Induction Process

It is important that new members of staff and postgraduate students receive a thorough induction, both at a general and local level so they feel engaged with the organisation and their immediate work environment.

For staff, the process includes:

• receipt of a welcome letter prior to starting giving details of where to report to, and at what time, on their first day
• receipt of an up to date induction pack on their first day*
• identification of an informal buddy/point of contact to help with settling in
• identification of their academic line manager
• Attendance at a University of Aberdeen staff induction day which are held regularly throughout the year  

For postgraduate students, the process includes:

• receipt of a welcome letter prior to starting giving details of where to report to, and at what time, on their first day
• receipt of an up to date induction pack on their first day*
• identification of an informal buddy/point of contact to help with settling in
• identification of their academic supervison
• Attendance at the University of Aberdeen Post Graduate Research School induction events
• School-level and Institute-level induction events, which are held twice a year to accommodate students starting at different times of the year

The minimum requirement (in terms of documentation) that should be included in an induction pack is as follows:

• IAHS handbook
• Health and Safety policy (including University smoking on Foresterhill campus memo)
• Site maps (Foresterhill, Old Aberdeen)
• Annual leave sheet
• Staff phone/e-mail list (may be local to research group with link to IAHS list)
• Link to IAHS/University research governance and quality assurance policy
• University policies and procedures (e.g., Working here link, including mandatory trainings, expenses, payslip )
• Appropriate IT and Data Access
• Staff development group remit document

^{**Please note that research groups may include additional documents as appropriate.  A confidentiality clause is contained within a new member of staff’s university contract, however short–term research students (e.g. elective students) may be asked to sign a research group specific confidentiality agreement.}