Transforming traditions: a study of researchers in higher education

Abstract

This article reports on research initiated by the trade union for lecturers and researchers in the UK, the University and College Union (UCU), which examined the pressures, concerns and positive aspects of being a member of research staff at one UK university. The findings are presented from the premise that university researchers are caught between an ongoing worldwide transformation of research in higher education and a persistent traditional view of research and research staff. Both aspects, each in their own way, cause disadvantages for researchers. However, whilst this research found little evidence of the traditional researcher, it did find that the new type and organisation of research in this university brings benefits, as well as disadvantages, to research staff. The article ends with a series of recommendations that could improve the working lives of both research and teaching staff.

Keywords:

• researchers
• higher education expansion
• fixed-term contracts
• income generation
• separation of teaching and research