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Peer Observation of Teaching has raised a lot of interest as a device for quality enhancement of teaching. While much research has focused on its models, implementation schemes and feedback to the observed, little attention has been paid to what the observer actually sees and can learn from the observation. A multidisciplinary peer observation of teaching program is described, and its data is used to identify the pedagogical aspects to which lecturers pay more attention to when observing classes. The discussion addresses the valuable learning opportunities for observers provided by this program, as well as its usefulness in disseminating, sharing and clarifying quality teaching practices. The need for further research concerning teacher-student relationships and students' engagement is also suggested.

O ensino superior português, atualmente, é marcado por transformações, em consequência da adaptação da educação às mudanças políticas, económicas e sociais do país. Fatores externos, portanto, reconfiguram as preocupações, as estruturas e os objetivos da universidade. Os professores sofrem o impacto dessas mudanças, respondendo a novas exigências e reconstruindo a sua identidade. Este artigo discute a identidade académica e as dimensões do trabalho do professor universitário – ensino, investigação, gestão académica e prestação de serviços à comunidade/transferência de conhecimento – face ao cenário atual de transformações. Recorrendo a narrativas de tipo biográfico e a um grupo de discussão focalizada, o caráter empírico do estudo centra-se na voz de professores da área da Educação de uma universidade pública portuguesa. Os resultados destacam a identidade académica delineada pela intensificação do trabalho e o desejo da articulação entre as dimensões do trabalho docente, visando romper a fragmentação da profissão.PALAVRAS-CHAVEIdentidade académica; Transformações do ensino superior; Intensificação do trabalho docente; (Re)construção da identidade profissional ABSTRACTContemporary higher education is characterized by continuing alterations, as the educational system tends to follow economic, political and social changes in  Portugal.  In  consequence,  external  factors  reconfigure  universities concerns, structures and goals. These changes have a considerable impact on academic work while higher education teachers have to respond to new tasks. Therefore,  academic  identity  may  be  reconstructed.  This  study  aims  at understanding the academic identity related with the four areas of academic work – teaching, research, leadership activities and knowledge exchange – in the current changing higher education context. Focus group and biographical narratives  were  conducted  as  methodological  strategies.  The  participants were  academics  of  a  Department  of  Education  in  a  Portuguese  public university.  Results  highlight  work  intensification  as  a  defining  feature  of academic identity. Through data analysis, it is also possible to identify the desire of articulating the four areas of academic work in order to break up with the work fragmentation.KEYWORDSAcademic identity; Higher education changes; Academic work intensification; Professional identity (re)construction

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The study of teacher identity developed greatly during the 1990s and, in a way, replaced other studies on teacher professionalism. Highlighting the interactions, emotions and cognitions in their everyday expression, these studies contributed to making visible the role of specific communities of professionals in valuing and improving professional action. However, after almost two decades, it became clear that the study of the construction of teacher identity could not be based solely on the description of the interactions, but in fact also required a macro-sociological analysis. Coordinating these levels of analysis is important for developing the construct of the teacher as a professional, a profile that inspires current teacher training policies in Europe. Based on theoretical contributions such as the 'construction of professional identities for real social change' (Claude Dubar), and the idealtypical model of professionalism (Eliot Freidson), this article aims to present the construction of teacher identity as a subjective dimension of the process of teacher professionalisation, viewing it as an ecological construct. To this end, the article presents the results of research carried out during the 1990s and the early twenty-first century, in order to shed some light on the dynamics inherent to each of the levels of analysis and the interactions which are established between them. The article concludes with a discussion of the advantages of this approach for teacher training and research.

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The relationship between master's thesis work and teachers' professional development has rarely been explored empirically, yet. Drawing upon a larger study, this paper investigates how teachers who were studying for or who have recently graduated from Master of Education programmes offered in five countries -

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