Abstract
The centrality of the faculty role makes it a primary sculptor of higher education institutions (HEIs). The performance of academic staff such as teachers and researchers has an impact on student learning and implications for the quality HEIs and therefore their contribution to society. Thus the academic staff can, with appropriate support, build a national and international reputation for themselves and for the institution in the professional areas, in research and in publishing.
The Portuguese higher education system has been faced with major reforms over the last years, which include the implementation of the Bologna Process, the approval of a new legal regime for the HEIs and the approval of new statutes relating to the academic career in the public HEIs.
Job satisfaction and motivation are viewed as a predictor of positive attitudes at work, productivity, and, consequently, good results for the institutions. The purpose of this chapter is to present and analyse the findings of a nationwide study on satisfaction and motivation of academics in Portuguese public higher education institutions. The data are extensively analysed and findings are presented here, along with the implications they offer to Portuguese public HEIs.
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Notes
- 1.
“Bacharel” was a degree achieved after 3 years at HEI before the changes introduced by the Bologna process; “Licenciado” is the Portuguese term for Bachelor; “Mestre” is the Portuguese term for Master; “Doutor” is the Portuguese term for PhD.
- 2.
Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior.
- 3.
They were predicted, but never applied.
- 4.
The concept of amotivation is used by Vallerand et al. (1992).
- 5.
According to Malhotra and Birks (2007), although no conclusions can be inferred for the population when working with non-probability samples, as it is the case, it is always possible to draw some conclusions about the behaviour of the population and, therefore, to assume some conclusions regarding the research questions. Please, see Malhotra, N. K., & Birks, D. F. (2007). Marketing research: An applied approach. 3rd Edition. Harlow, England: Prentice Hall.
- 6.
See Saris, W., available at http://surveymethodology.eu/conferences/warsaw-2009/sessions/106/).
- 7.
As suggested by Vaus, D. (2004). Analyzing social science data. London: Sage, reprinted, p. 112.
- 8.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,84; Explained Variance: 44,4 %
- 9.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,95; Explained Variance: 80,8 %
- 10.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,92; Explained Variance: 71,9 %
- 11.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,90; Explained Variance: 48,3 %
- 12.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,86; Explained Variance: 72,7 %
- 13.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,79; Explained Variance: 70,5 %
- 14.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,91; Explained Variance: 84,6 %
- 15.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,83; Explained Variance: 74,6 %
- 16.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,93; Explained Variance: 82,1 %
- 17.
Cronbach’ Alpha:0,89; Explained Variance: 68,8 %
- 18.
Cronbach’ Alpha: 0,83; Explained Variance: 54,8 %
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Center for Research in Higher Education Policies (CIPES) for funding the research project “An Examination of Academic Job Satisfaction and Motivation in Portuguese Higher Education”.
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Appendices
Appendices
1.1 Appendix 1
1.2 Appendix 2
Survey on Faculty Job Satisfaction in Higher Education – CIPES – Centre for Research in Higher Education Policies
This survey was designed to collect information on your satisfaction and motivation as a faculty member. Your personal identity is not known to participate in it. This questionnaire is applied under the Project PTDC/ESC/67784/2006 – An Examination of Academic Job Satisfaction and Motivation in Portuguese Higher Education (ESMAESP), funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). If you work in more than one higher education institution, please answer reporting your major contract.
1.2.1 A Note on Privacy
This survey is anonymous. The record kept of your survey responses does not contain any identifying information about you, unless a specific question in the survey has asked for this. If you answered a survey that used an identifying token to allow you access, you can be assured that the identifying token is not kept with the answers. It is managed in a separate database and will only be updated to indicate if you completed or not this survey. It is not possible to relate the tokens of identification with the answers to this survey.
1.3 I. Satisfaction Dimensions
-
1.
What is your degree of satisfaction with the following aspects of your job as a faculty member?
1.1. Teaching climate
Strongly dissatisfied
Strongly satisfied
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
With the distribution of teaching service for teachers of your department/organizational unit
With the recognition from your peers
With teaching facilities (e.g. classrooms, laboratories, etc.)
With the behaviour of your students in class time
With training of students
With the results of your work as a faculty member
With your degree of autonomy in your teaching practice
With class sizes
With the organization of schedules
1.2. Management of the Institution/Department/Unit
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With those in top management positions in your institution
With those in top management positions in your department/organizational unit
With communication with managers
With the management's response to faculty needs
With the ability of those in positions of management to innovate
With the time that those in management positions take to respond to the needs of faculty
1.3. Colleagues
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With the skills of faculty of your department/organizational unit
With the scientific quality of the faculty of your department/organizational unit in comparison with faculty of other similar institutions
With the pedagogic quality of the faculty of your department/organizational unit in comparison with faculty of other similar institutions
With the interaction between faculty members of different courses
With the cooperation with colleagues from different departments/units
With the openness to change shown by faculty of your department/organizational unit
1.4. Non academic staff (administrative staff, technical and laboratorial staff…)
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
Not applicable
0
10
11
With the cooperation of administrative staff in your institution
With the cooperation of technical-lab staff in your institution
With the performance of non academic staff in your institution
With the adequacy of the number of non academic staff to the amount of existing work
1.5. Physical work environment
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
Not applicable
0
10
11
With the quality of the office
With the adequacy of laboratory equipment to your needs
With the adequacy of computer facilities to your needs
With the adequacy of reviews and books in your institution to carry out your work
With food service (restaurant/bar/canteen)
With the cleanup of the institution
With the equipment available to faculty and their families (eg, gym, nursery, living spaces…)
With the existence of an area to monitor the students (eg, ask questions)
With the fact that you have to share the office
With the existence of space/s to hold meetings
With the size of classrooms
With the availability of parking for faculty
1.6. Conditions of employment
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With your remuneration
With the career opportunities
With job security
1.7. Personnel and professional development
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With the conditions you have to balance work and family life
With the conditions you have for your personnel development
With the conditions you have for your professional development
1.8. Institutions’ culture and values
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With the academic freedom you have
With the participation of faculty of your institution in decision-making processes
With the ability to innovate in your institution
1.9. Institutions’ prestige
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With the prestige of your institution
With the international partners of your institution
With the national partners of your institution
With the efforts of your institution to improve its image
1.10. Research climate
(ANSWER ONLY IF YOU DO RESEARCH)
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With the time you have to do research
With the recognition by the institution of your research work
With the financial resources to do research
With the logistical conditions to do research
With your research outputs
With the degree of internationalization of your research work
With the opportunities you have to do research
With your number of publications/presentations
1.11. General satisfaction
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With your job
With your institution
With the opportunity you have to update knowledge
With the adequacy of your skills to your teaching practice
With the social prestige of your job
All things considered , how do you rate your overall satisfaction:
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
With your teaching activity
With the research you do
-
2.
Would you advise other people to work in your current and primary institution?
Yes
O
No
O
I don’t know
O
-
3.
In your opinion, how important is each of these aspects for students’ academic success?
Not important at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Very important
I have no opinion
0
10
11
Your knowledge as a faculty member
Your skills as a faculty member
Your motivation as a faculty member
Your satisfaction as a faculty member
-
4.
Given the mission and objectives of your institution, what is the importance you give to each of the following aspects?
Not important at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Very important
I have no opinion
0
10
11
Your teaching activity
The research you do
The support you provide to the community
Your participation in governing bodies
1.4 II. Motivation
-
5.
What is your level of motivation for each of the following aspects?
Strongly demotivated | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Strongly motivated | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 10 | ||||||||||
To teach | |||||||||||
To do research | |||||||||||
To serve the community | |||||||||||
To participate in the governing bodies | |||||||||||
To work in your institution | |||||||||||
To remain as a faculty member in higher education |
1.5 III. Satisfaction, Motivation and Performance
-
6.
What is the importance you give to each of the following aspects for faculty performance?
Not important at all | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Very important | I have no opinion | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||
The faculty motivation | ||||||||||||
The faculty satisfaction |
1.6 IV. Academic Decision at Your Institution
-
7.
Distribute 100 points among the options available to characterize the decision-making process in your (main) institution of higher education.
-
In these fields only should be introduced numbers
-
The total must be 100 points
-
collegial: There are widespread opportunities to participate meaningfully in decision making. |
|
formal/rational: Decision making is formally structured. Problems are analysed. Decisions are made in a logical and reasoned manner. |
|
autonomous: Academic and professional units function with a good deal of freedom in a decentralized or loosely coordinated environment. |
|
autocratic: Decisions are made by higher level administrators with little or no consultation with faculty or lower level academic units. |
|
political: Different people or groups move in and out of the decision making process, wielding varying amounts of power at different times. |
|
Remaining: |
|
Total: |
|
-
8.
What influence do you have, personally, in the formulation of key academic policies at the level of your unit?
Much influence | O |
Some influence | O |
Little influence | O |
No influence | O |
-
9.
What influence do you have, personally, in the formulation of key academic policies at the level of your institution?
Much influence | O |
Some influence | O |
Little influence | O |
No influence | O |
1.7 V. The New Regulation for Faculty Careers (Answer Only If You Are Professor of Public Higher Education)
-
10.
Do you know the new regulation for faculty careers (Decree-Law No. 205 - university higher education; Decree-Law No. 206 – polytechnic higher education; Decree-Law No 207 - polytechnic higher education, of 31, August, 2009)?
Yes
O (go to question 10.1.)
No
O (go to question 11)
-
10.1
What is your degree of satisfaction with the following aspects of this new regulation?
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
Evaluation and Performance
Hiring Process
Advancement in the Academic Career
The new regulation for faculty careers in general
-
10.2
In your opinion, to what extent the new regulation for faculty careers (Decrees-Law No. 205, 206 and 207 of 31, August, 2009) contributes to facilitate the mobility of faculty between higher education institutions?
Doesn’t contribute
O
Contributes little
O
Contributes
O
Contributes a lot
O
I have no opinion
O
Does the new regulation for faculty careers promote inbreeding?
Yes
O
No
O
I don’t know
O
What is your degree of satisfaction with the practice of “inbreeding”?
Strongly dissatisfied
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Strongly satisfied
0
10
Degree of satisfaction
1.8 VI. Academic/Professional Context
If you work in more than one higher education institution, please answer reporting your major contract.
1.8.1 Teaching
-
12.
Academic position
Full Professor | O |
Associate Professor | O |
Assistant Professor | O |
Invited Assistant Professor | O |
Invited Associate Professor | O |
Invited Full Professor | O |
Visiting Assistant Professor | O |
Visiting Associate Professor | O |
Visiting Full Professor | O |
Assistant | O |
Junior Assistant | O |
Invited Assistant | O |
Reader | O |
Monitor | O |
Coordinator Professor | O |
Adjunct Professor | O |
Professor Equiparado-Coordinator, Adjunct, Assistant | O |
Other (please specify) ______________________________ | O |
-
13.
Type of contract
Indefinite contract with experimental period | O |
Indefinite contract without experimental period | O |
Fixed term contract | O |
Administrative contract (Contrato administrativo de provimento) | O |
Other (please specify)____________________________________ | O |
-
14.
Validity of your contract
Less than 1 year | O |
Between 1 and 3 years | O |
More than 3 years | O |
-
15.
Are you with an exclusive regime?
Yes | O | No | O |
-
16.
Working regime
Part-time | O |
Full-time | O |
Other (please specify)____________________________________ | O |
-
17.
How many hours do you usually teach per week:
At night (after 8 pm) ______ |
During the day ______ |
Saturday ______ |
-
18.
Besides the hours you teach during a week, how many hours do you work per week in average considering all aspects of education (orientation, lesson planning, assessment, monitoring of students…)? ______
-
19.
Is the work at night (teaching) rewarded at the primary institution where you teach?
Yes | O | No | O | I don’t know | O |
-
20.
In which area/s do you teach?
General Programs | O |
Education | O |
Arts and Humanities | O |
Social Sciences, Commerce and Law | O |
Science, Mathematics and Computer | O |
Engineering, Manufacturing Industries and Construction | O |
Agriculture | O |
Health and Social Protection | O |
Services | O |
Unspecified | O |
-
21.
Is there correspondence between the area/s you teach and your area/s of academic education?
Yes | O | No | O |
-
22.
Does your teaching activity cause stress to you?
Yes | O | No | O |
-
23.
For how many years, including this year, are you teaching in higher education?
Less than 1 year | O |
Please indicate the years: ______ |
-
24.
For how many years, including this year, are you teaching in your current institution ?
Less than 1 year | O |
Please indicate the years: ______ |
-
25.
If you have the opportunity, will you move to another institution?
Yes
O
No
O
-
25.1.
If yes, why?
Select all that apply
I would like to have better working conditions (e. g. space, workload)
O
I would like to work in another geographical location
O
I would like to work in another type of institution (e.g. public, private)
O
I would like to work in another institution with better reputation
O
I would like to have research opportunities
O
I am not satisfied with my position
O
I am not satisfied with my salary
O
I am not satisfied with the quality of my students
O
Other (please specify) ______________________________________
O
-
25.1.
1.8.2 Teaching management
-
26.
Are you responsible for the management of any program?
Yes
O
No
O
-
26.1.
If yes, what is/are the academic degree/s?
Select all that apply
Undergraduate
O
Master
O
PhD
O
Advanced Training Courses
O
-
26.1.
1.8.3 Management
-
27.
What management positions have you been holding in the last five years?
Select all that apply | |
Coordinator/Director of Department | O |
President/School Director | O |
School Vice-President | O |
School Vice-Director | O |
Rector/President | O |
Vice-Rector/Vice-President | O |
Pro-Rector | O |
I have not held management responsibilities | O |
Other (please, specify)_________________ | O |
1.8.4 Research
-
28.
Over the last five years have you been responsible for:
any research centre? | |||
Yes | O | No | O |
any funded research project? | |||
Yes | O | No | O |
any unfunded research project? | |||
Yes | O | No | O |
-
29.
If you have research tasks/responsibilities, what is the main scientific area in which you do research?
Mathematics
O
Computer and information sciences
O
Physical sciences
O
Chemical sciences
O
Earth and related environmental sciences
O
Biological sciences
O
Other natural sciences
O
Civil engineering
O
Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
O
Mechanical engineering
O
Chemical engineering
O
Materials engineering
O
Medical engineering
O
Environmental engineering
O
Environmental biotechnology
O
Industrial Biotechnology
O
Nano-technology
O
Other engineering and Technologies
O
Basic medicine
O
Clinical medicine
O
Health sciences
O
Health biotechnology
O
Other medical sciences
O
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
O
Animal and dairy science
O
Veterinary science
O
Agricultural biotechnology
O
Other agricultural sciences
O
Psychology
O
Economics and business
O
Educational sciences
O
Sociology
O
Law
O
Political Science
O
Social and economic geography
O
Media and communications
O
Other social sciences
O
History and archaeology
O
Languages and literature
O
Philosophy, ethics and religion
O
Art (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music)
O
Other humanities
O
-
29.1.
On average, how many hours do you spend per week with that research activity?______
-
29.1.
1.8.5 All Activities in Higher Education
-
30.
Approximately, what percentage of time do you spend , during an academic year, in the following activities (including your national and international involvement)?
In these fields only should be introduced numbers
The total must be 100 points
Teaching activities (Including preparations, teaching, evaluation) |
|
Academic and educational advising |
|
Orientation of works/thesis/dissertations |
|
Research |
|
Committee work (national and/or international) |
|
Administrative duties |
|
Professional development |
|
Consulting |
|
Service to the academic community |
|
Community Services |
|
Other |
|
Remaining: |
|
Total: |
|
-
31.
Approximately, what percentage of time would you like to spend , during an academic year, in the following activities (including your national and international involvement)?
-
In these fields only should be introduced numbers
-
The total must be 100 points
-
Teaching activities (Including preparations, teaching, evaluation) |
|
Academic and educational advising |
|
Orientation of works/thesis/dissertations |
|
Research |
|
Committee work (national and/or international) |
|
Administrative duties |
|
Professional development |
|
Consulting |
|
Service to the academic community |
|
Community Services |
|
Other |
|
Remaining: |
|
Total: |
|
-
32.
Please tell us the following:
Does your professional activity has an impact on your family life? |
Positive Impact (Please describe)_____________________________________________ |
Negative Impact (Please describe)_____________________________________________ |
1.9 VII. General Information
-
33.
Sex
Female | O |
Male | O |
-
34.
Marital status
Single | O |
Married | O |
Divorced | O |
Widow/er | O |
Separated | O |
União de facto (living together for more than two years) | O |
-
34.1.
Does your partner/husband/wife work? (If you have partner/husband/wife)
Yes
O
No
O
-
34.2.
Is your partner/husband/wife an academic? (If you have partner/husband/wife)
Yes
O
No
O
-
34.2.
-
35.
Year of birth ________
-
36.
Type of institution
Public University | O |
Public Polytechnic | O |
Private University | O |
Private Polytechnic | O |
-
37.
In which institution do you teach? (answers in attachment)
-
38.
Approximately, what is your net salary per month? (The answer is optional) __________
-
39.
Which of the following descriptions comes closest to your feeling about the current income of people living in your house?
The current income allows you to live comfortably | O |
The current income is enough to live | O |
It's difficult to live with the current income | O |
It is very difficult to live with the current income | O |
You don’t know | O |
-
40.
What is your degree of education?
Undergraduate
O
Master
O
PhD
O
Specify the area
Mathematics
O
Computer and information sciences
O
Physical sciences
O
Chemical sciences
O
Earth and related environmental sciences
O
Biological sciences
O
Other natural sciences
O
Civil engineering
O
Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
O
Mechanical engineering
O
Chemical engineering
O
Materials engineering
O
Medical engineering
O
Environmental engineering
O
Environmental biotechnology
O
Industrial Biotechnology
O
Nano-technology
O
Other engineering and Technologies
O
Basic medicine
O
Clinical medicine
O
Health sciences
O
Health biotechnology
O
Other medical sciences
O
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
O
Animal and dairy science
O
Veterinary science
O
Agricultural biotechnology
O
Other agricultural sciences
O
Psychology
O
Economics and business
O
Educational sciences
O
Sociology
O
Law
O
Political Science
O
Social and economic geography
O
Media and communications
O
Other social sciences
O
History and archaeology
O
Languages and literature
O
Philosophy, ethics and religion
O
Art (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music)
O
Other humanities
O
-
Specify the year of conclusion of your highest academic degree __________
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Machado-Taylor, M.d.L. et al. (2017). Academic Job Satisfaction and Motivation: Perspectives from a Nation-Wide Study in Public Higher Education Institutions in Portugal. In: Machado-Taylor, M., Soares, V., Teichler, U. (eds) Challenges and Options: The Academic Profession in Europe. The Changing Academy – The Changing Academic Profession in International Comparative Perspective, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45844-1_5
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