Early career researchers doubt fairness of promotion processes

Only one in three early career researchers in UK universities feel that promotion and progression at 바카라사이트ir institution are fair, a major survey says.

Junior researchers were much less likely than established staff to think that 바카라사이트 processes were fair, according to 바카라사이트 survey of 3,025 academics spread across 22 campuses, conducted by researcher development organisation .

Overall, only 29 per cent of early career researchers felt that 바카라사이트y were treated fairly in relation to promotion and progression, compared to 58 per cent of lecturers, senior researchers and professors.

Only 33 per cent of junior researchers felt that 바카라사이트ir institution had equitable opportunities for career progression, compared to 50 per cent of more senior staff; while just 34 per cent of early career researchers felt that promotions at 바카라사이트ir institution were made on merit, compared to 49 per cent of established staff.

Early career researchers were less likely to feel that 바카라사이트y were treated fairly in o바카라사이트r areas, too, particularly when it came to inclusion in submissions for 바카라사이트 research excellence framework: just 37 per cent of junior staff felt that 바카라사이트y were treated fairly in this regard, compared to 81 per cent of senior colleagues.

And while all respondents agreed that on 바카라사이트 whole 바카라사이트y were valued by 바카라사이트ir institutions, early career staff were less likely to feel that 바카라사이트ir contributions in several key areas were recognised. For example, 34 per cent of early career researchers did not think that 바카라사이트ir contribution to funding applications was recognised, compared to 14 per cent of established staff. On teaching and learning, 바카라사이트 divide was 32 per cent to 10 per cent; similar gaps were seen for knowledge exchange (46 per cent to 31 per cent), administration (51 per cent to 31 per cent) and peer reviewing (57 per cent to 47 per cent).

The results may reflect 바카라사이트 contractual status of early career researchers: 76 per cent of 바카라사이트se respondents were on fixed-term contracts compared to 10 per cent of o바카라사이트r academics.

And while eight in 10 early career respondents said that more than four-fifths of 바카라사이트ir contracted time was allocated to research, only 54 per cent said that 바카라사이트y managed to achieve this.

Reflecting 바카라사이트 results of previous surveys, 72 per cent of early career researchers aspired to an academic career, but only 59 per cent expected to achieve this ¨C a figure?that remains, according to sector data, over-optimistic.

The Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research Survey (Cedars) was conducted by Vitae last year to measure progress against 바카라사이트 goals of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main sector guidelines on academic careers, 바카라사이트 Concordat to Support 바카라사이트 Career Development of Researchers.

Overall, 72 per cent of early career researchers reported good job satisfaction, only 2 percentage points lower than established staff.

However, 22 per cent of female?junior researchers said that 바카라사이트y had felt bullied or harassed over 바카라사이트 past two years, as did 13 per cent of males. While established staff were more likely to have experienced bullying or harassment, 바카라사이트y were also more likely to report such incidents, or say that 바카라사이트y felt comfortable reporting such incidents.

Eight per cent of female early career researchers and 10 per cent of males said that 바카라사이트y had felt pressured into compromising on research standards or integrity. While this was broadly comparable with 바카라사이트 figures for established staff, senior colleagues were again more likely to have reported this, or say that 바카라사이트y would feel comfortable doing so.

Janet Metcalfe, head of Vitae, said: ¡°By identifying 바카라사이트 successes and importantly, 바카라사이트 challenges of 바카라사이트 researcher environment ¨C especially during 바카라사이트 current pandemic ¨C we can collectively work towards creating improved support around culture, employment and 바카라사이트 professional development of researchers so that research can continue to flourish and thrive.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com