Significance of Professorship Implementation at Higher Education Instructions (HEIs) in Cambodia

Abstract

A well-known saying by Matshona Dhliwayo is, “Life is a thorough university; pain and hardship are its distinguished professors.” In most countries, a professor is the highest academic rank at a university. For example, in Europe, the United States of America, and Canada, the professorship title is awarded to most post-doctoral academics, so a larger proportion are thus nominated than in other countries. According to al-Gharbi (2023), the most basic requirements of being a tenure-line professor are having a Ph.D. degree (doctorate), being involved in research, and having papers published by well-recognized academic publishers. An academic in European countries such as France, Germany, or Italy who wishes to get promoted as a professor must first write an extensive academic paper that designates what contribution s/he has made to knowledge through their research activities. The paper is similar in length and nature to a Ph.D. thesis, and the assessment is conducted by a panel of professors with a background in the applicant’s research field. This process of approval from the academic community of one’s academic credentials for professorship is called habilitation. When the panel judges the academic as worthy of professorship, s/he is eligible to apply for available professorships, but selection is not certain.

In the United Kingdom, professorship promotion does not rely upon habilitation, as each university has policies and regulations for upgrades at any level. It decides whom to promote or appoint to professorship based on the stipulated criteria. Any academic who wishes to be considered for promotion must submit an application that indicates how they meet the university’s standards. A different route to a professorship in the United Kingdom involves academics simply applying for any advertised vacant professorships and being selected by the institution.