ABSTRACT
This chapter lays out a discussion of several themes and issues faced by university teachers throughout the world. Dimensions of university teaching activity include: gender and diversity among faculty and students; communication and language; faculty attitudes and behaviors; instructional methods; the impact of new technology in teaching and learning; and the evaluation of teaching. Despite a growing number of research efforts, relatively little is known for certain about the relationship between teacher personality and teacher effectiveness. In general, research studies on teaching and learning in higher education have found several important attitudinal and behavioral characteristics of both students and teachers that can enhance or inhibit learning. A large body of research on college and university teaching focuses on the collection of accepted routines which faculty rely on in the classroom. University teaching is perhaps the most difficult and complex activity within the academic profession.
