should be of an academic standing equivalent to that of Professor. There must be a substantial connection with the University and the candidate must be academically qualified for the status. They will be a leading international authority in their subject including an outstanding contribution to education or research or both.
Honorary Clinical Professor
Clinical criteria
Successful candidates will have outstanding qualities of leadership and will have made substantial contributions to their field of clinical expertise. Candidates must have attracted high levels of external recognition in their clinical profession, and will need to show outstanding performance, and potential, against one or more of the following criteria (normally, a successful candidate will be expected to satisfy more than one of these criteria – however, a candidate with an exceptional record in one of these areas may be eligible for conferment as Professor):
A track record of nationally and internationally externally recognised clinical excellence.
A track record of nationally and internationally externally recognised research excellence.
An externally recognised record of sustained innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, including contribution to the advancement of learning, the development of the subject and to pioneering work in programme development.
A sustained record of enterprise and the successful commercialisation of high-quality research and IP leading to patents, spin out companies or a body of work which influences policy decisions.
Honorary Associate Professor
Criteria
The title Honorary Associate Professor should be conferred on a person who would be deemed appropriate for such an appointment within the University. The candidate must be academically qualified for the status proposed. The individual must be a leading authority in the subject with an international reputation.
The individual will also normally have experience of, and a demonstrated commitment towards fostering excellence in research and/or education. This may include contributions as a research lead or principal investigator, or leadership/management responsibilities. The proposed individual should contribute at an appropriately high level to the academic work of the University.
Honorary Clinical Associate Professor
Clinical criteria
Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate a high level of achievement in clinical work and leadership which is externally recognised. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching and/or research with significant contribution to the University. Candidates will need to demonstrate that they meet one or more of the following criteria:
A track record of nationally recognised clinical excellence.
A track record of nationally recognised research excellence.
A strong record of sustained innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, including contribution to the advancement of learning, the development of the subject and to pioneering work in programme development.
A sustained record of enterprise and the successful commercialisation of high-quality research and IP leading to patents, spin out companies or a body of work which influences policy decisions.
Honorary Lecturer
Criteria
The title Honorary Lecturer should be conferred on a person who would be deemed appropriate for such an appointment within the University. The candidate must be academically qualified for the status proposed. The individual must be an externally recognised authority in their specialism. The proposed individual should make a contribution to the academic work of the University as a research collaborator and/or teacher which may include research, teaching, examinations, admissions, student support or management.
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Criteria
The title Honorary Senior Lecturer should be conferred on a person who would be deemed appropriate for such an appointment within the University. The candidate must be academically qualified for the status proposed. The individual must be an externally recognised authority in the broader subject area. The proposed individual should contribute at a significant high level to the academic work of the University as a research contributor and/or with educational responsibilities which may include research, teaching, examinations, admissions, student support or management.
Honorary Clinical Lecturer
Clinical criteria
For appointment as an Honorary Clinical Lecturer it is expected that the nominee:
Should be a qualified clinician registered with an appropriate professional statutory regulatory body
Be able to demonstrate that they possess sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in their area of clinical expertise to work within established teaching programmes and/or to make a significant contribution to the research activities of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine and/or the wider University
Should engage in continuing professional development relating to their clinical expertise, teaching and/or research as appropriate.
In relation to Teaching, Learning and Assessment (where the nominee will be teaching on programmes) they should:
Support student learning as a member of a teaching team within an established programme of study, with the assistance of a mentor if required.
Be able to teach in a variety of settings from small group tutorials to large lectures as appropriate.
Ensure that content, methods of delivery and learning materials will support students in meeting defined learning outcomes and contribute to decisions relating to the delivery of modules and assessment of students.
Develop high quality teaching and learning materials, methods and approaches with guidance, commensurate with the requirements of the school and programme of study.
Supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills and help them with problems related to their learning.
Provide constructive feedback to students in accordance with Institutional policy and process.
Seek ways of improving performance by reflecting on teaching design and delivery and obtaining and analysing feedback.
In relation to Research, Knowledge Transfer and Scholarship (where the nomination is based partially or wholly on this) they should:
Be actively involved in research activities which directly benefit, and are of relevance to, the faculty.
Publish in peer-reviewed journals.
Actively seek out opportunities for research.
Be prepared to work collaboratively on research projects with members of the faculty.
Identify opportunities, and be involved in same, for knowledge transfer activities as appropriate.
Use advanced scholarship to inform teaching practice.
Where a nomination for Honorary Clinical Lecturer is proposed, it is expected that an initial appointment at this level would normally be appropriate, particularly where the nominee is still undergoing clinical training or is not employed at consultant level or above.
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Clinical criteria
In addition to meeting the criteria for Honorary Clinical Lecturer, nominees for appointment at the level of Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer should also:
Demonstrate enhanced knowledge and skills in their area of expertise.
Demonstrate enhanced responsibility and standing in their field of expertise, which could be evidenced by lead responsibilities, conference presentation, esteem indicators etc.
In relation to Clinical expertise and standing:
Demonstrate enhanced clinical knowledge and skills.
Demonstrate enhanced clinical responsibility.
Demonstrate increased clinical standing as evidenced by lead responsibilities, conference presentation, esteem indicators etc.
In relation to Teaching, Learning and Assessment:
Seek ways of improving self-performance by reflecting on teaching design and delivery and obtaining and analysing feedback.
Contribute to significant elements of academic programmes within the area of expertise including planning, delivery and assessment.
In relation to Research, Knowledge Transfer and Scholarship:
Lead and/or play a major role in research activities which directly benefit, and are of direct relevance to, the Faculty.
Have a track record of research expertise and success.
Be able to lead research projects.
Disseminate their own advanced scholarship to internal and external audiences, e.g. through seminars, workshops and conference attendance.
Individuals with clinical appointments at Consultant level will usually be appointed as Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer (as a minimum).
Honorary Research Fellow/Honorary Clinical Research Fellow
Criteria
The title is offered in recognition of a significant contribution to research in collaboration with University staff. Candidates may already hold, or have held, similar, substantive positions at recognised universities. A higher degree (PhD) is required.
Honorary Associate Research Fellow/Honorary Clinical Associate Research Fellow
Criteria
Visitors who will be making a positive contribution to research but whose qualifications/ experience do not fulfil the criteria for the title of Honorary University Fellow.
Terms of appointment
No remuneration will be attached to the posts.
All appointments will be for three years in the first instance (each area to advise Staff Recruitment of the duration of the appointment). Decisions regarding extension of the appointment should be made at least three months in advance of the current appointment end date.
Appointments may be terminated by either party in advance of the appointment end date by providing one month’s written notice.
For the avoidance of doubt an honorary appointment does not constitute a contract of employment.
Title holders are of course permitted to refer to themselves using their designated title. However, it must be made clear in their title designation that they hold an Honorary position e.g., “Associate Professor J Jones, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of Edge Hill University”.
The benefits relating to the honorary appointment are outlined in the letter of appointment.
Appointments process
Applicants should engage initially in a conversation with the relevant faculty, school or department and share their CV with a substantive senior member of academic and/or research staff for them to undertake an initial assessment of potential suitability based on the relevant criteria.
Applicants should then complete the Honorary Academic Status Proposal Form, including providing a letter of endorsement from their employer.
The applicant should then forward completed documentation to their faculty academic contact (or nominee) for consideration and processing. Please be aware that incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
The EHU Staff member/Engaging Department will then be required to submit an Honorary Title Appointment form via Stonefish, attaching completed documentation (alongside the applicant’s CV).
Applications for Honorary Professor or Honorary Associate Professor or Honorary Clinical Professor or Honorary Clinical Associate Professor will normally be considered by members of the University’s Standing Conferment Panel.
All other honorary appointments will normally be considered by a member(s) of the University’s Academic Progression Panel.
All applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. These checks will be completed on appointment.
Depending on the nature of the honorary appointment, DBS and/or ATAS clearance may be required. If deemed necessary, these checks will be completed on appointment.
Upon approval by the relevant panel, An outcome letter will then be sent to the applicant to be e-signed, alongside completion of right to work checks. Once cleared, the Recruitment team will email the substantive senior member of academic and/or research staff and any other supervisor identified on the application form to confirm the start and end date of the Honorary Title.
Renewal of existing honorary appointments
Existing honorary appointments will be reviewed, in advance of the current appointment end date. A pro-forma, which asks the honorary appointee to set out their contribution to the University, can be found below.
To formally renew an Honorary Title Appointment, the substantive senior member of academic and/ or research staff (or other nominated staff member) should submit an Honorary Title Appointment form via Stonefish, attaching completed documentation (alongside their CV).
Where the head of department decides to withdraw an honorary appointment partway through the appointment this should be discussed in the first instance with the faculty HR partner. Where the head of school decides not to renew an appointment at the end of the period of appointment this can be confirmed directly to Staff Recruitment who will write to the individual.
Contact
Please contact us if you have any further enquiries.