The Changing Academic Profession

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This book offers an overview of a questionnaire survey examining the academic profession from an international perspective. Over 25,000 professors and junior staff from nearly 20 countries share insights into their working conditions, views, and activities. This study, "The Changing Academic Profession," is the second of its kind, allowing for a comparative analysis with findings from a similar study conducted in the early 1990s. Key themes include academics' perceptions of their societal and institutional environments, their views on teaching, research, and service tasks, professional preferences, career trajectories, perceived influence, and overall job satisfaction. The study highlights the impact of recent changes in higher education, such as internationalization, globalization, the demand for evidence of academic work's relevance, and the increasing authority of management within institutions. While global trends significantly influence the academic profession, notable differences by country persist. Academics report feeling more subject to regulations, incentives, and assessments than in the past; however, their sense of freedom, responsibilities, and influence contribute to a strong professional identity and widespread job satisfaction.