Development Support of Early Career Researchers in the Netherlands: Lessons for Australia

Abstract

Australian universities are faced with the imminent retirement of a large proportion of their researchers. One way to avoid a decrement in research performance is to consider greater support for early career researchers (ECRs). To investigate how another university system that is ranked high in research performance supports its ECRs several universities in the Netherlands were visited. Seventeen senior academic staff in these universities were interviewed to examine their perceptions of the support that is provided for the development of ECRs, and the nature of the research environment in which they are employed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using a thematic analysis procedure that was guided by the IPA framework to identify common themes amongst the views of the interviewees. Several features of the Dutch university system were identified as different to the Australian system and which the interviewees suggested were responsible for the high level research performance exhibited by their universities. These include the organization of universities by chair groups that are responsible for both research and teaching in a subject area, tenure track systems, and generous financial and material support for developmental activities. On the basis of these findings, I recommend Australian universities consider revising the support they provide to ECRs to be more aligned with what is provided in the Dutch system.