Find out more about what scholarship looks like for academics on the Education and Scholarship (E&S) pathway.
Scholarship at Sussex can take many forms
It may be reflection, study, research, and ways of communicating about educational practice in higher education (HE). It can contribute to pedagogic knowledge, discipline-specific or interdisciplinary practice, and the broader HE sector. Scholarship can also feed into national frameworks such as the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), and support developing our understanding of our Access and Participation Plan.
You can demonstrate scholarship through evidence that critical reflection and research about educational practice inform your own work. This may involve sharing good practice or broader insights that enhance the educational practice of others. At senior levels, we expect scholarship to influence practice within the University, subject communities, or the HE sector.
What does scholarship look like in practice?
Our goal is to enhance the student learning experience. We recognise and value your work as scholarship whether you are:
- sharing your reflections, insights, or examples of effective practice
- enhancing teaching through curriculum design, inclusive pedagogy, or assessment
- contributing to the development of others through mentoring, peer review, leadership roles, or external networks.
Developing and demonstrating your scholarship
You can demonstrate developing your scholarship identity (how you define yourself as a scholar), building a scholarship profile (how your work is seen and shared), and growing your sphere of influence (within your School, Faculty, the wider university, and externally). This list is a guide to inspire and support your development.
- Outputs (e.g. publications, presentations, case studies)
Scholarship outputs can include a range of contributions. For instance:
- books and edited collections
- journal articles and conference proceedings
- textbooks and opinion pieces
- podcasts, blogs, and other media
- editorial board roles
- professional body involvement.
Read about Prof Wendy Garnham's reflections on editorial scholarship. - Strategy and leadership
Leadership in scholarship involves contributing to strategic educational initiatives and advancing best practice. For example:
- curriculum design/redesign
- engaging with and/or facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD) resources
- cross-institutional initiatives centred on education and student experience
- internal or national awards
- sector priorities and Advance HE accreditation.
Read about Dr Luis Ponce Cuspinera's reflections on curriculum redesign, or Dr Lorraine Smith's Senior Fellowship application, or Tab Betts' setting up a higher education network. - External engagement (e.g. networks, panels, collaborations)
External engagement enhances your scholarship profile and sector impact. It can include:
- organising conferences, symposia, or seminars
- participating in networks or media outreach
- quality assurance roles (e.g. external examiner, validation panels)
- leading collaborative, high-impact education projects.
Read about Graeme Pedlingham's time working for the Office for Students. - Funding
Finding pockets of funding for scholarship can be challenging, and funding for scholarship is not always needed, however there are some great examples of colleagues at Sussex who have secured funding to support their scholarship initiatives.
Read about Dr Xiangming Tao and Josephine Van-Ess securing the Education and Innovation Fund.