The concept of Meta-Professionalism
Meta-Professionalism emphasises the nature of the professoriate as a profession, the nature of professional work and the skills required in developing strategies for a professional developmental framework. The concept of Meta-Professionalism, I feel bridges the disconnection between classical and new professionalism. Theall et al (2009) established a 20 Meta-Profession model set of skills, which is targeted at educational organisations, as well as teachers.
Beaty (1998), suggested that Higher Education teachers experience 'double professionalism', since academics are subject to the dual requirements of an explicit knowledge base in their subject discipline, as well as delivering education and the multi-diverse aspects seen in higher education teaching (Franklin & Theall, 2001). The Meta-Profession concept derives from a conceptualization of the professoriate as practicing a 'Meta' - Profession, which can be defined as a profession that is built on top of another profession.
Exciting literature from Canada and the USA, based upon professional practice feedback in faculty evaluations and from professional conferences (Theall et al.,2009), suggests the educator comes to the professoriate with specific professional knowledge and skills, including content expertise, practice/clinical skills, and research techniques (Arreola, 2000). However, the educator must also perform a variety of roles, at a professional level, that often requires expertise and skills in areas that extend beyond the faculty member's specific area of scholarly expertise (Theall et al., 2009).
The skills of expertise, practice/clinical skills, and research techniques are called, according to Theall et al (2009), the base profession. But educators are asked to perform at professional levels in four possible roles: teaching, scholarly or creative activities (including research), service to the institution and community, and administration (Theall et al., 2009). Theall et al (2009) also suggest the above four possible roles require skills beyond the base profession and are characterized as ‘meta-professional’ skills, which have been categorized into 20 Meta-Profession skill sets (Theall et al.,2009).
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