Section I - General Provisions

Article 1

This document is formulated in order to clarify the rights, responsibilities and obligations of Jinan University, Jinan University-University of Birmingham Joint Institute (J-BJI) and teachers in teaching, clarify teaching management strategies, outline disciplinary measures where these are required, and promote teaching quality. 

Article 2

The provisions outlined here apply to all teachers and their teaching at J-BJI.

Section II - Responsibilities of Teachers

Article 3

Talent cultivation is the core task of the University. Jinan University shall implement Ministry of Education policies, ensure input in teaching, set up and implement teaching guidelines, promote teacher training, optimize incentive scheme, to ensure that students can receive high-quality education.

Article 4

J-BJI is a teaching institute within Jinan University, and is directly responsible for the organization, implementation and supervision of all teaching. J-BJI shall provide support to teachers and supervise them in fulfillment of their duties.

Article 5

All teachers in J-BJI are professionals who have an obligation to undertake teaching work,  educate and encourage students to contribute to the improvement of our society.

Article 6

Teachers should motivate students with up-to-date methodology, provide guidance to students, and promote efficient learning styles.

Section III - Appointment of Teachers

Article 7

Teachers will offer lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, experimental classes, supervision of internship, research project, graduation project and thesis at undergraduate levels, fieldwork, etc. as required.

Article 8

Jinan University and J-BJI shall be jointly responsible for the appointment of all teachers. Jinan University will set the regulations and procedures necessary for teacher appointments, guarantee the fundamental conditions for teaching, establish rules and norms for teaching practice, organize teacher training, and improve incentives and supervision mechanism of all teaching activities.

J-BJI will organize teaching on a daily basis, monitor and guarantee teaching quality, revise and adjust teaching schedules, and ensure successful completion of all teaching assignments.

Article 9

The appointment of teachers shall be carried out in accordance with Jinan University Teachers Appointment Regulations. J-BJI will appoint, on a contractual basis, qualified and experienced teachers.

Article 10

The teaching team will consist of a course director, lecturers and teaching assistants. J-BJI will designate the course director for courses that are jointly undertaken by multiple teachers. Seminars, experimental classes and practical classes will be taught by lecturers and teaching assistants shall be engaged if necessary.

Article 11

Teachers who undertake a module for the first time shall go through a trial teaching organized by faculties and experts from JNU and UoB. New courses must be approved by J-BJI management in charge of teaching, reported to the Teaching Department of Jinan University and Birmingham University for review.

Section IV - Teachers' Responsibilities

Article 12

Teachers shall follow the requirements of the syllabus, select textbooks and reference materials, and arrange teaching plan based on the elementary knowledge, theories and skills that shall be mastered by students, as well as the key points of the modules. In accordance with syllabus requirements, the teacher may make adjustments to module contents. When a major change is required, it shall be submitted to J-BJI management in charge of teaching and J-BJI Programme Management Team for approval one semester in advance, and UoB should also be notified of any such change. Teachers are required to present the details of syllabus to students in the first week of each semester.

Article 13

Seminar Teachers shall attend lectures. The lab teachers shall preview the experiment in advance. Practical class teachers should participate fully in the process of practice. Teachers should arrange tutorials as required and correct assignments, reports, papers and so on.

Article 14

The course director and lecturers should discuss course contents and teaching methods of each module and adjust teaching methods and course contents to account for students' performance and also feedback from students.

Article 15

Examination is an important part of teaching. The course director and lecturers shall be responsible for all matters regarding examination. Please refer to Jinan University Undergraduate Student Examination Regulations.

Section V - Teaching Disciplines

Article 16

Teachers shall follow the school calendar and timetable, enter the classroom on time and be adequately prepared for all lectures. During the class, teachers shall concentrate on completion of teaching task.

Article 17

Teachers shall arrange the course progress following the teaching plan, conduct all teaching at the prescribed time and place. Teachers shall ask for approval from J-BJI if temporary adjustment of class time and places is required because of illness, academic activities, etc., and make arrangements a week in advance to notify students of any changes in schedule and the time of make-up lesson. Leave for academic activities is not allowed in principle during the period of teaching. Under special circumstances, teachers shall apply for leave according to Jinan University - University of Birmingham Joint Institute Attendance and Leave Regulations(Revised). J-BJI shall make proper arrangement and inform students of any changes in the timetable.

Article 18

Course examination is an essential part of teaching outcome evaluation and should be held in strict accordance with regulations. Examination papers should be kept confidential until the examination; invigilators should strictly observe examination regulations during the exam.  Teachers should evaluate examination papers carefully, and submit scores, along with an analysis and summary of results no later than one week after the examination.

Article 19

Violation activities of teaching discipline that occurred in teaching shall be carried out in accordance with the Jinan University Teaching Accident Identification and Processing Regulations.

Section VI – Supervision and Evaluations of Teaching

Article 20

Jinan University and J-BJI shall supervise and review teaching practice regularly.

(1) J-BJI shall supervise teaching and review teaching preparation at the beginning of each semester, evaluate teaching practice during term and review final examinations after they have been set. J-BJI will conduct teaching quality evaluation as required by Teaching Department of Jinan University.

(2) Before final examinations, J-BJI shall organize teachers meeting to assign exam-related tasks, e.g. reviewing assessment methods and exam papers, arranging and training invigilators and so on. During the examination, J-BJI should carry out inspections to ensure regulations are being complied with.

Article 21

J-BJI shall evaluate the teaching practice of all teachers. The processes and procedures used in teacher evaluation shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Human Resources Development and Management Department of Jinan University.

Session VII - Reward and Criticism

Article 22

Jinan University and J-BJI shall reward teachers for outstanding achievements in teaching. Awards shall be presented in accordance with the Jinan University Undergraduate Teaching Incentive Scheme (Trial), Jinan University Teaching Achievement Incentives Scheme (Trial) and the University’s other relevant policies. J-BJI shall distribute awards, rewards, and promotions at the end of each academic year.

Article 23

In cases where teachers fail to complete their teaching assignments, fail to follow university regulations, or are considered to have committed any other infraction of teaching norms, J-BJI may warn the teacher of his/her infraction via oral notification, warning letters, or official warning letters. Written warning letters and official warning letters shall be discussed and determined by the J-BJI Programme Management Team. Failure to follow university regulations, or the causing of serious accidents, or other serious infractions, may be subject to disciplinary action, and shall be reported to the relevant department of the university.

Article 24

Teachers accused of infractions shall have the right to appeal. If an accused party questions the veracity of the accusation, or his/her treatment by the university, he/she may submit a written appeal to J-BJI or Jinan University within five working days after any accusation or disciplinary measures have been taken.

Article 25

J-BJI shall require teachers failed the teaching inspection and teaching quality evaluation to make improvement. Teachers who receive two sequential negative evaluations for a module will no longer be allowed to undertake the module.

 Article 26

The official evaluation of teaching practice, along with any awards presented or disciplinary measure taken, shall be recorded in teachers’ files.