Early career researchers’ collective advocacy work within an Australian university context
Article
Article Title | Early career researchers’ collective advocacy work within an Australian university context |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 20008 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Larsen, Ellen, Salton, Yvonne, Fanshawe, Melissa, Gaunt, Lorraine, Ryan, Lisa, Findlay, Yvonne and Albion, Peter |
Journal Title | The Australian Educational Researcher |
Journal Citation | 51, pp. 275-296 |
Number of Pages | 22 |
Year | 2024 |
Publisher | Springer |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0311-6999 |
2210-5328 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-022-00604-6 |
Web Address (URL) | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13384-022-00604-6 |
Abstract | Global pressure on universities to compete for research rankings has escalated research expectations and intensified a performativity culture for early career researchers (ECRs). However, there are limited examples in the literature of ECRs advocating for their career and research trajectories. In response to this issue, ECRs in one Australian regional university initiated the Teacher Education ECR Action and Advocacy Group (TEECRAA). This research, reported in this paper, aimed to understand how TEECRAA contributed to the career and research trajectories of these ECRs and their advocacy regarding ECR-specific policy in their higher education context. Framed by tenets of policy network theory and policy communities, this study draws on documents developed by the TEECRAA group using content and thematic analysis to investigate their activities and experiences. Findings highlighted that ECRs were able to set research and career goals, prioritise opportunities for professional learning, create resources to support their research profiles, and develop a network of support. ECRs also increased their contributions to policy and practice by engaging in strategic action that promotes ECR visibility and advocates for their needs. This contribution, however, requires the development of a network-like interaction between ECRs and university leaders with a commitment from the university to work in partnership with ECRs for mutual benefit. |
Keywords | early career researcher; policy network; educational research; researcher performativity; advocacy. |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 390201. Education policy |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
Charles Sturt University |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/v1408/early-career-researchers-collective-advocacy-work-within-an-australian-university-context
135
total views19
total downloads7
views this month0
downloads this month