▶ Topic :
Reading :
Without a doubt, university professors are very busy people. Generally speaking, professors in universities have two major obligations - teaching and researching. While every professor teaches students, not all are actively engaged in research. Certain professors like to focus more on their research while others like to focus more on teaching. Professors should focus more on research and less on teaching for the following reasons.
Firstly, the research and their publications earn universities money. Many of us know that many our schools are in debt. As much as 1 hate to say this, teaching students does not provide any monetary benefit to a school, but research does. If more professors are actively engaged in publishing their research, our school will be able to better solve their schools ' financial difficulties. Once we pay these debts , teaching students can again become the core focus of educators' attention.
Secondly, research can dramatically improve a school’'s reputation. Publishing an article in a nationally renowned scholarly journal can greatly contribute to the school’'s status and name-recognition. As more and more professors publish their articles and dissertations in journals, newspapers, and magazines , a school’'s reputation as an academic institution will improve dramatically and more high school students will be interested in becoming students there. It also goes without saying that an increase in reputation usually results in more research money from the federal government and pnvate orgall1ZatlOns
Finally, the constant pressure for new research can challenge professors, constantly improving their depth of knowledge. When professors are merely expected to teach students , they often stop studying and teach using only their existing knowledge, which can sometimes be of dubious quality. But when they are expected to do research, professors are forced to further their study on the subject and to widen their area of expertise. A more knowledgeable professor, in turn, will benefit students.
Listening :
Okay class. I am sure a number of you found this campus newspaper article quite interesting
However, I will have to disagree with the article on the point that pressuring professors to focus on
research will benefit the university. Here is why First, although research can provide money for the school, we must not forget that the primary objective of a university is to teach students. Our university is not a for-profit organization. Our institution was established to educate students, not to make money. Under any given circumstances, educating students must always take priority above all else, including research
Secondly, the school’'s reputation can actually be damaged, if people hear that our institution focuses heavily on research and not on teaching students. Most students go to college to learn and be educated. No matter how well known our institution becomes for research , if we cannot teach students, we fail as a college. Fewer and fewer students will want to come to our school, and more and more students will want to transfer out of our school.
Finally, putting pressure on the professors will place unnecessary stress on them. While putting a
reasonable amount of pressure on professors can enhance their productivity by keeping them busy,
a constant demand for new research can drive the professors virtually insane. What does this mean to the students? This means that because the professors must constantly conduct new research projects, they will not have sufficient time to talk with students during office hours, prepare for lectures, and carefully grade the exams. Suddenly, you guys will become second priority to the
professors. I do not think that many of you will find that pleasant. |