What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher Education
With the growth and evolution of the higher education sector in recent decades, universities have drawn on more diverse sources from which to recruit academic staff. One such route is for universities to recruit professionals from non-academic backgrounds to teach and research. The transition of ca...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pact4Youth Association
2024-10-01
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| Series: | GiLE Journal of Skills Development |
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| Online Access: | https://gjsd.gile-edu.org/index.php/home/article/view/178 |
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| author | Ian Fellows |
| author_facet | Ian Fellows |
| author_sort | Ian Fellows |
| collection | DOAJ |
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With the growth and evolution of the higher education sector in recent decades, universities have drawn on more diverse sources from which to recruit academic staff. One such route is for universities to recruit professionals from non-academic backgrounds to teach and research. The transition of career professionals becoming second-career academics is a growing phenomenon, but one that is under-researched in the literature. This paper summarises the findings in the literature on this topic from the last twenty-five years, drawing on forty-four academic articles. Common themes are discussed and presented in a chronological format from the decision-making process prior to transitioning, through the challenges and opportunities commonly experienced by second-career academics making the transition, concluding with a summary of the recommendations presented in the research. In the discussion section that follows, the author draws on their own experience as a second-career academic to summarise pertinent points and offer an additional perspective on the recommendations offered in the literature. The purpose of this article is to offer a summary of what is currently understood in the literature with a view to supporting further research into the transition of second-career academics as an important skills development issue for the higher education sector. The review finds that several recommendations are common in the literature (mentoring schemes, development of academic skills and agency, introduction of reference materials and cultural change) and the viability of these is discussed before recommendations are made for individuals considering transitioning to a career in academia.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d0bbe5d45760474ca7a0645bb403c19d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2732-3781 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Pact4Youth Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | GiLE Journal of Skills Development |
| spelling | doaj-art-d0bbe5d45760474ca7a0645bb403c19d2025-08-20T01:53:33ZengPact4Youth AssociationGiLE Journal of Skills Development2732-37812024-10-014310.52398/gjsd.2024.v4.i3.pp64-86What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher EducationIan Fellows0Canterbury Christ Church University With the growth and evolution of the higher education sector in recent decades, universities have drawn on more diverse sources from which to recruit academic staff. One such route is for universities to recruit professionals from non-academic backgrounds to teach and research. The transition of career professionals becoming second-career academics is a growing phenomenon, but one that is under-researched in the literature. This paper summarises the findings in the literature on this topic from the last twenty-five years, drawing on forty-four academic articles. Common themes are discussed and presented in a chronological format from the decision-making process prior to transitioning, through the challenges and opportunities commonly experienced by second-career academics making the transition, concluding with a summary of the recommendations presented in the research. In the discussion section that follows, the author draws on their own experience as a second-career academic to summarise pertinent points and offer an additional perspective on the recommendations offered in the literature. The purpose of this article is to offer a summary of what is currently understood in the literature with a view to supporting further research into the transition of second-career academics as an important skills development issue for the higher education sector. The review finds that several recommendations are common in the literature (mentoring schemes, development of academic skills and agency, introduction of reference materials and cultural change) and the viability of these is discussed before recommendations are made for individuals considering transitioning to a career in academia. https://gjsd.gile-edu.org/index.php/home/article/view/178Second-career academicPracademicScholar-practitionerProfessional skillsCareer transitions |
| spellingShingle | Ian Fellows What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher Education GiLE Journal of Skills Development Second-career academic Pracademic Scholar-practitioner Professional skills Career transitions |
| title | What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher Education |
| title_full | What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher Education |
| title_fullStr | What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher Education |
| title_full_unstemmed | What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher Education |
| title_short | What the Literature Tells Us About the Transition of Second-Career Academics Into Higher Education |
| title_sort | what the literature tells us about the transition of second career academics into higher education |
| topic | Second-career academic Pracademic Scholar-practitioner Professional skills Career transitions |
| url | https://gjsd.gile-edu.org/index.php/home/article/view/178 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ianfellows whattheliteraturetellsusaboutthetransitionofsecondcareeracademicsintohighereducation |