Responsibilities and Competences of a University Teacher

Activities of university teachers are characterised with professional competences in the fields of their specialisation and research, in the areas of teaching and management. All these competences reflect not only theoretical and empirically acquired knowledge, but also the skills, personality features, willingness and desire to pursue constant self-education and to contribute to training and personal development of students. Requirements for university teachers are related to living in the varied world and to the changes occurring in tertiary education. One of the most significant motifs is the use of information and communication technologies in the process of education. Teachers are responsible for what they can influence through their activities in relation to students, to themselves, as well as to a particular community. The article does not only present the theoretical bases connected with the hermeneutic aspects of teaching and research activities, but also includes the results of partial empirical research which focused on studentś notion of the responsibilities, competences and features which are required from university teachers. It turns out that students consider specialist competence of teachers in the disciplines they teach as essential and that they take it for granted. However, they also evaluate the teacherś personal dispositions, features, approaches and skills which include communication, team work, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and developing studentś independence, etc. Last but not least, they appreciate the teacherś ability to carry out reflection, self-reflection, fair assessment, their ability to take a detached view and to be helpful, which enhance positive motivation in students.