Social representations of the ideal university professor among undergraduate Physical Education students

Abstract

The evaluation of university professors has relied predominantly on research performance indicators and science communication metrics, overlooking the subjective perspectives of students and professors themselves regarding what constitutes a good university professor. This study aims to establish the social representations of a good university professor among undergraduate students in Physical Education in Medellín. A sequential mixed-methods design was conducted with 100 undergraduate students selected through simple random sampling, using Natural Semantic Networks. In-depth interviews were carried out with 5 prominent professors and analyzed using Atlas.ti version 25. Differences between groups were assessed according to semester of study (p<0.05). The lexical richness used by students to define a good university professor consisted of 81 words. The Hegemonic Social Representation (87.9%) comprised 18 words, with "researcher" positioned as the central attribute, linked to didactic, pedagogical, and human dimensions. Differences were statistically significant according to semester of study (p<0.05). The preeminence of "researcher" as the central attribute reflects the enduring influence of the Humboldtian model in higher education, which at times creates tension with pedagogical and teaching functions. A good university professor emerges as a multidimensional figure who integrates scientific rigor, didactic competence, and human warmth, suggesting the need to reconsider faculty evaluation models that prioritize research output over other equally relevant dimensions.