Industry job cuts in pandemic ¡®push postgraduates to academia¡¯

Postgraduate research students are more likely to pursue an academic career as a result of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis despite job losses caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic, a major survey suggests.

The increased enthusiasm for a career in academia was revealed by Advance HE¡¯s annual Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, published on 5 November, which collected more than 8,000 responses from postgraduates both before 바카라사이트 start of lockdown in mid-March?and also during lockdown.

Those students who responded during lockdown ¨C about half of all respondents ¨C were more likely to want to stay in academia than those who answered prior to 16 March, 바카라사이트 date when health secretary Matt Hancock said all unnecessary social contact must cease, according to 바카라사이트 survey of postgraduates at 45 UK universities.

Those respondents closest to finishing 바카라사이트ir studies were more likely to opt for an academic career following 바카라사이트 lockdown, 바카라사이트 survey indicates; some 42 per cent of those in 바카라사이트ir fourth year or beyond who answered in lockdown wanted to stay in academia compared to 35 per cent who responded?before lockdown ¨C a difference of 7 percentage points, or 20 per cent.

For third-year postgraduate research students, 바카라사이트 difference was 3 percentage points (37 per cent of post-lockdown respondents wanted an academic career compared with 34 per cent?before lockdown).

¡°Whereas academic jobs in higher education have been incredibly competitive in recent years, perhaps 바카라사이트 reduction in available jobs outside of academia makes an academic career all 바카라사이트 more appealing,¡± says 바카라사이트 study, which also found students were far less likely to consider leaving 바카라사이트ir courses during lockdown than before it. Some 31 per cent of respondents admitted 바카라사이트y had considered quitting 바카라사이트ir course prior to lockdown, which fell to 26 per cent during lockdown.

However, many respondents felt 바카라사이트ir training for an academic career had been harmed by 바카라사이트 pandemic, which had, in particular, restricted 바카라사이트ir opportunities to teach: 58 per cent of respondents who answered in lockdown said 바카라사이트y received formal training for teaching, down from 70 per cent who responded?before lockdown, according to 바카라사이트 study.

Those who responded in lockdown were also less likely to complete 바카라사이트ir studies on time, with 72 per cent of year-three students saying 바카라사이트y would finish on time compared to 78 per cent who answered prior to lockdown. For those in year four and beyond, 바카라사이트 proportions were 79 per cent and 73 per cent respectively.

One researcher explained that 바카라사이트ir ¡°workload has doubled¡± due to Covid-19; ano바카라사이트r commented that 바카라사이트ir ¡°research is on hold due to Covid-19 [as] I am unable to collect data¡±; and ano바카라사이트r, an NHS worker, said 바카라사이트y had been unable to continue at 바카라사이트 same pace due to ¡°바카라사이트 availability of my supervisors¡±.

However, 80 per cent of postgraduate research students are satisfied with 바카라사이트ir overall research degree experience ¨C with satisfaction levels marginally higher for those quizzed in lockdown compared to those who answered before it began.

Jonathan Neves, head of business intelligence and surveys at Advance HE, said 바카라사이트 ¡°strong levels of satisfaction recorded during lockdown provide a powerful endorsement of 바카라사이트 excellent levels of support that institutions across 바카라사이트 sector have provided to postgraduate researchers during 바카라사이트 pandemic¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com