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JF-Expert Member
- May 29, 2013
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PROFESSOR
A professor is someone who teaches at a university. He or she is officially a teacher of the highest rank in a university – there is no other academic position after professorship!
The word "professor" originates from the Latin word "professor," which is derived from "profiteri," meaning "to declare openly" or "to confess. "
Therefore, a professor is a teacher responsible for publicly sharing or professing his or her knowledge with the world.
The title professor is an evolving one.
The title professor evolved from being a replacement of ‘𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧’ or ‘𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧’, which are both Latin words meaning someone who is well-qualified to teach. Therefore, whoever was well-qualified to teach was regarded as a professor.
It was only later that the distinction within a gradually developing hierarchy of teachers reserved the title of professor for a group of academics with remarkable academic achievements.
This explains partly why there are honorary professors without doctorates or PhDs appointed by virtue of their status in teaching and research or their achievement and distinction in professional activities or in industry.
The gradual developing ladder of teachers resulted in the development of different routes that one can take in order to become a professor.
The most common route, depending on the education and training system, is first to complete an undergraduate degree, followed by an Honours degree, a Master’s degree and then a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
After completing a PhD, in some universities those aspiring to be professors must then complete a post-doctoral research fellowship and move up by being an assistant professor, then an associate professor, and finally a full professor, depending on the education and training system of the hosting university.
Those aspiring to professorships must have a track record of:
(1) Research expertise and knowledge production recognised internationally in higher education.
(2) A significant contribution to institutional educational development initiatives.
(3) Student supervision.
(4) Curriculum development and review.
(5) Teaching experience and learning.
(6) Academic staff development.
(7) The ability to raise research funds.
(8) Leadership roles in community engagement projects.
(9) Academic citizenship by engaging in the national academic community and learned societies.
In conclusion, the title professor does not denote a qualification but is rather the highest academic staff rank that can be earned, mainly through scholarly achievements.
A professor is someone who teaches at a university. He or she is officially a teacher of the highest rank in a university – there is no other academic position after professorship!
The word "professor" originates from the Latin word "professor," which is derived from "profiteri," meaning "to declare openly" or "to confess. "
Therefore, a professor is a teacher responsible for publicly sharing or professing his or her knowledge with the world.
The title professor is an evolving one.
The title professor evolved from being a replacement of ‘𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧’ or ‘𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧’, which are both Latin words meaning someone who is well-qualified to teach. Therefore, whoever was well-qualified to teach was regarded as a professor.
It was only later that the distinction within a gradually developing hierarchy of teachers reserved the title of professor for a group of academics with remarkable academic achievements.
This explains partly why there are honorary professors without doctorates or PhDs appointed by virtue of their status in teaching and research or their achievement and distinction in professional activities or in industry.
The gradual developing ladder of teachers resulted in the development of different routes that one can take in order to become a professor.
The most common route, depending on the education and training system, is first to complete an undergraduate degree, followed by an Honours degree, a Master’s degree and then a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
After completing a PhD, in some universities those aspiring to be professors must then complete a post-doctoral research fellowship and move up by being an assistant professor, then an associate professor, and finally a full professor, depending on the education and training system of the hosting university.
Those aspiring to professorships must have a track record of:
(1) Research expertise and knowledge production recognised internationally in higher education.
(2) A significant contribution to institutional educational development initiatives.
(3) Student supervision.
(4) Curriculum development and review.
(5) Teaching experience and learning.
(6) Academic staff development.
(7) The ability to raise research funds.
(8) Leadership roles in community engagement projects.
(9) Academic citizenship by engaging in the national academic community and learned societies.
In conclusion, the title professor does not denote a qualification but is rather the highest academic staff rank that can be earned, mainly through scholarly achievements.
