University network publishes position paper on academic careers

YERUN, the Young European Research Universities Network, has published a paper in response to the European Commission's call for evidence on promoting diverse, sustainable, and attractive academic careers. The paper presents three areas for action to make careers in academia more attractive and sustainable. First, YERUN emphasises the need for balanced recognition systems and development of diverse career paths. Second, the network advocates for robust support systems to equip professionals working in academia with evolving skills and knowledge, as part of the efforts to make these roles more attractive. And third, YERUN calls for sustainable funding mechanisms and institutional autonomy to enable universities to implement long-term human resources strategies aligned with their vision and mission, while striking a balance between fostering permeability and mobility of careers while attracting and retaining talent.

The paper concludes with a call for stakeholders to prioritise comprehensive and fair evaluation mechanisms, fostering academic careers, and stengthening academia as an attractive hub for talent development.

The paper can be downloaded here:

Three steps to make careers in academia more attractive and sustainable  - Yerun