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General description of the role

The role of the Academic Subject Lead for the Astrophoria Foundation Year is to have oversight over the subject specific modules that enable progression to the relevant undergraduate course. The Academic Subject lead will make up part of the Course Leadership Team, who together will co-ordinate the relevant course vision and activity, working collaboratively to ensure that the modules within the course are suitable for progression to undergraduate study. Please note that this role in the first instance is for the period of one academic year during the development of the programme. Students will commence courses in MT 2023 and a similar but updated staffing structure will be put in place.

One of the Academic Subject Leads will additionally take on the role of Academic Course Lead who will act as Chair of the Academic Course Leadership Team (this role will rotate on a biennial basis).

Within MPLS there will be three roles available:

  • Academic Subject Lead: Chemistry
  • Academic Subject Lead: Engineering Science
  • Academic Subject Lead: Materials Science

(with one of these Subject Leads additionally taking on the Academic course lead)

Key duties and responsibilities

Academic Subject Lead

The role of the Subject Lead is to have oversight of the modules that enable progression to the relevant undergraduate course.

Responsibilities

  1. Member of Academic Course Leadership Team
  2. Writing module content (or coordinating relevant staff to provide content)
  3. Writing end of module assessments (or coordination of questions if from other staff)
  4. Liaising with FY programme team to recruit teaching staff.
  5. Participation in admissions process for subject (together with Subject Admissions Co-ordinators): Shortlisting, Interviewing and Feedback on admissions process
  6. Attendance at the appropriate Departmental/Faculty committees and ensuring links with appropriate role holders at key times.

Academic Course Lead

The role of the Academic Course Lead is to act as chair of the Academic Course Leadership Team. This position will be held by one of the Academic Subject Leads as an additional responsibility. During the delivery phase this role will rotate on a 2 yearly basis.

Responsibilities

  1. Chair of Academic Course Leadership Team
  2. Attendance at the appropriate Divisional committees and ensuring links with appropriate role holders at key times:
  • provide information about the Foundation Oxford course
  • ensure that the Foundation Oxford course remains relevant for the undergraduate course

Terms and conditions

Academic Subject Lead

  • Payment equivalent to 0.5 days per week at the APTF rate, grade 10a of £35 per hour (£6,825)

OR

  • Buyout of 10% FTE or 0.5 days per week up to the maximum budget of £6,825

Academic Course Lead

In addition to the above payment

  • Payment equivalent to 0.1 days per week at the APTF rate, grade 10a of £35 per hour (£1,365)

OR

  • Buyout of 0.1 days per week up to the maximum budget of £1,385

In the first instance these roles are for the period of one academic year during the development of the programme. Students will commence courses in MT 2023 and a similar but updated staffing structure will be put in place.

Further information

Anyone interested in being considered for these roles should contact the Astrophoria Foundation Year Co-Ordinator, Dr Jo Begbie stating if they wish to be considered for the subject lead or course lead role, for an informal discussion.

If you wish to be considered for these roles, please send an EOI* and CV to Caitriona Woolhouse (Programme Manager) at foundationyear.admin@admin.ox.ac.uk, clearly stating if you wish to be considered for the subject lead or course lead role, by Friday 22 July 2022.

* This should state your name, department, and post; briefly (max. 500 words) describe why you are interested in the role(s) and what you would bring to it, given your skills and experience; and indicate whether you have in-principle support from your Head of Department.

Background information on the Astrophoria Foundation Year

The University committed to a foundation year in 2019, as part of a range of measures designed to increase access to undergraduate study for students from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Previously known as Foundation Oxford, the programme launched as the Astrophoria Foundation Year, and is supported by a major gift from a longstanding University donor, who wishes to remain anonymous.  

This one-year foundation programme is for UK state school students with significant academic potential, who have experienced severe personal disadvantage and/or disrupted education which has resulted in them being unable to apply directly for an Oxford undergraduate degree programme. It is fully funded for students and offers places for up to 50 students each year with the first cohort to be admitted to Oxford in October 2023.  

The Astrophoria Foundation Year builds on the model of a pilot foundation year programme pioneered by Lady Margaret Hall since 2016. It also complements Opportunity Oxford, which is now in its third year, for students who are ready to start Oxford degrees with support during the transition between school/college and the University. 

Students will apply for their chosen degree course with a foundation year (for example Materials Science with Foundation Year). During the foundation year they will follow one of four courses; Humanities (Classics, History, English and Theology); Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science; Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE), or Law. They will become students at one of ten Oxford colleges: Exeter, Jesus, Keble, Lady Margaret Hall, Mansfield, Somerville, St Anne’s, St Hugh’s, Trinity, and Wadham.