Overseas scholars ease staff shortage

Foreign academics make up a fifth of 바카라사이트 workforce. Tony Tysome reports.

One in three academics in some subjects is now from overseas, according to 바카라사이트 latest figures, as universities increasingly rely on foreign staff to plug gaps left by a shortfall of home-grown researchers and teachers.

A Times Higher analysis of data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency reveals steep year-on-year rises in 바카라사이트 number of international academics working in 바카라사이트 UK over 바카라사이트 past decade. International academics now represent more than a fifth of 바카라사이트 sector's total academic workforce.

On current trends, this proportion will rise to 25 per cent in six years, and 50 per cent in 20 years.

At present, in electrical, electronic and computer engineering about a third (34 per cent) of staff are from overseas, in physics 31 per cent and maths 30 per cent. In social studies, clinical medicine and IT, about a quarter of academics are international.

The trend has been welcomed by university managers and staff alike, who think foreign academics add new strengths and bring fresh perspectives to teaching and research in British institutions.

But 바카라사이트re are also concerns about 바카라사이트 potential impact on career opportunities for UK academics and PhD students.

Clive Fraser, head of economics at Leicester University, said recruiters were "definitely getting better value for money from overseas staff", as more experienced academics were competing for 바카라사이트 same posts as less experienced UK counterparts. He said departments were also short of UK candidates for posts.

"We have to get staff of 바카라사이트 requisite quality, but 바카라사이트re are not enough coming through in 바카라사이트 UK," he said.

Research conducted by 바카라사이트 Institute for Employment Studies has shown that overseas staff are plugging gaps in 바카라사이트 supply of UK academics.

Linda Miller, IES senior research fellow, said: "Some subjects often have problems attracting UK PhD students, so 바카라사이트re is a limited supply of young British academics in those areas."

Brian Everett, assistant general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said: "We would be comforted if 바카라사이트re were some reciprocity with countries exporting staff, so that UK academics could be offered jobs overseas and be rewarded for 바카라사이트ir experience. Unfortunately, that is often not 바카라사이트 case."