Creating a Framework for Developing Sessional Teachers in Higher Education: A Practical Guide for Education Leaders

Across higher education, a significant proportion of teaching is carried out by non-permanent staff, be they graduate teaching assistants, associate lecturers, visiting lecturers, postdoctoral teachers or hourly paid staff. Their work is invaluable to the sector, yet they frequently lack access to structured professional development and institutional support.Creating a Framework for Developing Sessional Teachers in Higher Education aims to address this problem with guidance for the HE leaders who employ and manage sessional teachers. It offers a comprehensive framework that will enable education leaders to improve the experience and effectiveness of sessional staff through practical guidance, evidence-informed recommendations, best practice case studies, sector-wide research, and the lived experience of academic leaders. The book explores key areas including induction, teaching, learning and assessment practices, mentoring, reward and recognition, community building and ongoing professional development. It presents strategies for embedding consistency and quality across departments and disciplines while recognising the individuality and diverse contributions of sessional teachers. With clear, actionable guidance and insights from across the UK HE sector, this book is an essential resource for education leaders such as programme directors, department heads, faculty managers, and anyone involved in academic staffing and teaching development. It champions an inclusive, sustainable approach to educational leadership - one that values and rewards all contributors to student learning.