As an early stage researcher, it is important that you have access to relevant information about the purpose of appraisal interviews.
Appraisal interviews are a tool for facilitating good dialogue between researchers and managers. They are designed to ensure good follow-up of an individual researcher's academic development.
If properly conducted, appraisal interviews can play a key role in a unit’s plans and strategy and an individual researcher's career development.
Implementation
Appraisal interviews are planned, structured conversations between researchers and their managers where both parties have previously prepared topics they wish to discuss.
These conversations require good planning and structure, as well as honesty from both parties, in order to be really beneficial.
Conversations should provide scope for specific planning of an individual researcher's work during the forthcoming period and can also be a forum for planning an individual researcher's career development.
Templates
A draft template has been prepared for appraisal interviews and we recommend that it is used.
Further information
For further information, please refer to see our Employee Manual (requires login)
Please contact the UiB Ferd Career Centre for further information if required.
Foreign employees - special circumstances
In Norway, appraisal interviews are an established personnel policy tool based on principles relating to participation, involvement and development, as stipulated in the Norwegian Working Environment Act.
It is important to be aware that in cultures outside the Nordic countries, conversations with line managers can be a very different experience.
It is important to communicate what you wish to achieve in an appraisal interview in order to ensure confidentiality, and maximise the chance of the conversation being beneficial for both parties. This could be a gradual process.
Foreign researchers will generally need to understand the organisation’s overall strategies and goals, the importance of having a good, inclusive working environment and the individual’s opportunities for contributing to the community. Current topics could include social networking and the welfare services which are linked to our International Centre and Occupational Health Service. Relevant topics might include having confidence in one’s manager and colleagues, experiencing a sense of belonging and, in some cases, making adjustments and ensuring integration outside the workplace.
