Working conditions in university teaching in Occupational Therapy: a pending matter

Abstract

Introduction: Teaching involves a complex and increasingly demanding task. Teaching in Occupational Therapy (OT) went through different stages until the degree course acquires university character at the end of 1960. Since then, the number of both public and private universities offering OT courses has been increasing, and there are currently twenty universities in different parts of the country. There is an empirical concern about O.T. teaching conditions. Method: a brief survey was conducted among TO undergraduate teachers between September and October 2023 regarding their contractual conditions and motivations. A mixed concurrent approach was selected for this purpose. We used a descriptive analysis for the quantitative data and a generic qualitative analysis for the qualitative data. Results: of a total of 211 surveys received, the majority are in the private practice with an hourly contract, often holding a tenured position. 27% carry out research and 32% carry out extension activities, more than 40% do so without a specific budget. Regarding motivation for teaching, the majority identified the possibility of influencing future generations and being part of the academic field. Only 1.4% expressed doing the job for the remuneration, while on the other hand, comments were received about job insecurity and low remuneration in relation to the task performed. Conclusions: It is evident that working conditions do not match the degree of commitment and responsibility required of O.T. teachers, with greater prevalence in private universities than in public universities. There is growing concern about the possibilities of training, research and extension development.