Professor and Associate Professor: are they academic ranks or positions in the university?

Concerning academic ranks very often there are questions: what is it and how to get it? In this article we will tell you what an associate professor is. This word can simultaneously designate several concepts, essentially similar. Firstly, the associate professor is the academic title of a teacher of higher educational institutions. Secondly, the degree of staff of scientific institutions. Third, the position in universities. With the concept of "professor" everything is much simpler - this person is a highly qualified specialist in a certain field of science, an expert.

Who is awarded the title of Associate Professor?

Being at the position of an associate professor at a university does not mean having an academic degree, which is appropriated by the scientific council of a scientific institution (or higher education institution) and approved by the Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science. This degree is awarded for life.

Criteria for awarding the title and title of "Associate Professor":

• The position is assigned to university professors, usually holding the title of candidate of sciences, after a competitive election at the academic council;
• Researchers are awarded the degree of associate professor in the specialty (formerly - "Senior Researcher");
• Lecturers and teachers of higher educational institutions who have scientific and pedagogical experience of work for 5 years and more, who have worked at least one year in the position of associate professor and who have scientific work, can also receive this title.

What does the assistant professor do?

Thus, an associate professor is a post in a university or an academic title, which can be received by lecturers, researchers and persons, with a scientific degree "Candidate".

What is his responsibility?

1. The senior lecturer of sciences conducts the methodical and educational work.
2. Manages his own studies and scientific research of students.
3. He reads lectures, conducts classes and scientific research, introducing their results in the national economy.
4. Prepares scientific and pedagogical staff.

Who is a "professor"?

In translation from the Latin "professor" means "teacher". He is engaged in what he teaches in universities, conducts research, introducing their results into the national economy, prepares pedagogical and scientific cadres, directs scientific research of students and his own studies. The professor is both a rank, and a post in a higher educational institution. To get the first one you need:

• Have a degree of "Doctor of Science", their own inventions or scientific works. To be elected to the position of "Head of the Department" or a year to successfully work in this position.
• Work on the position of a professor for at least a year, have a great scientific and teaching experience, own works.
• Be a highly qualified specialist without any scientific title, with a long production experience. The post can be awarded by a scientific council on a competitive basis.

From this article we learned that the word "professor", like "assistant professor", is both a title and a post. Only in the first case it is given for life, and in the second - for the period of work. The titles of the assistant professor and the professor are similar in importance. To deserve them is quite difficult, you need to really understand your field and be an expert.