Student Perspectives on the University Professor Role

Abstract

The perception of the university lecturer/teacher role from the students' perspective was analyzed. A sample of 1,599 social sciences university students responded to an open question about the most relevant characteristics that their ideal teacher/lecturer should have. The chi-square test performed showed that students' preferred features of the teacher/lecturer role were associated with their mutual interaction (e.g., having respectful manners, being understanding and open) as well as having the ability to clearly transmit information. Understanding students' expectations of their professors is essential in order to improve the professor-student relationship, and can also assist professors in developing their roles.