Professorships

Professorships are senior academic appointments at universities and research institutions, typically signifying an established record of research and teaching. A professorship may denote the rank of Professor or a named, endowed position funded by donors. Endowed chairs are common forms of professorship that provide additional resources to support research and scholarly activity.

The term chair originates from medieval universities, where a professor occupied a ceremonial chair funded by a donor. Today, a chair can be a permanent endowed position or a temporary appointment, and it is often used to attract or recognize leading scholars within a discipline.

Appointments usually involve a multi-step process: a candidate is recruited or nominated, subjected to external peer review, and assessed by a faculty committee and senior administrators. Tenure-track systems typically include assistant, associate, and full professor ranks, while some countries use permanent appointments without a formal tenure stage. Other forms include visiting professors, emeritus professors, and adjunct professors. Endowed and distinguished professorships carry prestige and may be accompanied by dedicated research funds.

Duties associated with professorships include teaching, course development, supervision of graduate and postdoctoral researchers, and leadership of research programs. Professors pursue external funding, publish widely, and contribute to university governance and public scholarship. The precise role and prestige of a professorship vary by country, university, and discipline.