The higher education sector has experienced profound changes in recent years. Student numbers have continued to increase, while the sector has diversified and experienced significant structural changes, such as new funding arrangements, and new quality assurance systems.

“Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: Academic Staff – 2017”, the newly published online report of the European educational network Eurydice collects data from 35 countries and reports on the actual situation of higher education academic staff, with a special focus on professors and researchers. The report is based on qualitative data concerning the qualification requirements for academic staff, the recruitment process, employment and working conditions in academia, and internationalisation strategies.

The publication shows some predominant trends: Ph.D. students are considered, almost in every country, students instead of researchers; gender inequality is still significant and there are also remarkable contractual differences between senior and newly hired professors. However, mobility is encouraged, almost everywhere, to enhance the quality of research and the educational provision.

–> Read the report “Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: Academic Staff – 2017” (pdf)

What is Eurydice?
Eurydice is the European network which collects, updates, analyses and disseminates information on policies, structure and organisation of the European educational systems. Created in 1980 on the initiative of the European Commission, the network consists of a European Unit based in Brussels and some National Units. Since 1985, the Italian National Unit has been based at Indire.

Useful links:

• Eurydice website – Italian National Unit
• Eurydice website – European central Unit