Expressions of Interest to participate in the ECDF scheme will close on 15 October 2012.
Overview
An ECDF is a full-time or part-time Level A or B position which will normally be for a fixed-term period of up to 2 years.
To be appointed to an ECDF the casual academic staff member must meet particular eligibility criteria. They should also register their interest in being considered for an ECDF position, should one arise in a relevant School / Group / Discipline.
An ECDF will become available when the University has decided to undertake recruitment action for a new or vacant Academic Level A and/or B position and designates it as an ECDF. If 20 or more casual academic staff have registered an interest in a position within an academic unit, the University will designate the next Academic Level A and/or B vacancy that becomes available within that unit as an ECDF.
When a position is designated as an ECDF casual academic staff in that particular academic unit (eg School, Group, Discipline, etc) who have registered their interest and have met the eligibility criteria will be invited to apply for the ECDF position. Applications received will be considered on their merits against the selection criteria for the EDCF position.
Eligibility for an ECDF position
A UTS casual academic staff member will be eligible to register for an ECDF position if they meet the criteria specified below under Option 1 OR Option 2:
Option 1 - Criteria:
- awarded a PhD
and - performed casual teaching work for the University in at least three major teaching periods over the last five years
Or
Option 2 - Criteria:
- active candidate in the final year who has made satisfactory progress towards completion of their PhD during the preceding two years
and - has performed casual teaching work for the University in at least five major teaching periods over the last five years.
Note: “Major teaching periods” refers to Autumn and/or Spring semesters. To meet the requirement of teaching in a “major teaching period”, a casual academic staff member will have conducted teaching in the majority of teaching weeks applicable to the subject.
ECDF Register – How to Register Interest in an ECDF?
Each year, eligible casual academic staff can register their interest in the ECDF scheme by completing an Expression of Interest Form for Early Career Development Fellowship (xls 48k). This form will be completed and lodged electronically together with evidence of completion of their PhD or a PhD supervisor’s statement.
The timeframes for lodgement of an Expression of Interest is specified below:
Call for expression of interest – September 2012
Expressions of interest close – 15 October 2012
Casual academic staff who lodge an expression of interest in the ECDF scheme are encouraged to talk to their supervisors (or other relevant members of the Faculties in which they work) about their career aspirations.
The timeframes for future calls for expressions of interest will be advertised through this website, UTS Staff Notices and other methods.
For more information, contact Blair Cornwel-Smith x1070 or Lisa Carroli x1079
Frequently asked Questions
Q1 The Academic Staff Agreement 2010 says “Of the positions advertised each year at Level A and B, 15 (EFT) will be made available as ECDFs”. What does this mean?
The University’s commitment, within the Academic Staff Agreement 2010, is to seek to fill 15 (EFT) Level A and/or B positions, as they become available during a 12 month period, through the ECDF Scheme. Opportunities would become available, for example, when a new position is created or if an existing position becomes vacant. The target of 15 per year was established based on Level A and B recruitment data over previous years, and an assumption that recruitment at these levels would be consistent during the life of the Agreement.
The University’s commitment is to create new opportunities for casual staff from within its existing pool of Level A or Level B positions advertised each year.
Q2 What is the purpose of completing an "Expression of Interest (EOI) Form for Early Career Development Fellowship"?
The Academic Staff Agreement 2010 states “Each year, existing casual academic staff may register their interest in, and eligibility for the ECDF scheme with the University”. To enable this to happen, the University has developed an expression of interest and registration process. An expression of interest is lodged via the EOI Form. The Human Resources Unit then verifies if the casual academic staff member has met the eligibility criteria for the ECDF Scheme. If the criteria have been met, the casual staff member’s details are entered into the ECDF Register. The academic units (ie Schools / Disciplines / Groups) which the casual academic staff member nominates on their EOI form (as aligning to their areas of teaching and research interest) are also recorded in the Register.
The Register is treated as a “talent pool”. When a Level A / B position becomes available and is designated as an ECDF, casual academic staff on the Register, who have nominated the particular academic unit (within which the position is to be located), will be invited to apply. If you are interested and eligible to participate in the ECDF Scheme you are advised to register your interest. If ECDF Register has no entries with an interest in the particular academic unit seeking to fill the Level A / B position then the University will conduct a normal internal and external recruitment process.
Q3 I have not registered my interest in the ECDF Scheme but I have heard that a Level A/B position is available. Can I apply?
The applicant pool for a Level A/B position designated as an ECDF may be either:
- restricted to those on the ECDF Register
- available to other casual academic staff who meet the eligibility criteria for the ECDF Scheme. As part of the application process, casual academic staff who are not on the Register may be asked to complete an EOI Form so that the Human Resources Unit can validate your eligibility.
Eligibility to apply for a position should be set out within the advertisement or communication associated with the position.
Q4 When will a Level A or B position under the ECDF Scheme be available within the academic unit/s that I have nominated?
As noted above (refer to Q1) opportunities will become available, either when a new position is created or if an existing position becomes vacant. The University has put in place administrative processes designed to ensure that the ECDF Register is first consulted when a Level A or B position becomes available. If there is no one on the Register with an interest in the particular academic unit seeking to fill the Level A / B position, then the University will conduct a normal internal and external recruitment process.
It is therefore important that you register your interest in the ECDF Scheme if you wish to participate in the ECDF Scheme.
