The University's aim is to provide the best possible teaching and learning experience for students. Engaging part-time hourly paid staff provides the University with flexibility in the delivery of the diverse range of programmes and courses we offer.
The use of hourly-paid academic contracts enables Faculties/Institutes to meet short-term requirements and should not normally be relied upon to provide ongoing 'business as usual' course and programme delivery.
In each individual case, the reason for engaging fixed-term hourly paid academic resource must be transparent and objectively justifiable. Reasons may include:
- The need to engage a person with specific expertise/professional experience for the delivery of a class or module
- Providing short-term temporary cover until staff recruitment processes are completed, or as a short term measure during recruitment difficulties
- As a short-term contingency in response to an unplanned/unexpected increase in workload
- Temporary ad-hoc or short term cover for an absent member of staff (e.g. sickness cover).
- To meet variable and uncertain short-term student demand (or similar uncertainty, e.g. with regard to short-course enrolment).
In all circumstances, consideration will be given as to whether engagement on an hourly paid fixed-term contract is the appropriate means of engagement. Where there is doubt, the Head of Department will seek the advice of the HR Partner before reaching a decision. For example, the need to engage a person with specific expertise/professional experience for the delivery of a workshop may arise, however if it is apparent that this will be a regular requirement for the foreseeable future, consideration will be given as to whether engagement on a permanent part-time contract is more appropriate than a fixed-term hourly paid contract.
The Head of Department will seek the advice of the HR Partner before making an offer of employment to a member of staff who is currently engaged on a substantive contract with the University. In general terms, staff who have a full-time substantive role with the University (fixed-term or permanent) will not be additionally engaged on a fixed-term hourly-paid academic basis. Where the substantive role is a part-time (fractional fixed-term or permanent) academic role, consideration will be given to varying the substantive contract rather than engaging on an additional fixed-term hourly-paid contract.