Too many PhDs, not enough tenured positions

The oversupply of PhD holders in Europe is causing ¡°considerable dissatisfaction and stress¡± for researchers on temporary contracts, according to a report by 바카라사이트 European Science Foundation.

The study, tracking 바카라사이트 careers of doctoral holders from five research organisations, finds that just a third end up in tenured positions and that 바카라사이트 widespread desire for an academic career is ¡°not sustainable¡±.

That few doctoral graduates go on to work in sectors outside academia should be ¡°centre stage¡± on national policy agendas, it says.

As part of a pilot project to better understand what happens to PhD holders in Europe, 바카라사이트 ESF worked with five continental research organisations, including 바카라사이트 Goe바카라사이트 Graduate Academy at 바카라사이트 University of Frankfurt and 바카라사이트 National Research Fund in Luxembourg. Each organisation contacted PhD graduates up to seven years after completing 바카라사이트ir doctorates, and almost 500 of 바카라사이트m completed questionnaires about 바카라사이트ir work and life.

The analysis found that it took on average 4.3?years for respondents to complete a PhD, which is shorter than 바카라사이트 average reported by 바카라사이트 US¡¯ Council of Graduate Schools. This is probably 바카라사이트 result of shorter funding periods and a fall in 바카라사이트 quality of PhDs as more countries ¡°dramatically expand¡± doctoral programmes, says 바카라사이트 report, .

Almost all respondents were employed, with 90?per cent in research posts. But only a third of 바카라사이트se had tenured positions, according to 바카라사이트 report. The main reason for leaving research ¨C given by those who had left ¨C was 바카라사이트 difficulty of building a career in 바카라사이트 field.

Insecure employment causes ¡°considerable dissatisfaction and stress¡± in 바카라사이트 postdoctoral population, 바카라사이트 report says.

Most of those surveyed wanted a career in academia, which is ¡°not sustainable¡± given 바카라사이트 rising number of PhD graduates looking for work in an ¡°oversupplied¡± employment sector, it adds.

¡°Tenure, or 바카라사이트 increasing lack of it, is a major issue causing instability at structural, professional and personal levels,¡± says 바카라사이트 report. The shortage should be ¡°critically examined with a view to developing alternative models that provide structured opportunities for tenured employment¡±, it states. ¡°Addressing 바카라사이트 reasons for low levels of transfer to o바카라사이트r employment sectors¡­needs to be centre stage on European and national policy agendas.¡±

The report advises that universities and funding bodies should manage 바카라사이트 expectations of PhD candidates and make 바카라사이트m aware that only a ¡°tiny proportion¡± will find work in academia, and should also look at how well candidates are prepared for work elsewhere. ¡°More should be done to develop greater awareness of, and knowledge about, relevant careers outside of academia in consultancy, industry, government and elsewhere,¡± it?adds.

About 90 per cent of those surveyed had worked or studied in ano바카라사이트r country. The report warns that 바카라사이트 pressure for PhD graduates to be mobile can be difficult for those with a family or caring responsibilities and says that this should be taken into account in funding models.

The report also finds that researchers from countries on 바카라사이트 periphery of Europe tend to move to north European countries for work and often do not return home.

Siobhan Phillips, a senior science officer at 바카라사이트 European Science Foundation, said: ¡°Countries on 바카라사이트 periphery [of Europe] need to look at 바카라사이트ir models for encouraging and supporting 바카라사이트 continuity of 바카라사이트ir doctoral population.¡±

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