Report 2018:4 Academic career structures in Europe Perspectives from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK Nicoline Frølich, Kaja Wendt, Ingvild Reymert, Silje Maria Tellmann, Mari Elken, Svein Kyvik, Agnete Vabø, Even Larsen 1 • Rapport Report Report 2018:4 Academic career structures in Europe Perspectives from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK Nicoline Frølich, Kaja Kathrine Wendt, Ingvild Reymert, Silje Maria Tellmann, Mari Elken, Svein Kyvik, Agnete Vabø, Even Larsen 1 • Report Report Report 2018:4 Published by Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU) Address P.O. Box 2815 Tøyen, NO-0608 Oslo, Norway Project No. 20807 Customer Ministry of Education and Research Mailaddress Post box 8119 Dep, 0032 Oslo, Norway Visiting address Kirkegata 18, 0153 Oslo Photo Shutterstock ISBN 978-82-327-0318-0 ISSN 1892-2597 (online) Copyright NIFU: CC BY-NC 4.0 www.nifu.no 2 • Report 2018:4 Preface The higher education sector is increasingly important to society and national economies. Recruitment to academic positions, academic career prospects, and working conditions are critical issues in this regard. Importantly, academic career structures are characterised by different principles for organising academic careers which show distinct national variations. Currently the Norwegian academic career system is under discussion and the Ministry of Education and Research has appointed an expert committee (the Underdal committee) to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the Norwegian academic career system, whether changes are necessary, and to provide recommendations for improvement. The objective of this report is to provide a comparative knowledge basis for the Underdal committee. Our work would not have been possible without extensive input and comments from Professor William Locke, University College London; Professor Timo Aarrevaara, University of Lapland; Professor Mats Benner, Lund University; Senior Researcher Kaare Aagaard, Aarhus University; Researcher Inge van der Weijden, Leiden University; and Mag. Elke Welp-Park, University of Klagenfurt. We also rely heavily on statistical data provided for the purpose of this report by NIFU’s R&D statistical network with contact points at the statistical offices and ministries. Moreover, discussions and meetings with the Norwegian expert committee throughout the process have provided great support for our work. The work was undertaken by Nicoline Frølich, Kaja Wendt, Ingvild Reymert, Silje Maria Tellmann, Mari Elken, Svein Kyvik, Agnete Vabø and Even Larsen, with Nicoline Frølich as project leader. Oslo, February 23, 2018 Sveinung Skule Nicoline Frølich Director Research director 3 • Report 2018:4 4 • Report 2018:4 Contents Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 7 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 15 1.1 The objective of this report ................................................................................................................................. 16 1.2 Academic career systems ..................................................................................................................................... 17 1.3 Data, methods and design .................................................................................................................................... 21 1.4 The structure of the report .................................................................................................................................. 24 2 Norway .................................................................................................................................... 25 2.1 The higher education system in Norway ...................................................................................................... 25 2.2 The academic career structure .......................................................................................................................... 28 2.3 Appointment and promotion .............................................................................................................................. 29 2.4 Problems and challenges ...................................................................................................................................... 32 2.5 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 33 3 Sweden .................................................................................................................................... 34 3.1 The Swedish system of higher education ..................................................................................................... 34 3.2 Academic career system........................................................................................................................................ 37 3.3 Career opportunities for young faculty ......................................................................................................... 41 3.4 Temporary positions .............................................................................................................................................. 42 3.5 Professors of practice ............................................................................................................................................. 42 3.6 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 43 4 Denmark ................................................................................................................................. 44 4.1 The Danish system of higher education ........................................................................................................ 44 4.2 Academic career system........................................................................................................................................ 47 4.3 Career opportunities for young faculty members .................................................................................... 50 4.4 Mobility ......................................................................................................................................................................... 51 4.5 Temporary positions .............................................................................................................................................. 51 4.6 Professors of practice ............................................................................................................................................. 51 4.7 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 51 5 Finland .................................................................................................................................... 53 5.1 The Finnish system of higher education ....................................................................................................... 53 5.2 Academic career system........................................................................................................................................ 55 5.3 Temporary employment ....................................................................................................................................... 59 5.4 Teaching and research ........................................................................................................................................... 60 5.5 Mobility ......................................................................................................................................................................... 61 5.6 Professors of practice ............................................................................................................................................. 61 5.7 PhD education ............................................................................................................................................................ 62 5.8 Tenure track ................................................................................................................................................................ 62 5.9 Summary ....................................................................................................................................................................... 63 6 The Netherlands ..................................................................................................................... 64 6.1 The Dutch system of higher education........................................................................................................... 64 6.2 Academic career system........................................................................................................................................ 66 6.3 Mobility ......................................................................................................................................................................... 69 6.4 Temporary positions .............................................................................................................................................