Supervision and Early Career Work Experiences of Estonian Humanities Researchers Under the Conditions of Project-based Funding

Abstract

We analyze a series of interviews with Estonian humanities researchers to explore topics related to the beginning of academic careers and the relationships with supervisors and mentors. We show how researchers strive to have meaningful relationships and produce what they consider quality research in the conditions of a system that is very strongly oriented towards internationalization and project-based funding, where their efforts are compromised by a lack of policies helping them establish a stable position in academia. Leaving researchers to face these obstacles alone places a great burden on them and may lead to a loss of talent in academia. Identifying and addressing these issues is thus important for both the well-being of early career researchers and the future of academia.

Article processing charge expenditure in Chile: The current situation

“…The reason behind this might be the fact that these research areas are scantily funded. A study among Estonian Humanities researchers established that while the competition for resources was high, the amount of money awarded was low (Eigi et al, 2014). Funding limitations have also been expressed by Vietnamese researchers within the Humanities and Social Sciences (Pham & Hayden, 2019).…”

Research funding and academics' scholarly performance

“…Some have argued that the funding reforms over the last decades can undermine academics' long-term career development. Most criticism points to competition-based funding schemes and the associated changes in human resources management practices that prioritise success in winning research grants, as noted above (Eigi et al, 2014;Watermeyer, 2014;Ylijoki, 2003).…”

“…For instance, as the impact assessment focuses on academic performance per full-time equivalent staff within an institution, some institutions have been found to strictly control the number of tenure-track positions to improve results, thus intensifying job competition (Stern, 2016). In this context, many early-career academics with short-term contracts must seek funding opportunities for the next stage of their careers without being able to consider their longer-term research agenda or career development (Eigi et al, 2014). To secure a stable academic position, they must make it part of their daily life to remain alert to new funding and vacancy information (Carrozza & Minucci, 2014).…”

A PhD in social sciences and humanities: impacts and mobility to get better salaries in an international comparison

“…The subset of the social sciences, and even more the humanities, are more threatened by this phenomenon, as industries might be less frequently interested in hiring personnel with such a high degree from these disciplines (Mangematin 2000;Boosten & Spithoven 2016). Expectations of employment for PhD holders in academia are also worsening (Eigi 2014;Broadbent & Strachan 2016) when compared to only one or two decades ago (Enders 2002). For these reasons, questions about the real usefulness and benefit of getting a PhD, especially in SS&H, have been raised.…”