Academic job satisfaction from an international comparative perspective

Abstract

This chapter examines academic job satisfaction and factors associated with higher levels of satisfaction in the 19 CAP countries. Job satisfaction varies considerably across countries, both in term of overall satisfaction and its components. Academics tend to be most positive regarding their career choice, whilst holding negative views on the current prospects for newer entrants. Utilising Hagedorn’s (Conceptualizing faculty job satisfaction: components, theories, and outcomes. In: Hagedorn LS (ed) New directions for institutional research, vol 2000. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, pp 5-20, 2000) Conceptual Framework for Academic Job Satisfaction, we find job satisfaction is related most strongly to perceptions of adequate institutional resources, supportive administrative processes and perceived departmental influence. However, the relative strength of the independent variables varies considerably across countries. The proportion of variance in job satisfaction explained by the model also varies, with greater explanatory value in the English-speaking countries. Although the diversity in job satisfaction and its correlates may be an accurate reflection of cross-national and intercultural differences, one must be cautious about measurement error associated with the translation and interpretation of terms in different contexts.