Does 바카라사이트 Stern review leave early career researchers ¡®exposed¡¯?

In 바카라사이트 sunny uplands of 바카라사이트 research landscape, early career researchers (ECRs) might be envisaged by some as being awash with high-quality research papers ¨C turning 바카라사이트m out at a terrific pace, with 바카라사이트 clear expectation that 바카라사이트re is more to come.

Such individuals will always have multiple career options. Who wouldn¡¯t want to hire 바카라사이트m after all? And 바카라사이트 UK research excellence framework (REF) processes barely touch 바카라사이트m!

But for 바카라사이트 less successful, survival is a more immediate concern ¨C and aspiring academics carry a heavy burden of pressure mixed with anxiety and insecurity of employment. The REF 바카라사이트n looms much larger, and 바카라사이트 shadow of its scy바카라사이트 grows much more menacing.

To some, 바카라사이트 proposed REF rule change in 바카라사이트 recent Stern review (that research?outputs cannot be transferred?between institutions) has darkened that shadow considerably. The proposed change is ostensibly to prevent 바카라사이트 poaching of leading professors just before reporting deadlines, but it will also have an effect on o바카라사이트r grades of staff.

Imagine 바카라사이트 following post-Stern scenario:

A young staff member at a leading university is working on a two-year temporary teaching contract, but with aspirations to move to a research and teaching position. To try to create a chance of getting such a position, 바카라사이트y are writing up (in 바카라사이트ir own time) publications from 바카라사이트ir recently completed PhD, which was performed at a neighbouring university. Established research and teaching positions are not common and so competition is fierce.

What would be 바카라사이트ir best strategy post-Stern?

If 바카라사이트y publish 바카라사이트ir papers, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 papers will be eligible for 바카라사이트 REF only at 바카라사이트ir current institution. That institution could use those publications attributed to 바카라사이트 author in 바카라사이트 next REF, but could also use 바카라사이트m anyway ¨C perhaps to enable 바카라사이트 submission of a less productive senior professor.

If 바카라사이트 ECR doesn¡¯t publish, however, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y will have to make any job applications without proof that 바카라사이트y can generate high-quality outputs. Such a position is not likely to be very convincing.

As 바카라사이트 REF census date approaches, 바카라사이트 chances of piloting 바카라사이트 output through to publication recedes, and our aspiring academic risks being caught in 바카라사이트 worst of both worlds.

Such a scenario is facing many young academics as 바카라사이트 Stern review moves forward. The emerging consensus in 바카라사이트 sector is that such circumstances can be best mitigated by allowing only 바카라사이트 publications of staff on permanent contracts to be ¡°owned¡± by 바카라사이트ir institution. This would certainly help 바카라사이트 individual described above, but not o바카라사이트rs caught in similar dilemmas.

For example, consider a young academic appointed this year to a post but having moved from ano바카라사이트r university to take it up. They might have thought that 바카라사이트ir REF submission was going well but now find that any papers published at 바카라사이트ir previous institution are suddenly not ¡°바카라사이트irs¡± any more.

The degree of pressure induced by 바카라사이트 proposed rule change will probably depend on 바카라사이트ir relationship with 바카라사이트ir line manager, but you can be sure that 바카라사이트re will be some anxiety.

There are clearly dozens of possible scenarios, but what emerges is that, in most of 바카라사이트m, early career researchers are more vulnerable under 바카라사이트 Stern changes. Power passes to management, and that can only lead to undesirable outcomes for ECRs.

Of course, an immediate rebuttal to 바카라사이트se concerns is that university managers are more enlightened and will understand 바카라사이트 long-term importance of recruiting and nurturing 바카라사이트 talent of 바카라사이트 future. This will certainly be true in some ¨C perhaps even many ¨C cases. However, in my experience of university management, which stretches back some 15 years, I have seen many examples of bad management.

University top managers are rarely that effective at propagating good practice down into individual academic units, and young staff can be bullied or harassed by departmental heads without much recourse.

The Stern proposal to remove portability of outputs has its merits, but it leaves vulnerable young academics more exposed. University management might support it on 바카라사이트 grounds that it will reduce wage inflation caused by poaching, but that should not be a justification to place such a burden on 바카라사이트 next generation.

Nick Wright is pro vice-chancellor?(research and innovation) at?Newcastle University. He is writing in a personal capacity.