THE ACADEMIA AS PROFESSION

Abstract

There is an obvious conceptual link between the words "professor" and "profession". May one however assume that being a professor entails belonging to a profession, an academic profession?One may have various motives for entering into and staying in the academy, eg the advantage of progression one the basis of one's own, independent efforts, earning a good salary and following one's calling to expend the energy and abilities one receives in life sensibly.Professors are expected to be (at least) adequate teachers; they are required to have and maintain specialised knowledge of their field and to generate new knowledge by means of the production and dissemination of original research results.Insofar as professions are characterised by their members having specialised knowledge or skills, performing specialised services, are bound by ethical codes and holding an acknowledged social status often expressed in titles, there should therefore not be any doubt as to the existence of an academic profession distinct from other professions (especially those related to the field of scholarship concerned). Practising academics should work towards the active acknowledgment by all of the professionalism of the professorial institution.