Understanding the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the career life cycle of early career researchers in academia
Led by Dr Beldina Owalla at Oxford Brookes University with co-investigators Dr Elvis Nyanzu and Prof Tim Vorley OBE of Oxford Brookes Business School with partners British Academy of Management.
Beyond the emerging consensus about the precarious nature of early career researchers’ (ECRs) work and its effects on job security, career aspirations and development, little is known about the lived experiences of ECRs, and especially those from underrepresented groups including women and ethnic minority academics. Research indicates that existing gender and racial inequalities within higher education institutions across the UK have an adverse impact on academics lived experiences and overall well-being, and this situation might have been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This project aims to gain a better understanding of the extent to which such experiences differ between different social groups. It investigates the experiences and progression of ECRs during and since the pandemic – with a particular focus on women and ethnic minority groups – and how this has impacted career trajectories. A co-design approach is adopted in order to ensure involvement in the design, implementation and dissemination processes by both those who are directly impacted and can share their lived experiences, as well as those who could directly influence policies related to supporting ECR career development.
The project will be conducted in three stages and will include an online survey, along with semi-structured interviews with ECRs as well as business school leaders and ECR line managers. Research findings will be disseminated through stakeholder workshops and academic conferences, and outputs will include recommendations on best practices to promote a more inclusive research and innovation environment for ECRs.
Full Economic Costing (FEC) £82,477.46 (80% £65,981.97)