To kick things off, I would like to start by saying that despite the many challenges of working in academia, there are many things I enjoy about it. The freedom, the flexibility, and the opportunity to learn more. That being said, these positives certainly come with their downsides.
Note: I’ve titled this part “Part 1” because I’m planning to write a follow-up post covering another aspect of academia that I feel is letting the system down.
Teaching, Teaching, Teaching!
If you’re familiar with the academic system, you’ll know that there is a huge push to get people onto a T+R (Teaching and Research) track.
Why teaching? The role involves open-ended, permanent contact with the potential for tenure. But it’s not just about lecturing. It also includes working with students, tutoring, preparing material, marking, and handling some administration. Based on conversations with those on the T+R track, my impression is that there is very little time for research, and the teaching side takes up most of the time.
The problems are numerous. Student tuition has not kept pace with inflation. Most universities, especially those in the UK, are tight on cash and have put major hiring on hold. This means fewer jobs available. Additionally, there are not enough students to meet the demand.
No such thing as “Research Only”
Those on the research-only track (e.g., postdocs and fellows) are often overlooked and tend to be on a series of fixed-term contracts. While it is theoretically possible for a researcher to rise through the ranks to professor on the research track alone, it’s unlikely. Only those on the T+R track stand a better chance, as “that’s where all the money is.”
Either way, it feels like the academic system is penalising those who want to dedicate 100% of their time to pursuing their own research interests and building a credible record of creating new knowledge.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to money. I can’t help but feel that despite the recent rise in student tuition in the UK (which is a modest % increase, by the way), the ill-informed decision made by the UK’s Labour Government to raise national insurance contributions on employers will only increase staffing cost overheads for universities, making it even harder to secure the already high-demand T+R jobs.
Ramble over for now…