Academic Work, Working Conditions and Job Satisfaction

Abstract

In this analysis of changing academic work, working conditions and job satisfaction in Europe, we present the academics’ assessment of facilities, resources and personnel.Subsequently, an overview will be provided about the academic workload and allocation of time between the four major types of academic activities: teaching, research, service and administration. A further section will discuss job satisfaction and academics’ income. This chapter provides a general picture of the variety of views and activities in 12 European countries, where differences between junior and senior academic staff and between academics at universities and at other higher education institutions are presented, whenever relevant. As will be shown below, the facilities and resources are predominantly assessed positively by European academics, with the least positive scores for research funding. Hence, the ratings of those at universities are more positive than of those at other higher education institutions. We also note substantial differences in the assessments of junior and senior academics.