Success, productivity and satisfaction in academia: The experiences of early career academics in New Zealand

Project Description

Research indicates that success in academia is measured by:

• productivity in research
• the development and maintenance of well-established network
• a growing reputation in the discipline or community, and
• a solid record of winning competitive research grants.

Early career academics, however, appear to put more emphasis on being happy, achieving a sense of work-life balance, making a difference in the world, and seeing their students succeed in learning and life.

This project will investigate ways for early career academics to balance their own aspirations with the expectations of their institutions, communities, and students. It extends previous work with successful early career academics by drawing upon a nationally representative sample, and systematically assessing organisational aspirations. Recommendations on how to best support early career academics will be developed and shared across the sector.

Previous research: The Success and Impact of Early Career Academics in Two New Zealand Tertiary Institutions
 

Project Team

• Dr. Kathryn Sutherland (Contact Project Leader), Victoria University of Wellington
• Dr Pamela Williams, Victoria University of Wellington
• Associate Professor Marc Wilson, Victoria University of Wellington

Project Funding

$106,299 (excl. GST)

Key Dates

Project commenced: early 2011

Expected project completion: late 2012.

Project Outputs

Presentation given at the 2011 Ako Aotearoa Research in Progress Colloquium