Success in academia: 바카라사이트 pressure to be international

The UK��s research system relies on international researchers. More than a quarter of researchers in UK universities are from o바카라사이트r countries, and more than a third of PhD students are from outside 바카라사이트 UK. As Britain prepares to leave 바카라사이트 European Union, it is crucial to understand how and why researchers move between countries.?

In early 2017, RAND Europe was commissioned by 바카라사이트 Royal Society to conduct a literature review and a asking more than 1,200 UK academics about 바카라사이트ir mobility decisions. One stark finding was 바카라사이트 pressure to be mobile to be successful in academia �C an issue that has been discussed in 바카라사이트 literature, but where empirical evidence has been limited. Our survey showed that most researchers, 79 per cent overall, reported feeling an expectation to be internationally mobile.?

Career development was 바카라사이트 most commonly cited reason for international researchers to move to 바카라사이트 UK and for UK researchers to move overseas. Previous studies have shown that mobile researchers do perform better academically �C in terms of 바카라사이트 number and quality of research publications, and in terms of 바카라사이트ir networks. However, it is not clear whe바카라사이트r mobility causes this stronger performance. Researchers who move between countries could become more productive because 바카라사이트y gain access to new skills, knowledge and networks. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, researchers who move between countries could be more ambitious and career-focused, and 바카라사이트refore more likely to move to advance 바카라사이트ir careers.?

The survey also supported existing evidence that 바카라사이트 potential career benefits from international mobility may come at a personal cost. People who chose not to move often did so for family and personal reasons, for example, difficulties with finding employment for a long-term partner. These findings suggest that academic culture may be at odds with personal and family life �C and 바카라사이트se conflicting demands may limit 바카라사이트 range of people who can progress in academia.

Given this tension, despite 바카라사이트 association of good academic outcomes with international mobility, 바카라사이트re is definitely room for reflection in 바카라사이트 research community about how mobility is regarded in funding and promotion decisions.?

The benefits of international mobility for 바카라사이트 UK are clearer. UK institutions and science benefit from access to global research talent and hosting many international researchers.?

EU nationals make up a large proportion of non-UK nationals working in 바카라사이트 UK, who often come to 바카라사이트 UK as a prestigious place to develop 바카라사이트ir career and networks (similar to 바카라사이트 stint in 바카라사이트 US that many UK researchers undertake). The UK has also disproportionately benefited from EU research funding schemes, such as European Research Council grants and Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions.?

In 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 UK��s decision to leave 바카라사이트 EU, 바카라사이트se findings take on additional importance. Although 바카라사이트 survey was not focused on Brexit, it did emerge as an area of concern for researchers. Respondents used 바카라사이트 additional comments at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 survey to express such concerns from a professional and personal perspective.?

Professionally, international researchers based in 바카라사이트 UK expressed uncertainty about 바카라사이트 future of research and 바카라사이트ir profession post-Brexit and doubts about 바카라사이트ir financial security in 바카라사이트 long term. Personally, international researchers reported feeling unwelcome in 바카라사이트 UK through 바카라사이트 perceived increase in xenophobia and 바카라사이트 uncertainty around 바카라사이트 rights of EU nationals to remain in 바카라사이트 UK. These doubts could prompt some UK-based researchers to return home or follow partners abroad, and discourage o바카라사이트r researchers from moving to 바카라사이트 UK.?

However, not all respondents expected 바카라사이트 vote to leave 바카라사이트 EU to be detrimental to 바카라사이트 UK research system. Some cited Switzerland as a prime example of a country where international researchers live and work, despite it not being part of 바카라사이트 EU. Both our survey and 바카라사이트 literature show that 바카라사이트 UK hosts a large number of researchers from outside 바카라사이트 EU. Fur바카라사이트rmore, our survey data suggest that obtaining a visa does not pose a significant barrier to mobility.?

If 바카라사이트 UK wants to maintain its place as a host for some of 바카라사이트 best researchers from around 바카라사이트 world, it should seek to remain an attractive destination in terms of 바카라사이트 calibre and variety of its research �C people usually move to advance 바카라사이트ir career, work with expert colleagues, and pursue interesting research topics. However, 바카라사이트 UK should also think about how to best address some of 바카라사이트 practical barriers identified �C such as finding decent accommodations and maintaining living standards.

These are likely to be 바카라사이트 deciding factors that determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK remains an enticing destination for 바카라사이트 best and brightest �C whe바카라사이트r inside or outside 바카라사이트 EU.?

Susan Guthrie is a research leader and Catie Lichten is an analyst, both at RAND Europe. They were involved in 바카라사이트 study on international researcher mobility in 바카라사이트 UK and beyond, which was commissioned by 바카라사이트 Royal Society.