ABSTRACT
A consideration of "academic development" inevitably begins with issues of definition, as different terms are used in different countries and educational sectors to refer to the same or similar activities. "Professional" and "academic staff" development are also used in various contexts. This chapter considers the academic background of the individual academic developer, the formal and informal roles they undertake and the extent to which this relates to how they see themselves, and the way they interact within and between institutions and countries, are amongst the aspects. Academic/educational/faculty development refers to the numerous activities which have to do with the professional learning of academics in post-compulsory, tertiary or higher education. Whilst the approaches may not be exclusive, they do require academic developers to recognise their own disciplinary identity and engage in the practices of any academic—research, scholarship, teaching and engaging with their community, and in service to the university and beyond, including professional associations.
