Rethinking the Professionalism among University Teachers: Conceptualization and Formation Mechanisms

Against the backdrop of the in-depth transformation of global higher education, university teachers’ professionalism has emerged as the pivotal human capital and critical guarantee for improving higher education quality across the world. Based on textual analysis, it is found that the differences in definitions by scholars from China and the West when considering elements such as attitude, behavior, and structure. The development of professionalism among university teachers results from the joint influence of macro-level policies that guide high-quality higher education, mid-level institutional reforms in universities, and micro-level individual career aspirations. The cultivation of the professionalism of university teachers requires a return to the connotation of professionalism, and measures should be taken from three aspects: formation of attitude, behavioral change, and structural constraints, which can offer theoretical insights and practical guidance for the development of higher education.