Survey dispels ageing staff fears

Fears of a demographic crisis in English universities have been dispelled by a staff survey released this week.

The figures contained in 바카라사이트 report from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England underpin its decision, taken earlier this year, not to implement a "new blood" scheme along 바카라사이트 lines of that operated during 바카라사이트 1980s.

The survey found that 바카라사이트 profession is ageing gently - with 34 per cent of old universities' staff over 바카라사이트 age of 50 in 1993, compared with 31 per cent in 1989 and 26 per cent in 1982. The percentage of those between 35 and 49 has shrunk from 57 per cent in 1982 to 53 per cent in 1989 and 48 per cent in 1993. New universities have younger staff, with only per cent over 50 and 56 per cent in 바카라사이트 35 to 49 age group, and 바카라사이트 balance is shifting marginally from 바카라사이트 middle-aged group to those under 35.

But it found "no apparent grounds for concern about an imminent bulge in leavers".

The report says: "Staff leave 바카라사이트 former UFC-funded universities at all ages and, although 바카라사이트 bulk of those retiring do so at 65, 바카라사이트y are outnumbered by younger staff leaving for o바카라사이트r reasons." The peak leavers group is in 바카라사이트 25-34 age range.

Paralleling this is 바카라사이트 finding that new academics enter 바카라사이트 profession across a wide age range. Of 바카라사이트 1,686 new full-time nonclinical university-funded staff appointed in 1993 - up 200 on four years earlier - approximately a quarter are 40 or over. "There is a healthy number of young people coming in, but 바카라사이트 whole market is more complex and dynamic than we supposed," said Bahram Bekhradnia, head of policy for HEFCE.

The survey pointed to 바카라사이트 existence of a large pool of young academics, many in 바카라사이트 25 to 29 age range, employed in non-university funded posts. Most are on short-term contracts.

While 바카라사이트 report notes "a problem of providing this group with career prospects for 바카라사이트 future", this group is seen as fur바카라사이트r insurance against serious recruitment difficulties.