New research staff

Staff at the University are part of a vibrant research and teaching community. New staff are supported through orientation, supervision and career development.

Orientation

The Orientation to Academic Life programme, run regularly by the Centre for Academic Development (CAD), introduces new staff to academic life at the University. All new research staff (regardless of experience and including short-term appointments) are offered this opportunity within their first 12 months.

The programme is held over three days. All workshops are interactive, practical, informed by relevant research and run by experienced facilitators.

Supervision support

Victoria University of Wellington also runs an orientation programme to introduce all new academic staff to postgraduate research supervision at the University. All staff who expect to supervise doctoral students need to attend this session before they begin supervising. Staff who expect to supervise Master’s by thesis students are also encouraged to attend. This interactive workshop, offered by the Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research, explains the processes and policies relating to postgraduate research supervision.

Professional development

At Victoria University of Wellington we have a holistic academic career framework and our professional development programmes support your development in learning and teaching, research, engagement, and leadership.

The Research Office offers one-on-one interviews with new staff that introduce key processes, support systems and contacts for research. It also offers three-day Academic Writing Intensives for those on Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF)-eligible contracts. This programme is designed to provide the conditions necessary to complete a substantial but specific piece of research writing.

We have a number of other development initiatives to support new staff including the Academic Mentoring Programme (AMP), the Victoria Early Career Academic Programme (VECAP) and teaching and learning support.