Portugal: Dimensions of academic job satisfaction

Abstract

Portugal has a binary system of universities and polytechnics and, within that, public and private institutions. This provides a diverse background against which to examine academic staff job satisfaction, starting with the fact that only universities can award PhDs, and the different legal framework of academic careers between public and private institutions. The analysis of personal characteristics, affiliation, commitment and careers trajectory of the Portuguese academics showed a range of similarities and differences, but many results were consistent with the opinions of academics in other countries.