Naslov
Early Career Researchers’ Scientific Journey: Illuminating a Decade of Changes in Croatian HE Context

Autori
Ćulum Ilić, Bojana ; Čekolj, Nadja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
APIKS Chile Conference 2023

Mjesto i datum
Online ; Arica, Chile, 24.01.2023. - 26.01.2023

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
early career researchers' ; higher education ; academic profession

Sažetak
This paper focuses on various aspects of early career researchers' (ECR) scientific journey in the national higher education context in the span of a decade, comparing results with those from previous collaborative international projects on changes in academic profession (CAP and APIKS). Paper draws attention to the research results related to four particular aspects: (I) the attractiveness of the academic profession, (II) the development of both national and international research collaborations, (III) research orientation and focus, and (IV) research and scientific contribution. These four dimensions of the ECRs’ scientific journey have been analysed from the disciplinary and gender perspectives, as well as the survey itself (CAP or APIKS), taking into account the decade of national socio-political context that has shaped the higher education policy and practice. The sample includes both female and male early career researchers affiliated in various disciplinary fields (STEM and BHASE clusters) at Croatian universities, thus opening a platform for a critical reflection on the changes detected. A total of 773 ECR respondents participated in the research - 70.4% (544) as part of the APIKS project/research, and 29.6% (229) from the CAP survey. A total of 38.6% (298) were men, out of which 36.6% (199) were in the APIKS survey, and 43.2% (99) in the CAP survey. Larger percentage is presented by female ECRs - 61.1% (472) of the total sample are women, out of which 62.9% (342) participated in the APIKS and 56.8% (130) in the CAP survey. There were a total of 39.6% (306) of respondents from the STEM field who participated in this survey - 37.3% (203) in the APIKS survey, and 45% (103) in the CAP survey. There were a total of 58.1% (449) of respondents coming from the BHASE disciplinary area, out of which 59.4% (323) were in the APIKS, and 55% (126) were in the CAP research. Research results on the attractiveness of the academic profession (personal and systemic level) reveal that ECRs from both discipline categories (STEM and BHASE) in the more recent APIKS survey perceive the academic profession as significantly less attractive than the ECRs from the older CAP survey. In the context of the attractiveness of the academic profession at the systemic level, the effect of the year of research and belonging to the discipline was determined as well. Namely, both surveys communicate the attractiveness of the academic profession, but it has decreased significantly in the last decade. As for the international research collaborations, significant changes were detected as well. While there have been no changes in the context of national research collaborations, those ECRs who participated in the more recent APIKS research reveal much stronger orientation towards international research collaborations in comparison to their CAP colleagues. Following, it is of no surprise that the ECRs who participated in the APIKS survey claim that their research activities are more internationally oriented than it was the case with their CAP survey colleagues. Such (significant) changes reveal a decade of notable changes within the national higher education context, especially in the context of ECRs’ scientific journey becoming more collaborative and internationally oriented, but less attractive as a profession.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Pedagogija

POVEZANOST RADA