Managers Pedagogical Supervision as A Professional Quality Performance Contribution: A Study Based on Distance Education Resource Centers at the Catholic University of Mozambique

Abstract: This research focuses on pedagogical supervision activities that are undertaken in all the resource centres of distance education at the Catholic University of Mozambique. The study was undertaken in view of promoting a deeper understanding of the supervisors’ profiles, on the models and instruments used for pedagogical supervision and it was intended to objectively address the reality and major challenges associated with distance education in the same university. Methodologically, it adopted a qualitative-descriptive approach that falls under the category of a case study. For data collection, the study used semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis and a questionnaire. The study was undertaken between 2017 and 2020, with participants from 4 Resource Centres. This group included resource centre managers, course coordinators and non-teaching staff. The interpretation of the data collected was done after content analysis. The findings show that resource centre managers are responsible for the supervision and preparation of training sessions that are given to non-teaching stuff and to course coordinators. At the resource centres level, supervision contributes to career advancement for non-teaching stuff. One of the challenges associated with the university under study concerns lack of a pedagogical plan for supervision at the resource centre level, as managers still undertake this activity without systematic supervision and guidance. The conclusions evidence the need of trainings professionals in the area of pedagogical supervision. This requires the institutionalization of pedagogical supervision as an autonomous body and not as an aspect to be aggregated to other bodies.

Key words: pedagogical supervision, resource centres, distance learning