Perception and knowledge of university professors about university research: a case study

Abstract

One of the current tasks of universities and higher educational institutions is to strengthen the links between teaching and research, promoting students’ and professors’ interest in the generation of knowledge from the classes and different spaces. The purpose of this research is to understand the perceptions of professors regarding the research processes conducted by the university, considering the participation of professors and students. Through in-depth interviews with professors of Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas de Uniminuto, aspects related to research processes, such as knowledge, promotion, perception, expectation, and motivation, were examined. The main findings of the analysis of these interviews coincide in the lack of dissemination of these processes and the lack of promotion of motivation by university policies to the different members of the university community. In addition, it was possible to evidence a problem within the institution related to not meeting the expectations that professors and students have about research processes, which results in the need to restructure and have a different approach to some lines – thus meeting the most frequent request –, oriented to opening and sharing knowledge with other research communities in the country and abroad if it is possible.

Teaching; Research processes; University; Knowledge generation