McFarlane, B. (2009) UK: Role of professors mired in confusion University WorldNews, March 8
An online survey of full professors has revealed that they see their role very differently from the universities that employ them. Several interesting divergences are reported. In particular, ‘in the words of one respondent to the survey, “professors are not fully utilised in a strategic sense; they are given management duties which are operational rather than strategic, which I believe loses the opportunity to gain maximum benefit from their involvement with, and contribution to, the university”‘.
I have included this article, because of the importance it gives to clarifying the role of professors with regard to professional development and ‘leadership’ in teaching. Note that UK full professors are defined differently from (and are rarer than) full professors in North America.
Dr. Tony Bates is the author of eleven books in the field of online learning and distance education. He has provided consulting services specializing in training in the planning and management of online learning and distance education, working with over 40 organizations in 25 countries. Tony is a Research Associate with Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network.
