Department Meetings at Spanish Faculties of Education: Interviews with Departmental Heads
Abstract
Departmental meetings hold significant importance in university settings, as they serve as the primary forum for making decisions on a wide range of administrative, organizational, and curricular matters affecting the department as a whole. Despite their relevance, the planning and articulation of these meetings have not been the subject of prior research. This study aims to address this gap through a qualitative design based on structured interviews with open-ended questions, conducted with 17 heads of education departments across Spain. The interview sought to explore several aspects of departmental council meetings, including: (1) frequency and duration; (2) convocation and format; (3) agenda and minute-taking; (4) attendance and quorum; and (5) the overall development of the meetings. The findings indicate that departmental councils are shaped by diverse conceptions, reflecting a wide range of approaches and practices in how meetings are planned and conducted—variations that appear closely tied to broader institutional cultures. The discussion highlights several key insights: the online meeting format has not yet been fully accepted; thorough preparation and accurate minute-taking are essential; and meetings that address sensitive or contentious issues can be particularly challenging to manage, sometimes leading to conflict.
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