I have been in HE on short term contracts for 10 years. During that time I have learnt how #precarity in academia is used to advance the careers of highly ambitious senior academics. Here are few insights #UCUstrikes 1/
Some highly ambitious academics pick the brightest and the best post-docs and researchers & then offload their responsibilities on to them. While these researchers remain precariously employed, more responsibility and pressure can be offloaded #FourFights 2/
Precariously employed researchers have no ‘workload management models’, no ‘study leave’, no ‘promotion rounds’, no permanent offices. They are dependent on the patronage and good will of senior and permanently employed academics. #FourFights 3/
Precarious researchers run and deliver the projects of some senior academics. They write their co-authored publications, their research applications, their project reports & manage research teams. While senior academics ‘win’ more grants and apply for promotion.
Research projects are usually short term. If researchers become difficult and question the conduct of senior academics their contracts will come to a ‘dignified’ end, with the end of the project. There is no institutional memory. The circus moves on 5/
Conclusion: #precarity underpins academic career advancement and ‘success’. It is possible to advance without exploiting others, but it is more difficult. Therefore inequalities persist and many in HE are in no hurry for change 6/ #UCUstrikes #OneOfUsAllOfUs #FourFights 6/
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