This paper proposes, develops and applies a model for the design of the teaching staff of university units (departments, colleges, schools, institutes or even the University as a whole) and the optimal design scheme of the working arrangements composition of this teaching staff. The importance, contribution and contemporary opportunity of the work are justified especially in light of the new teacher-equivalent law. The model covers all activities relevant to university teaching and practice (undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research and guidance, extension, management and training) and, although tailored specifically for federal institutions of higher education (IFES, Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior), it can easily be suitable for use in IES (Instituições de Ensino Superior, higher education institutions) from other spheres of government and even in community, religious or private IES. Furthermore, the model is complementary and not competing with the indicators established by REUNI (support program for the restructuring and expansion of federal universities) and may be regarded as a design tool for university units, while the latter can be considered as tools for monitoring the operation of these units. The model is quite generic, allowing its wide application in various types of university units, and some of its parameters can be adjusted to meet specific goals and policies of these units. Applying the model to the case study of a department shows its consistency and utility, including as a powerful tool to support decision making in planning and managing of teacher resources at IES.
Sizing and design; Support for decision making, planning and managing teacher resources; Working arrangements; Institutions of higher education; Teacher-equivalent; Pareto solutions
