Academic staff have the following main responsibilities:

• teaching staff: teach and educate students or participate in the training of doctoral students;
• research staff: conduct research activities or participate in the training of doctoral students;
• research-and-teaching staff: conduct research activities, train and educate students or participate in the training of doctoral students.

A detailed job description for an academic teacher is provided by the rector of an HEI.

Academic teachers may perform their duties also outside of an HEI, in accordance with arrangements laid down in, and in units identified in, its working regulations. 

Performing duties of an academic teacher is considered an individual creative activity.

Academic staff are required to contribute to organisational tasks of their HEI and enhance their professional skills on a continuous basis.

Unlike for school education teachers, the legislation does not specify any initial training requirements or paths for academic teachers, nor is teacher training (a teaching qualification) required to hold positions available to academic teachers. Requirements regarding teaching experience or any teaching skills certificates can be set out in job descriptions for individual positions or assessment criteria in competition procedures for the recruitment of academic staff. Such conditions are laid down by the rector of an HEI.