In many national contexts, Irish one included, if an early-career researcher wants to have an academic career, especially in teaching-focused programmes, pedagogical, technological and content expertise are usually required. However […]
Working in Academia
What does it mean to be an early-career higher education researcher? And why we should all care
If you are reading these lines, there is a good chance you are thinking of yourself as a higher education researcher. You may have started your academic career as […]
What kind of “methodological lifestyle” do you want as a scholar?
A couple of years ago, a doctoral advisee was at the crossroads of what he could explore for his future dissertation. During the meeting, my brilliant Michigan State University colleague, Lynn Fendler […]
Demystifying the difference between “Drama Dressed up as Scholarship” versus “Deep, Essential Work” aimed at scholarship that matters
Many early-career scholars begin their dissertations with lofty ambitions of doing work that is significant, original, and widely appreciated. However, by the time many find themselves negotiating precarious transitions between dissertation […]
Things university career advisers are not telling you
The market for university sector career advisers seems to be on the rise. This trend suggests that the activities such as searching for a field of study, choosing a PhD program or pursuing a successful post-doc career have become more complex. […]
From writing articles to editing someone else’s: journal editorial work from an early-career researcher’s perspective
Two weeks ago, on November 1st, I experienced a new kind of pride that I hadn’t felt before during my doctoral studies. The first issue of a new higher education journal, Journal of Praxis in Higher Education (JPHE) […]
Academic careers in the UK: how it works
The expectation in the UK is that you will probably spend the bulk of your academic life doing both teaching and research. While this is probably true, how you get there, and what it looks like if/when you do, will vary. Some aspects of academic careers here look good […]
This is how we ended up in Porto – reflections on academic mobility
Academic mobility isn’t a new phenomenon in higher education – moving around has always been a part of being an academic. But the necessity of being mobile and flexible has increased: today, mobility is considered more of “a must” for all academics. […]
Staying in academia: navigating the academic career system in Germany
You have (almost) completed your PhD and you are starting to plan your future career steps. Maybe you gave the post-doctoral phase some thought even before you started it. Maybe not. For most of us, at the time when we embark on our PhDs […]
Keeping track of your transferable skills – How and why?
After graduating with a master’s degree in the English language almost seven years ago, I landed a temporary job as a research secretary. My recent internship had gone well, so my previous supervisor recommended me to my new supervisor, who in turn […]