According to new education market research, researchers are unrealistic to expect academic careers – with fewer than half of those entering research roles being able to count on a long-term academic placement. Indeed, aspirations appear to be wildly out-of-place, with over three-quarters (78%) of research staff stating they aspired to work in higher education in the recent Careers in Research Online Survey. In addition, two-thirds (62%) of those respondents expected they would achieve this goal.

According to anecdotal evidence, fewer than half of those researchers are in fact likely to successfully enter an academic role and maintain it. The survey drew on the views of over 8,000 staff at 68 different UK higher education establishments.

The survey, which is run biennially, reported that 77% of researchers were employed on a fixed-term contract and 21% on an open-ended contract. Those with open-ended contracts tended to be older, employed in University Alliance Institutions and funded by their institution.

Almost 60% had taken part in an appraisal in the last two years, an increase on both 2011 (55%) and 2009 (50%).

The vast majority of respondents felt that their establishment was committed to equality, with only 10% disagreeing. The only perceptible shift in this opinion over recent years has been I respect to gender; 14% of staff overall disagreed that their institution treated staff fairly irrespective of gender – slightly higher than the figure recorded in 2011 (11%). This figure was 18% for females, and only 8% for males – although the figure for males who feel some unfair treatment based on gender takes place has also risen since 2011.

A different survey, released at the same event in early September, asked the views of 48,401 postgraduate students and found that opportunities were felt to be ‘low across all subject areas’ – particularly opportunities to develop transferable skills.

The VoicED Panel runs a survey similar to this known as VEST – the VoicED Education Satisfaction Tracker. VEST looks at issues to do with workplace satisfaction, continued professional development, pay, opinions on government policies and an array of other issues across the entirety education sector. You can find out more about the survey and how to view the results by visiting the VEST page on this site. Alternatively, if you are an education professional and would like to voice your opinion through VEST, or through other similar surveys, please feel free to join the VoicED Community.