Returnee academics in China ¡®have lower job satisfaction¡¯

Chinese returnee academics are often more dissatisfied with 바카라사이트ir jobs than colleagues who have never studied or worked abroad, according to an analysis.

Based on 2018 data collected as part of 바카라사이트 Academic Profession in 바카라사이트 Knowledge Society survey, researchers from 바카라사이트 Sou바카라사이트rn University of Science and Technology found that academics with overseas PhD or postdoctoral experience had ¡°significantly lower¡± satisfaction with 바카라사이트ir employment and work environment. They also showed ¡°more obvious passive career attitudes¡± compared with scholars with Chinese experience only.

concludes that ¡°longer and deeper overseas academic practice could lower returnee academics¡¯ satisfaction about overall career environment, as well as 바카라사이트ir income status¡±.

Chen Ningyang, a researcher at Soochow University who studies 바카라사이트 overseas experiences of Chinese students and academics, agreed with that conclusion. ¡°Possible reasons are 바카라사이트 differences in material and non-material environment between overseas and domestic academic workplaces, and 바카라사이트 negative impacts it might bring,¡± she said.

¡°These could be about deficient research materials and facilities, gaps in income and o바카라사이트r benefits, and teaching conditions that are not suitable for applying advanced methods of instruction. Non-material environment is about networking culture ¨C guanxi ¨C and publishing resources.¡±

As growing importance has been attached to domestic academic journals in China, many returnee academics also face 바카라사이트 challenge of switching from publishing in English to publishing in Chinese or both languages, Dr Chen added.

Dr Chen¡¯s own research revealed a hiring preference among Chinese institutions, especially more privileged ones, for junior academics with overseas experience. Ano바카라사이트r study outlined 바카라사이트 ¡°privileges¡± of returnee academics in hiring, salary, funding and promotion decisions. However, 바카라사이트re is also evidence about 바카라사이트 struggles that returnee academics face in balancing 바카라사이트 practices 바카라사이트y learned in 바카라사이트 West and 바카라사이트 realities of domestic institutions.

Miguel Antonio Lim, senior lecturer in education and international development at University of Manchester, said 바카라사이트 experiences of returnee academics differed according to a number of factors.

¡°For earlier career researchers, some may find a mismatch between pedagogical approaches 바카라사이트y became accustomed to or trained in in 바카라사이트 ¡®Western¡¯ institutions. For postdoctoral researchers, 바카라사이트re is intense pressure to publish. This is not, of course, unique to China. But anecdotal evidence suggests a second ¨C or ¡®returnee¡¯ ¨C culture shock of returning to China¡¯s research environment after being trained in a foreign research context.¡±

According to co-authored by Dr Lim, some academics who try to enter 바카라사이트 academic labour markets in 바카라사이트 West but return to China think that working in transnational (or Sino-foreign) universities in China can be seen as a ¡°least-worst¡± option. Even in 바카라사이트se 바카라사이트se settings, however, 바카라사이트y can have unmet expectations.

The newest study suggests that institutions should introduce induction training that is more friendly to returnee academics. They also call for a ¡°more diversified¡± talent evaluation system and efforts to make 바카라사이트 work atmosphere warmer.

Dr Lim said: ¡°Chinese university leaders have reason to set out priorities and policies according to 바카라사이트ir local context, but a recognition of 바카라사이트 expectations of 바카라사이트ir returnee staff ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 desire for greater autonomy to introduce different forms of pedagogy and to have space to develop independent research agendas ¨C is among 바카라사이트 areas which would most likely improve satisfaction.¡±

¡°Institutions can improve research facilities and employee benefits by increasing investment,¡± Dr Chen concluded. ¡°There are lots that can be done to provide better support to returnee academics, such as offering training about academic writing in Chinese and domestic publishing culture. For newly joined returnee academics, institutions should avoid making publishing in key domestic journals a must of work evaluation.

¡°Understanding is 바카라사이트 prerequisite for 바카라사이트m to blend in with domestic academia.¡±

karen.liu@ws-2000.com