Emeritus professors’ vision of the university: a transition process towards quality

Resumen

The information presented in this paper is derived from a research study developed in the frame of the I+D Projects 2009-2012, called by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation in which different Spanish universities have collaborated . It main aim was to recovered knowledge and expertise of emeritus professors to make it available to the rest of the University teachers as a resource for the improvement of their practice according to demands exposed by many studies (Aasen y Stensaker, 2007; Calabrese y otros, 2008) on university teachers training. This paper presents some results related to these professors’ view on the changes experienced by Spanish University during their professional lives and their impact on the academic labour. Data presented here correspond to a sample constituted by emeritus professors from three Andalusian Universities –University of Seville, University of Cordoba and University of Huelva– and has been collected by semi-structured in depth interviews. The analysis of data was made using MaxQDA software and applying some predesigned categories. Conclusions derived from that analysis are referred to some profound transformations suffered by the University through the period in which their careers have been developed. Among them, we underline those related to the relationship between resources and quality education, development and consideration of teaching, the students’ vision, the academics’ role and the development of new skills. Organizational and teachers’ responses to those changes are also considered here.