Academic Work and Careers in Europe: Trends, Challenges, Perspectives (The Changing Academy – The Changing Academic Profession in International Comparative Perspective Book 12)

This book explores the perceptions of academic staff and representatives of institutional leadership about the changes in academic careers and academic work experienced in recent years. It emphasizes standardisation and differentiation of academic career paths, impacts of new forms of quality management on academic work, changes in recruitment, employment and working conditions, and academics’ perceptions of their professional contexts. The book demonstrates a growing diversity within the academic profession and new professional roles inhabiting a space which is neither located in the core business of teaching and research nor at the top level management and leadership. The new higher education professionals tend to be important change agents within the higher education institutions not only fulfilling service and bridging functions but also streamlining academic work to make a contribution to the reputation and competitiveness of the institution as a whole. Based on interviews with academic staff, this book explores the situation in eight European countries: Austria, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Romania, and Switzerland. Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction: Understanding Change in the Academic Profession Through the Perceptions of Academics and Institutional Leadership....Pages 1-12 The Rocky Road to Tenure – Career Paths in Academia....Pages 13-40 The Changing Paths in Academic Careers in European Universities: Minor Steps and Major Milestones....Pages 41-68 Global Models, Disciplinary and Local Patterns in Academic Recruitment Processes....Pages 69-93 Changing Employment and Working Conditions....Pages 95-115 Academics’ Perceptions of Their Professional Contexts....Pages 117-131 Academics and Community Engagement: Comparative Perspective from Three European Countries....Pages 133-150 Implementation of Quality Assurance Systems in Academic Staff Perspective – An Overview....Pages 151-176 Academics and New Higher Education Professionals: Tensions, Reciprocal Influences and Forms of Professionalization....Pages 177-200 Academic Careers and Work in Europe: Trends, Challenges, Perspectives....Pages 201-214 3.5 New Pressures in Changing Organizations and Reforming Systems3.6 New Demands and Mission Overload; Conclusions; References; Chapter 4: Global Models, Disciplinary and Local Patterns in Academic Recruitment Processes; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Characterizing Recruitment in Academic Markets; 4.2.1 The Formal Frame; 4.2.1.1 Changes in Legal Frameworks, in Selection Criteria, Work Activities and Career Steps Length; 4.2.1.2 Degrees and Career Steps; 4.2.2 Hiring and Funding: Two Sides of the Same Coin; 4.2.3 Recruitment Procedures; 4.2.3.1 Recruitment of Professors 4.2.3.2 Assistant Professorship and Tenure Track4.2.3.3 Intermediate Body Recruitment; 4.2.3.4 The Non-university Sector; 4.2.3.5 Some Disciplinary Features; 4.2.3.6 Recruitment: Balancing University Missions, Social Competences and Personal Attributes; 4.3 Applicants Constraints and Opportunities: Some Insights; Conclusion: Convergence and Divergence Through Standardization Pressures and Local Practices; References; Chapter 5: Changing Employment and Working Conditions; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 The Work and Affiliations of the Academic Profession 2.3.1 Fixed-Term Employment and Precarious Working Conditions2.3.2 The - Changing? - Role of University Assistants; 2.3.3 New Career Tracks: The Tenure-Track as a Solution?; 2.3.4 Mobility and the Requirement of International Experience; 2.4 Alternative Career Models: Externally Funded Positions and Cross-Employment; 2.4.1 An Alternative Career-Track or a Dead-End Road: Externally Funded Project Work; 2.4.2 Cross-Employment; 2.5 Juniors and Seniors - A Hierarchical Relationship?; 2.5.1 The Status Quo - A Mix of Strong and Flat Hierarchies 2.5.2 Structural Changes - Towards a More Egalitarian Relationship2.5.3 Mentoring - A Steady Fundamental Element; 2.5.4 Rivalry Between Academic Status Groups; Summary; References; Chapter 3: The Changing Paths in Academic Careers in European Universities: Minor Steps and Major Milestones; 3.1 The Increasing Competition in the Academic Labor Market; 3.2 Academic Mentors and Early Stages of the Academic Career; 3.3 Entering the Academic Profession, Among Growing Insecurity and Increasing Instability; 3.4 Steps Towards Full-Time Employment 5.3 Changing Working Conditions in Eight Countries