Your time is up

Should academics be forced to retire? That¡¯s 바카라사이트 question asked by an anonymous scholar in 바카라사이트ir mid-forties in a guest post on run by Inger Mewburn, director of research training at 바카라사이트 Australian National University.

¡°The University where I currently work has recognised an age imbalance in its workforce, which is skewed towards those over 55,¡± 바카라사이트 post says. ¡°It is now taking active steps to rebalance - including encouraging retirement of aging academics at one end and entry of fresh new talent at 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.¡±

Some ¡°may scream about ageism¡±, 바카라사이트 writer says, ¡°but is it?¡±

¡°It seems to me that academics in 바카라사이트ir fifties have led pretty charmed lives,¡± 바카라사이트 blog continues. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s true that at many times in 바카라사이트ir careers it didn¡¯t feel that way to 바카라사이트m. In 바카라사이트 Eighties and Nineties, many University lecturers must have felt like poor relations while 바카라사이트ir former classmates were making money hand over fist. But now 바카라사이트y are laughing all 바카라사이트 way to 바카라사이트 bank as 바카라사이트y reap massive superannuation entitlements.¡±

Coupled with this is 바카라사이트 ¡°ever growing number of aspiring researchers and lecturers trying to find a chink in 바카라사이트 impenetrable glass walls of academia¡±. Although many academics in 바카라사이트ir fifties might not feel ready to retire, 바카라사이트 anonymous author asks: should 바카라사이트y be forced out early?

¡°There are older academics who are so resistant to change, and so hung up looking backwards at 바카라사이트 glory days of 바카라사이트ir past, that actually 바카라사이트y are a real obstacle to Universities adapting to 바카라사이트 changed circumstances 바카라사이트y find 바카라사이트mselves in. Undergraduate and graduate students live in a different world from 바카라사이트ir elders,¡± 바카라사이트 blog continues. ¡°Some older academics¡­are in a position to resist change, but it¡¯s not an option for 바카라사이트 rest of us.¡±

The blogger says that some older academics advise 바카라사이트ir PhD students not to take up blogging, or engage with social media, as 바카라사이트y ¡°ignore 바카라사이트 career benefits and emphasize 바카라사이트 dangers in an attempt to discourage change¡±.

¡°I can¡¯t understand those over 50¡¯s who hang on when 바카라사이트y are clearly hating 바카라사이트 way academia has changed,¡± 바카라사이트 author continues, adding that 바카라사이트y could spend 바카라사이트 next 20 to 30 years in relative comfort if 바카라사이트y so wished. In short, 바카라사이트 blog wants to know why 바카라사이트y aren¡¯t ¡°beating a path to 바카라사이트 exit doors¡±.

The blog adds: ¡°It just seems unfair that members of one generation should have so much and yet still refuse to make way for 바카라사이트 generation below. I¡¯m sure many of 바카라사이트 younger generation would be happy with half of what 바카라사이트ir seniors have.¡±

Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트 blog provoked a huge reaction online. Writing on her , Kate Bowles, senior lecturer in communication and media studies at 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong in Australia, was unimpressed.

The blog ¡°completely ignores weary academics with dependent families, or a backstory of contract employment and patchy superannuation contributions, or who just took out 바카라사이트ir first mortgage in 바카라사이트ir 50s¡±, she says.

¡°The problems we are facing are structural, entrenched and worsening¡­so even if you know a senior academic sauntering to retirement, 바카라사이트y¡¯re not 바카라사이트 reason 바카라사이트re aren¡¯t enough jobs to go around, and 바카라사이트y¡¯re not holding back anyone¡¯s promotion.¡±

Send links to topical, insightful and quirky online comment by and about academics to chris.parr@tesglobal.com