The professionalism of professors at German Fachhochschulen

Abstract

In the debate about the (de‐)professionalising effects of current higher education reforms in Germany, the non‐university institutions (Fachhochschulen) have mostly remained silent. Unlike university professors, Fachhochschul professors do not seem to regard managerial and market‐oriented reforms as a threat to their professionalism. While the reasons may not be hard to find, the question arises as to how Fachhochschul professors – who are tenured academics with years of work experience outside academia – construct their professional ideal. Based on a survey, this article develops a model of Fachhochschul professors’ normative professionalism, analyses what prevents them from achieving it, and finds that professors perceive their substantial teaching obligation as the principal threat to their professionalism.