Faculty Members’ Views on Academic Promotion and Appointment Process

• Main Authors: Engin DEMİR, Cennet GÖLOĞLU DEMİR, Mehmet Çağatay ÖZDEMİR
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bülent Ecevit University 2017-04-01
• Series: Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi
• Subjects: Academic appointment; Academic promotion; Faculty members; Higher education
• Online Access: http://higheredu-sci.beun.edu.tr/pdf.php3?id=1732

Despite the changes made related to academic promotion and appointment over the years in Turkey, there have been two main criteria: academic publications after PhD and foreign language proficiency. It commonly known that faculty members come across several problems during the process of attaining the title of associate professorship and these problems affect the academic environment in several ways. The purpose of this study is to reveal the faculty members’ views on the academic promotion in postdoctoral process and provide further suggestions.. Data were gathered through a semi-structured interview form including 10 items prepared by the researcher and analyzed through content analysis. In addition, a criterion table comprised of 25 items was applied to the participants before the interview. These criteria were determined by the InteruniversityBoard of Turkey and other universities. 18 faculty members marked the criteria they consider essential. Participants consisted of faculty members from science, social and medical fields. Results of the study revealed that faculty members considered associate professorship exam and foreign language exam necessary. According to the faculty members, the criteria related to publishing international articles and lecturing at undergraduate and graduate levels were especially very important among all criteria and the current system had a determinant role in the faculty members’ behaviors and academic publications. Faculty members stated that foreign language exam did not measure language proficiency accurately ; academic positions were not assigned fairly; there were some problems about the quality of academic publications, ethics and being a scientist. Similarly, they clearly stated that the society did not rely on scientists. The results gained in the study corroborate the need to review the academic promotion and appointment process. An increase in the number of such studies that examine faculty members’ perceptions is recommended due to their potential for providing a basis for future.