To Be or Not to Be an Academic: The Academic Professional Intentions of PhD Students and Influencing Factors

Abstract

Using survey data on academic PhD students, influencing factors for PhD students’ academic career intentions are explained from the perspectives of individual features and the academic labor market. The study found: (1) There is a diversification of PhD employment, with nearly one-third of academic PhDs going to nonacademic organizations; (2) female PhDs tend to favor stable academic professions, and rural and low-income PhD groups are more inclined to choose employment in academic organizations to become academic elites and realize upward social mobility; (3) PhD students who identify with academic majors tend to choose academic professions, but a considerable portion of top quality PhDs go to nonacademic organizations; (4) academic interests and enthusiasm are important influences on choosing an academic profession; (5) worsening job environments in academic institutions and weakening professional attractiveness had a cooling effect on the academic employment intentions of PhDs.

Keywords:

• Academic profession
• influencing factors
• PhD student
• professional intentions

Notes

1 Divided by functional power, occupied production resources, and strength of professional technical qualifications.

Additional information

Funding

The research for this article was supported by the China National Natural Science Foundation, grant 71774007.

Notes on contributors

Bao Wei

Bao Wei is a research professor in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics. Du Qiang is a PhD student in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics. Ma Jialing is a Master’s student in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics.

Du Qiang

Bao Wei is a research professor in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics. Du Qiang is a PhD student in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics. Ma Jialing is a Master’s student in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics.

Ma Jialing

Bao Wei is a research professor in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics. Du Qiang is a PhD student in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics. Ma Jialing is a Master’s student in the Peking University Graduate School of Education/Institute of Education of Economics.