Opting teaching as a profession: motives behind joining the management institutes

Abstract

Theorists in the past have carried out huge amount of research proving the fact that people who choose teaching as a profession, have both altruistic and intrinsic motives behind the same. Supporting the previous findings, I suggest the existence of incidental reasons, for choosing teaching as a profession. The qualitative analysis involving 20 in-depth interviews with lecturers, assistant professors and professors in eight different management institutes uncovered five main reasons behind opting the teaching profession in the management institutes. These reasons are go for higher studies, inclination towards family, better less than nothing, relief from corporate pressure and the passionate teacher. Findings of the present study indicate that only 15% of those interviewed (3 out of 20) accepted that they had altruistic and intrinsic motives behind joining the management institutes; for others, it was eventual. Based on the study findings, there is an imperative that the educationists and institutional forerunners continue to use research findings for complete understanding of the motives behind choosing teaching as a profession in the management institutes.