Beyond the emerging consensus about the precarious nature of early career academics (ECAs) work and its effects on job security, career aspirations and development, little is known about their lived experiences. This research project led by a team of researchers at Oxford Brookes University in partnership with the British Academy of Management (BAM), aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the career life cycle of early career academics (ECAs), with a particular focus on marginalized groups including women and ethnic minorities. Existing research highlights the persistent gender and racial inequalities in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the UK, and the disproportionate adverse impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on different groups of academics. While ample evidence exists on the potential impact of structural inequalities in HEIs on academic career trajectories, there are knowledge gaps regarding the extent to which external shocks, such as the pandemic, might impact the career life cycle of ECAs. This project, which adopts an intersectional perspective in its analyses, provides an evidence base of the lived experiences of a diverse group of ECAs during and since the pandemic, and the subsequent impact on their career development and ‘imagined futures’.
Owalla, Beldina Nyanzu, Elvis Vorley, Tim
Oxford Brookes Business School
Year of publication: 2025Date of RADAR deposit: 2025-07-17