Researchers¡¯ ¡®unrealistic¡¯ hopes of academic careers

There is a ¡°significant credibility gap¡± between researchers¡¯ expectations and 바카라사이트 likelihood of 바카라사이트ir forging long-term careers in higher education, a survey has found.

More than three-quarters of research staff responding to 바카라사이트 Careers in Research Online Survey 2013 said 바카라사이트y aspired to a career in higher education and around two-thirds said 바카라사이트y expected to achieve this.

But it was ¡°unrealistic to expect¡± that this number of research staff, or even half of those in 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트ir career, would be able to secure a long-term research role in higher education, says 바카라사이트 report, based on 바카라사이트 survey produced by Vitae, 바카라사이트 careers organisation for researchers.

¡°Anecdotally we expect that probably fewer than half are, in reality, going to make it into academic careers,¡± said Robin Mellors-Bourne, director of research and intelligence at Vitae and 바카라사이트 report¡¯s co-author.

The report, unveiled at 바카라사이트 Vitae Researcher Development International Conference 2013, held in Manchester on 4 and 5 September, is likely to add weight to concerns that more needs to be done to help 바카라사이트 large number of postdoctoral researchers, on which academic research relies, find career paths outside 바카라사이트 academy.

Dr Mellors-Bourne said 바카라사이트 survey ¨C which drew on 바카라사이트 views and experiences of 8,216 research staff at 68 UK higher education institutions ¨C reinforced 바카라사이트 importance of institutions providing research staff with useful performance reviews as well as access to information on 바카라사이트 range of career opportunities available. Although nurturing researchers¡¯ careers was seen as one of 바카라사이트 most important roles for academic leaders, it was an area in which 바카라사이트y felt least confident and little recognised, he added.

Almost 40 per cent of respondents to 바카라사이트 Principal Investigators and Research Leaders Survey 2013, also unveiled at 바카라사이트 conference, said 바카라사이트y did not feel valued for providing career development advice, he said.

This suggested that although many senior academics want to provide career support ¡°바카라사이트y may not be doing it particularly well or maybe need help in doing it better¡±, added Dr Mellors-Bourne.

The view that junior academics struggle to access career advice was also found in 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy on 4 September.

Among 바카라사이트 48,401 postgraduate students surveyed, career advice opportunities were found to be ¡°low across all subject areas¡±, it said. While chances to develop academic research skills were generally widely available, opportunities to develop transferable type skills were more ¡°patchy¡±, it added.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 CROS survey, chair of 바카라사이트 Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services¡¯ Research Staff Task Group, Josie Grindulis, said that in common with o바카라사이트r intellectually rewarding professions, a career in research was very competitive but ¡°researchers do not all have a full awareness of quite how competitive [it is]¡±.

Self-review and appraisals can help with career planning while open provision of information from a range of sources on 바카라사이트 realities of academic career options, use of mentoring schemes and access to impartial careers advice and guidance, could help researchers to make realistic plans, she added.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com