Introduction. The research was framed in the context of the transformation of work, especially the located in the academy. Their focus was the analysis of the configuration of the meaning of work and the sense of the profession in a group of Colombian university teachers. It was conducted in two parts: a theoretical framework and an empirical study. The first was to construct a general approach to work and a description of changes in their conditions of implementation, as well as their relationship with the labor wellbeing. On this basis, it was analyzed the metamorphosis of the university, especially the emergence of academic-capitalism, and also their impact on the meaning of work and the sense of the profession of teaching and research, understood in terms of academic professionalism. Method. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire assessing working conditions, workload, work wellbeing, burnout and engagement: for empirical study, a mixed design that allowed the combination of different data collection techniques applied. This questionnaire was administered to groups of teachers from various Colombian universities chosen by criterion of theoretical representativeness. Qualitative information was obtained through two ways: First, through a series of open questions in the same questionnaire. These include which invites participants to define their work experience with five keywords. These data were supplemented with information obtained through a semistructured group interview. To study the quantitative data were applied descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. For the treatment of qualitative information they were used techniques of textual analysis and content analysis, as well as maps of association of ideas. Results. The surveyed professionals expressed numerical moderate satisfaction with their working conditions at the academy. This view was corroborated and nuance to the lexical and textual information. The information obtained from teachers investigated showed some general trends to the configuration of the meaning of academic work in flexible working conditions. Among the salient elements of this configuration highlighted some discomfort associated with the perception of work overload, of precarious contractual conditions and loss of identity links with academia. This was especially reflected through correspondence analysis and content analysis of maps of association of ideas. Moreover, correlation analysis found positive components of sense of profession, most notably those relating to commitment, dedication and engagement to academic work and a remarkable sense of professionalism associated with the teaching vocation. Conclusions. The correspondence analysis showed a configuration of the meaning of work and the meaning of the academic profession which included two opposing sides: wellbeing and discomfort. The investigated Colombian university teachers thought their work and profession on the one hand in terms of personal fulfillment and responsible exercise in teaching and research. And on the other they were concerned by the fragmentation of their work and the pressure to compete, especially in the field of research, due to requirements of the new academic management. This tension between the sense of the profession and the imperatives of the new academic order was lived as a source of psychosocial stress affecting one's quality of working life and quality of work performed. These observations indicate a need to prevent problems and challenges which should be addressed.