About Us
The ASPIRE Network is dedicated to supporting academics on the “Teaching Track” career path within Politics and International Relations, also known as Teaching and Scholarship careers.* Our mission is to advocate for the recognition and advancement of Teaching and Scholarship staff, influencing universities and policymakers to enhance how this career path is structured and how professionals progress within it.
We believe that the Teaching and Scholarship track makes a vital contribution to educational excellence, enhancing student experience, attainment and achievement in higher education. Scholars in this field are driving innovative teaching practices and contributing to the development of high-quality departmental teaching programmes, and wider faculty and institutional educational policies in areas such as assessment and feedback, student voice, and inclusive practice.
Moreover, Teaching and Scholarship staff are playing a key role in advancing research and Scholarship on Teaching and Learning, helping to refine educational practices and shape future pedagogical approaches.
Still, inconsistencies in career progression and role expectations across institutions continue to pose significant challenges. The ASPIRE Network is committed to addressing these issues by creating a platform for Teaching and Scholarship staff to share experiences, best practices, and resources. We aim to empower our members to navigate their careers more effectively, while also fostering the development of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Additionally, we aim to provide guidance to academic leaders seeking to support and champion the Teaching and Scholarship trajectory in their institutions.
Together, we are building a community that promotes innovation, collaboration, and career development, ensuring a lasting impact on teaching quality and academic scholarship in Politics and International Relations.
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*The teaching track has a variety of names at different institutions, e.g. Education Career Track, Academic Education Pathway, and Teaching and Scholarship. Though these labels often refer to the same roles, ASPIRE uses Teaching and Scholarship as a catch-all term due to its balanced focus that matches with the priority areas of the network.
