Profiles of new university academic staff: Changing views of Turkish postgraduate students between 2002 and 2016

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the profiles of academic staff in terms of the views of graduate students. The study was designed with qualitative research methods, and the data were collected through a semi-structured interview form. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 master’s, 20 doctoral and 8 non-thesis master’s program students at Hacettepe University. In total the study was carried out with 50 graduate students. The obtained data was analysed using the descriptive analysis technique. According to the results of the study, the profiles of the academic staff in terms of the research and innovation dimension were described by expressions such as contribution to the field, awareness of current developments in the field, expertise in the field and having a critical perspective. In the teaching dimension, preparedness before arrival to class, having effective communication skills and being fair and objective were the key features of expression adopted. In the professionalism dimension, however, the key profiles were expressed in the form of following the academic works in other fields as well as knowing and having a very good command of at least one foreign language. Meanwhile, in the personal characteristics dimension, participants emphasized many features such as tolerance and being respectful, innovative, humble, collaborative, creative and visionary. In the dimension of community service, statements like being able to find solutions to global problems and being able to draw an exemplary human profile to the community were given weight. The research results were also discussed in a comparative way with a similar study conducted in 2002.