Characteristics, roles and challenges of the Teaching Coordinations in the Regional Centers of the National Autonomous University of Honduras

Abstract

University education is key to the economic and social progress of a country. However, university teaching must constantly transform and teachers must develop new skills and strategies to carry out their teaching work. For this reason, the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) has established Teaching Coordinations as a means to improve educational quality in each Regional Center. The purpose of the research presented has been to characterize the teachers who assume these coordinations, identify their roles and the challenges to achieve continuous improvement of educational quality. The study was carried out from a qualitative approach, using an ethnographic-phenomenological methodological design and the interview and investigative workshop as techniques. The population under study was the nine Regional Teaching Coordinations of the UNAH. The analysis of the information was carried out using the information triangulation technique. The results of the study reveal the need to strengthen the competencies of the Regional Teaching Coordinators in terms of pedagogy and didactics, which becomes essential to plan educational programs, guide the development of curricular projects, participate in the teaching evaluation of teachers and support your professional growth. Most coordinators have a teaching load in addition to their coordination responsibilities, which limits their time and attention to teaching at the regional center. Another factor that limits their effective management is the lack of knowledge of the specific functions of the position, making this one of the main challenges along with improving communication with the academic and administrative units with which they are linked, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and manage the resources necessary to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.