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B/12.8 Professional development program for professional staff |
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12.8.1 Policy principles
12.8.1 Policy principlesQUT provides a range of opportunities for the development of its professional staff through the Professional Development Program for Professional Staff (PDP-PS). Such programs are expected to enhance the vocational knowledge and skills of the staff member on a personal level, with respect to their current and future employment at QUT. The broad objectives of professional development programs are to enable staff periodically to work outside the University in order to
PDP is a benefit that may be offered to eligible staff when circumstances permit. As such it should not be regarded by staff as an entitlement. Consideration of each application is based on
12.8.2 Professional Development Program Committee (Professional Staff)The PDP-PS scheme is administered by the Professional Development Program Committee (Professional Staff) (PDP Committee (PS)), a Vice-Chancellor's committee established in accordance with Council Procedure 1 - Committees, and is accountable to the Vice-Chancellor for fulfilling the terms of reference outlined below. The Committee operates at the University level to ensure that professional staff at all levels and from all organisational areas have access to appropriate development opportunities.Terms of Reference Professional Development Program Committee (Professional Staff)
Membership
A nominee of the Registrar is secretary. Tenure and frequency of meetings Terms of office are as detailed in section 3 of Council Procedure 1 - Committees . Reporting PDP Committee (PS) reports to the Vice-Chancellor annually. 12.8.3 ProgramsDuration A PDP-PS will normally be for a minimum of five working days and shall not normally exceed six months. In exceptional circumstances, up to 12 months leave may be granted on the recommendation of the Professional Development Program Committee (Professional Staff) and at the Registrar's discretion. In order to encourage staff at and below level HEW 6 to undertake appropriate PDPs, and to assist organisational areas to support these applications, the normal minimum requirement of a five working day period is waived. The application of this special provision for staff at and below HEW 6 is at the discretion of PDP Committee (PS). Timing Details relating to the timing of rounds for PDP-PS applications are available on the Human Resources website. Location of program A PDP-PS should normally be undertaken at a location other than QUT. The appropriate location is one which will provide most benefit to both the staff member and the University. Justification for the location of a PDP-PS should be provided as part of the application. In the case of an overseas location the application should indicate why the advantages to be gained by the University cannot be gained at an Australian location. Approval PDP-PS for study programs Approval for staff to take full-time or part-time leave to progress or complete an approved course of study will be determined at faculty or divisional level (see B/12.3 ). Staff may apply for PDP assistance where a period of study leave forms part of the total program (for example, a program which combines a period of full-time study with visits/tours of, or research within, an external organisation) and the staff member is seeking financial support through the PDP-PS scheme. In these cases, staff must have completed at least half of their academic program at the time of application, and approval for PDP assistance is granted on the understanding that study progress will be satisfactory prior to the commencement of leave. 12.8.4 EligibilityAll members of professional staff (except casual staff) up to level HEW10, and who have completed 12 months continuous service, are eligible to apply for a PDP-PS. For the purposes of this policy, professional staff at levels SSG1 and above are not defined as professional staff. A member of professional staff will not normally be granted PDP-PS leave more frequently than every two years. 12.8.5 Salary and employment conditionsA staff member's normal salary and conditions of employment accrue during any period of paid PDP-PS. For absences of three months or more, normal recreation leave accruals should be taken during the PDP-PS. If accrued leave cannot be taken during the PDP, staff members must seek approval from the head of school / department / section for the leave to be taken at a later date. Leave without pay to undertake PDP-PS A professional staff member, who applies for and is granted participation in a PDP-PS without pay, will continue to accrue normal leave credits and service credits for salary progression purposes during the period of leave. The University does not continue to pay superannuation payments during periods of absence on leave without pay (see B/7.11 ). Conditions of PDP-PS leave Participation in a PDP-PS is based upon the following terms and conditions
Guidelines to assist staff members in preparing and submitting professional development leave reports are published on the Human Resources website. 12.8.6 Financial AssistanceThe extent of financial assistance made available by the University through the professional development program funds will be determined by PDP Committee (PS) taking into account the merit of the program, the total anticipated or actual costs to be incurred, and the extent of the financial contribution from the staff members' organisational area. Information on the level of assistance normally available can be found on the Human Resources website. A staff member's PDP-PS leave shall be paid full salary, less any normal deductions, for the duration of the program. In exceptional circumstances, a lump sum of net salary for half of the period of the PDP-PS may be granted at the discretion of the Registrar. In addition to the staff member's normal QUT salary, financial assistance towards expenses will be made available from the University when the PDP-PS is located away from home. If air travel is necessary, staff are expected to use the most economical airfare which meets their needs, to use QUT's approved travel service providers, and to comply with QUT’s travel policy (see G/5.5). External income Staff members are encouraged to seek allowances, scholarships, grants, salaries or other income from external sources to offset costs associated with an approved PDP-PS. A staff member who receives an entitlement from an external source while on PDP-PS leave is normally expected to use this entitlement towards travel, accommodation and incidental expenses incurred, and/or to assist their organisational area to back-fill their position if necessary. External income in excess of the full cost of the program may be retained by the staff member. If leave without pay is approved, the staff member will be permitted to retain all remuneration received from external sources. Depending on the circumstances, a return airfare and a contribution towards other expenses may be provided by the University. 12.8.7 Application procedureApplicants must discuss their proposal with the head of school / department / section prior to lodging an application. The head of school / department / section should at that time offer an opinion as to the relevance of the program and arrangements that might be made to cover the applicant's commitments during the period of professional development leave. All applications are to be submitted on the approved PDP-PS application form and in accordance with the PDP-PS guidelines on the Human Resources website.Related DocumentsMOPP B/12.4 Conference attendance for professional staffMOPP G/5.5 Travel policy Human Resources website Modification History
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