Abstract:

Nowadays, the selective processes of public employment to cover the teaching needs at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) are based on a public and competitive process in which the suitability of the candidate is evaluated based on their curricula and the defense of a teaching project.

In this communication, a critical review of this specific selection process is given for the specific figure of Ph. D. Assistant Professor. The experienced competitive process is characterized by the level of work involved in each of its different phases, being the defense phase of the teaching project the one entailing the most effort and stress. The first phase consists of a contest. Here, the candidate´s curriculum is evaluated and rated depending on the candidate's career, specifically attending to the professional, teaching, and research merits. This stage is neither work demanding nor stressful as just a list of merits achieved in the past is assessed. A specific public criterion is used for this purpose at the UPV. Once the candidates have passed the first phase, the defense phase of the teaching project is conducted. Here, the suitability of the candidates is outlined based on two items, the defense of the teaching project and, the curricula presented in the previous phase. Therefore, the candidates demonstrate their respective suitability for the specific subject of the position they are applying for.

The purpose of the communication is to show and critically review the competitive processes that are currently carried out in the Spanish Public Universities and the increasing requirements standards to the candidates.

Keywords:

University positions, process, PhD Assistant Professor, review.