The perceived contribution of early-career researchers to research production in nordic higher education systems
Article [Version acceptée]
Résumé(s)
In the global race for academic prestige, early-career researchers (ECR) play a
pivotal role in countries’ research production. The objective of this paper is to
analyse the perceived contribution of ECR to research production in Nordic
higher education systems (HES). Based on 56 interviews with actors from
different organizations in the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish HES, the
thematic analysis suggested the contribution of doctoral students and postdocs
was essential, yet there was no convergence in actors’ perspective regarding the
contribution of other contract-researchers. The global theme “casualisation”
linked organising themes and explained the underlying dynamics between ECRs
and the research production process.