Work in Progress - A Model for the Development of Competencies for the Faculty at National University of Tachira (UNET) - Venezuela

In Venezuelan Universities, the need for improving faculty performance has become a priority. Venezuelan universities understand that the learning process has to go along with the changing requirements of the environment in order to improve the quality of professionals that the University forms. The National University of Táchira (UNET) understands that this adjustment of the learning process to the changes in the environment has to be carried out by the faculty members of the university. For this reason the UNET is looking for methods to prepare its faculty members in the necessary competencies to achieve a successful academic performance. This paper will investigate the general and specific faculty competencies to achieve a high academic performance in order to develop a model that presents guidelines for faculty formation and performance evaluation. The investigation will be based on literature review, Venezuelan university legislation review, expert panels, focus group and interviews to faculty members deeply involved in the academic university functions.