The title of Honorary Visiting Professor is an honorary title that normally would be given to an individual who already has a substantive post at another academic institution as a Professor. It recognises individuals whose academic contribution is at the level of a University Professor.
If the applicant does not currently hold an academic appointment at Professorial level, normally, the contact details for two external referees should be provided for any designee being considered for the title of Honorary Visiting Professor. Referees should be of appropriate standing and have sufficient expertise to provide an objective and informed assessment of the candidate’s standing. Where the designee already holds the title of full Professor at another Institution, external references will not normally be sought. Award of the Professorial title is subject to the agreement of the Professors and Readers Conferment Panel.
Documents requesting the conferment of a Visiting Professor title should be sent electronically to HRCoordinator@ljmu.ac.uk, for circulation to the Conferment Panel.
The title of Honorary Visiting Adjunct Professor is normally relevant to individuals who are closely associated with LJMU and who will make a significant contribution to the university. These individuals will have achieved significant standing in their career or profession that is recognised to be at least academically equivalent to that of a full Professor, but do not hold a current academic position as a Professor at a higher education institute.
This supports individuals who are not from a traditional academic background but who will make a significant impact in one of the following areas, or making a considerable contribution in two of these:
Education
- Significant involvement in developing and delivering the curriculum at either undergraduate or postgraduate level.
- Teaching well as evidenced by School and student feedback.
- Membership of prestigious national or international educational committees.
- Positive impact upon student support, pastoral care and the overall student experience.
- Successful supervision of PGT or PGR students.
- Publications relating to education.
- Reputation, awards, prizes.
Research
- Leadership and innovation in research or in collaboration with others in science, engineering or business.
- Significant contributions to research papers that appear in high impact journals.
- Work on editorial boards of scholarly journals.
- Reputation, awards, prizes.
Leadership and management
- Significant contribution to the direction and management of a major unit of activity within the university.
- Contribution to research or teaching strategy.
- Successful achievement of significant change.
- Contribution to important committees, working groups, etcetera.
- Organising significant academic conferences, etcetera.
Profession and practice
- Contributing to significant improvements or innovation, for example in clinical management and processes.
- Contributing to significant improvements or innovation, for example applications of research findings in healthcare, business or industry.
- Coordinating major clinical trials.
- Contributions to Outreach or Public Engagement.
The level of impact will determine whether the title of Honorary Visiting Adjunct Professor is conferred. Applications should come from the relevant faculty, with faculty approval, (not from individual applicants or their line managers), and be sent, in the first instance, to HRCoordinator@ljmu.ac.uk.
The university will judge each case on its merits from the submission which should include:
- a copy of the person’s CV and a statement from the individual showing how they meet the criteria to be awarded the honorary title of Adjunct Professor
- the names of two external referees who can comment, and validate the person’s impact, upon clinical or business practice
- a statement from the Director of School of the relevant Faculty which provides a commentary and a rationale for offering the association, including a description of contributions to teaching, research and practice and an outline of the role to be carried out within the school
It is a condition that if the title of Honorary Visiting Adjunct Professor is awarded, the full title, including the modifier “Adjunct”, is used at all times.
The university may confer the title of Emeritus Professor on any professor of the university at or after retirement or resignation, in recognition of distinguished academic service to LJMU. Emeritus status may only be conferred on existing members of staff who already hold the title of professor.
The individual must meet the eligibility criteria and is conferred following formal recommendation, to and approval by, the Conferment panel. It is a prestigious award and is not therefore conferred lightly, it is an honorary title awarded entirely at the discretion of the university. The title will become effective from the date following the nominated professor’s date of retirement.
By virtue of the title, Emeritus Professors cannot be employees of the University. Should an Emeritus Professor return to paid employment in an academic role, the faculty may deem it appropriate to recognise the continued collaboration with a different title. If an Emeritus Professor returns to paid employment at the University their title would revert to ‘Professor’.
The Emeritus Professor may continue to support the University by engaging with a variety of activities. It is recommended that the type of activities an Emeritus Professor might offer support to are discussed between the Emeritus Professor and the Head of Department, ideally in advance of retirement, and reviewed over time as necessary.
Faculties should be aware that:
- there is no obligation on the Emeritus Professor to undertake or complete the agreed activity
- there can be no financial reward or benefit in kind provided for work undertaken in a voluntary capacity. Any activities undertaken should therefore be appropriate for someone who is supporting the university in an unpaid capacity
- if the nature of the relationship changes, this may require a different solution in terms of employment status
- where there is any ambiguity or uncertainty about the nature of the relationship, the Faculty PVC may wish to consult their HR Business Partner
The Faculty PVC or University Pro Vice Chancellor can ‘propose’ the Professor. The following documentation should be provided to the Secretary of the Conferment Panel:
- A covering letter detailing how they would continue their collaboration with the university after their retirement. This should include direct collaboration with existing staff and tangential activities which raise the profile and reputation of, and opportunities for, LJMU.
- A full CV.
- A supporting statement by the School Director/Head of Department.
- Endorsement by the Faculty PVC.
The documentation is then formally considered by the Conferment Panel and a decision taken on the appropriateness of the conferment of Emeritus status. Please note, there is no direct application route for individuals.
If Emeritus status is granted, the Secretary of the Conferment Panel will write to the Emeritus Professor to confirm the conferment. This can be reviewed as and when the University deems that this is necessary. The University may in exceptional circumstances suspend or remove the title should it be appropriate to do so, for example, should a conflict of interest arise, should the Emeritus Professor return to paid employment or should the actions of the individual be in contravention of the University's values.
In accepting conferment of the title, the Emeritus Professor will agree to observe the university’s policies in relation to confidential information and data protection, protect the reputation of the university and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the university’s published policies and procedures.
The title Honorary Visiting Lecturer is normally relevant to individuals who would be deemed appropriate for such an appointment within LJMU and should, therefore, be academically qualified for the proposed position.
Honorary Visiting Lecturers should make a significant contribution to the academic work of LJMU with an emphasis on teaching.
These honorary positions are offered in recognition of a significant contribution to teaching, research or enterprise in collaboration with LJMU staff. Candidates should be active in higher education in one or more of the areas and should hold, or have held, similar substantive positions at other universities.
A school, faculty or research institute may wish to host a student enrolled at another university for a short period of time not usually exceeding one year. This will normally be a student who is linked to a research group that collaborates with LJMU and the title of Honorary Visiting Research Student should be requested.
For visitors who are coming to the university from outside of the UK/Ireland, it is likely that they will be required to gain entry to the UK under an immigration category that is appropriate for the agreed activity. In most instances this will require LJMU to provide the visitor with a formal letter of invitation to facilitate UK visa/visitor entry requirements. GOV.UK provide a guide to which type of visa is required and what the visa allows an individual to do whilst visiting the UK. Some international visitors will need to apply for an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate and may be subject to Export Control legislation. The visa application process can take a considerable amount of time and the duration will vary based on individual circumstances. The costs and administration associated with visas are the responsibility of the individual honorary visitor, although advice can be sought by contacting HRCoordinator@ljmu.ac.uk.
