revistaieee7

Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies Núm. 7 / 2016
out postgraduate studies, such as the granting of paid leave. However, current regulations
are not very propitious in this respect, and merely provide for two types of study
leave: one, of up to 40 working hours, where the student receives only the basic pay,
and the second, of up to three months or 90 calendar days, “without any pay whatsoever”.
90 As is to be expected, many professionals interested in taking postgraduate
studies are discouraged by these conditions.
Research is not just for scientists
Although the common belief that teaching staff have to engage in research if they
are to be good teachers has been questioned by some authors, 91 it is a fact that research
and teaching are closely related in the current higher education system. 92
In the area of military education and training, current legislation recognises the
importance of research when it states that it is as much a duty as a right of the teacher.
On the one hand, military teaching staff are entitled to “exercise their teaching and
research functions using whatever methods they deem appropriate from among approved
teaching curricula, programmes and criteria”. 93 On the other, one of their basic
duties is to “practise teaching and carry out research in accordance with the curricula,
programmes and criteria laid down by the centres or equivalent academic departments
and bodies”. 94
Research is the cornerstone of military education, and it is a magnificent instrument
for the training and preparation of teaching staff. Indeed, research is one of the
main criteria used by the ANECA for the accreditation and recognition of university
teaching staff and for assessing the quality of the CDMs. 95 And let us not forget that
90 Order DEF/253/2015 regulating the regime for holidays, leave and reduction in working hours
for members of the Armed Forces, Boletín Oficial del Estado, no. 42, 2015, p. 13201.
91 For example, TERENZINI, Patrick T.: “Research and practice in undergraduate education: And
never the twain shall meet?”, Higher Education, 38, 1999, pp. 33-48; SANCHO, Juana M.: “Docencia
e investigación en la universidad: una profesión, dos mundos”, Educar, 28, 2001, pp. 48-51.
92 Proof of this are the 62 references made to the term “research” in Organic Law 4/2007 amending
the Universities Act of 2001. Article 39 of this law literally states that “scientific research is an essential
foundation for teaching” (p. 16247).
93 Ministerial Order 98/1994 on the Regime for Teaching Staff of the CDM, op. cit., Article 25, pp.
6553-6554.
94 Ibid., Article 26, p. 6554.
95 For more information, see: AGENCIA NACIONAL DE EVALUACIÓN DE LA CALIDAD
Y ACREDITACIÓN, ANECA: Programa de Evaluación de Profesorado para la contratación. Principios
y orientaciones para la aplicación de los criterios de evaluación, 2007; MINISTERIO DE DE-
FENSA Y AGENCIA NACIONAL DE EVALUACIÓN DE LA CALIDAD Y ACREDITACIÓN,
ANECA: Evaluación del sistema de enseñanza militar. Anexo 1: Modelo para la evaluación de los
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