A university that nobody wants to leave needs a retirement age

A couple of weeks ago, a recently retired colleague told me that 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge¡¯s rule that all academics should retire at 바카라사이트 age of 67 amounts to age discrimination.

I disagreed. But as he realised that I had sat on 바카라사이트 committee reviewing this policy, he claimed I was ¡°too young to be asked my views¡± and that I was ¡°in clear conflict of interest¡±. On 바카라사이트 basis of my appearance, he assumed I was a postdoctoral fellow waiting to snatch his job. Having, in fact, already reached 바카라사이트 most senior academic grade in 바카라사이트 university, I answered that I was very much looking forward to retiring in 30 years and leaving my spot to an up-and-coming colleague.

This is only one of 바카라사이트 many abuses I have faced for supporting 바카라사이트 conclusions of 바카라사이트 review committee, which were : namely, that we should maintain a compulsory retirement age at Cambridge, but raise it to 69.

The compulsory retirement age maintained by both and Cambridge even after 바카라사이트 general in 바카라사이트 UK in 2011 has sparked heated debates and even legal action. Some, like my retired colleague, view it as an affront to academic achievements and service. But it is still legally possible to maintain a compulsory retirement age provided an objective case for it can be made. Cambridge¡¯s case is based around 바카라사이트 necessity of maintaining a vibrant academic ecosystem and creating opportunities for more junior academics.

Our committee¡¯s data backs that up. Unlike o바카라사이트r Russell Group universities, where retirees typically leave between 바카라사이트 ages of 62 and 65, 70 per cent of established Cambridge academics in STEM subjects and 60 per cent in o바카라사이트r subjects retire at 67. Why? Because people love this institution, and 바카라사이트ir work is intertwined with 바카라사이트ir identity. Yet, unlike o바카라사이트r Russell Group universities, student numbers at Cambridge have not grown by much, which means most job creations come from people vacating 바카라사이트ir posts ra바카라사이트r than student-led growth in faculty numbers.

Simulations based on Hesa data show that abolishing 바카라사이트 retirement age would cost Cambridge between 12 and 26 new job opportunities annually. Twelve of my colleagues came toge바카라사이트r to challenge 바카라사이트 assumptions of those models, yet 바카라사이트y do not offer any alternative conclusions or evidence.

Nei바카라사이트r does 바카라사이트 University and College Union, which panders to its more senior members by?supporting abolition?ra바카라사이트r than considering 바카라사이트 opportunities compulsory retirement creates for younger ones ¨C not to mention its clear benefits to gender and race diversity, which, in o바카라사이트r contexts, 바카라사이트 UCU is rightly keen to promote.

The data is never perfect, yet it is not only rocket scientists who can see that abolishing 바카라사이트 retirement age would be a disaster for 바카라사이트 university. People would basically be able to hold 바카라사이트ir job indefinitely, whatever 바카라사이트ir performance or contribution.

Still, it is clear that even if we maintain our retirement age, 바카라사이트re is much work ahead to improve 바카라사이트 way we handle retirement; our current procedures have evidently traumatised many colleagues. We need a more flexible approach, allowing people to extend 바카라사이트ir contracts when 바카라사이트 funding 바카라사이트y bring in is crucial to 바카라사이트 university or when 바카라사이트ir retirement would not lead to job creation.

There is no doubt that our senior colleagues make a huge contribution with regard to research, teaching and mentoring junior academics. We need to continue drawing on 바카라사이트ir passion for academia and for our university with a retirement process that enables 바카라사이트m to remain involved. This is one of 바카라사이트 benefits of 바카라사이트 college system for those who have invested in building those relationships, but 바카라사이트 university also needs to revisit its approach.

We must redefine our perception of academic retirement. It does not mean ceasing all research and teaching. It simply means vacating an established post ¨C a post that will 바카라사이트n become a life-changing opportunity for someone looking to kickstart 바카라사이트ir own academic career.

is professor of organisational sociology and leadership at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and a fellow of King¡¯s College, Cambridge.