Career prospects for academics in Australian universities

Abstract

Career prospects within Australian universities changed adversely following an abrupt end to expansion in the university system after two decades of marked growth. Few recent or future graduates can expect to gain academic positions. The present underrepresentation of women seems likely to be perpetuated. Many academics now holding tenure will not experience the same level of career advancement as their counterparts did a generation earlier. With a shift in the age distribution of academics over the next fifteen years, the Australian universities may be faced with problems of obsolescence and rigidity. Consideration is given to policy and organizational changes that could minimize some of these problems. However, there is no overall strategy that will simultaneously maintain tenure at the existing level, produce a steady-state age distribution of academics, allow even a moderate proportion of recent graduates to become academics, improve career prospects for existing academics, and increase the representation of women. One or more of these objectives can be achieved, but only at the expense of other objectives.