Science has the power to drive advances in society and bring positive effects to economic, technological, and social progress. Moving the world towards a more sustainable development path requires innovation, which is intrinsically associated with science. However, behind the scenes, the research ecosystem hides an unpalatable reality shared worldwide: the precarious career prospects of researchers.
The scientific community worldwide comprises an army of underpaid, stressed trainees with little prospects in research. Precarious working conditions for scientists are an issue that makes academic careers no longer attractive. Long hours of work, lack of recognition, job insecurity, and deterioration of mental health are just the most outstanding among the many other issues present in the research system. Short-term contracts and the inability of institutions to absorb the highly trained workforce generate a search for alternative paths, mostly outside academia.
Eurodoc, the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers, is joining efforts with several European institutions to work towards a more sustainable and fulfilling career for researchers. Eurodoc is a grassroots federation of 25 national associations of early career researchers (ECRs) from 23 European countries founded in 2002. As a representative of doctoral candidates and other early career researchers at the European level, Eurodoc engages with all major stakeholders in research, higher education, and innovation in Europe.
Recently, Europe has been the scene of initiatives aimed at establishing a more structured scientific career to improve the professional lives of researchers. Some initiatives have been created, expanded or revised in recent years, including in 2023 an update of the European Charter for Researchers [1], which had initially been created in 2005. These initiatives and the accompanying debate bring together researchers, employers, and funders to design a new concept of the professional development of researchers, and to support the exchanges between the public and private sectors.
Several manifestos with recommendations have been addressed to the stakeholders in European research. In 2019, together with the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA), we published a document [2] suggesting the principal points of change in the scientific career: promotion of stability for research careers, support of scientific career pathways, building capacity and training for transferable skills, and support for mobility in other sectors. In 2020, the Initiative of Science in Europe (ISE) shared a short report [3] that advised the improvement of scientific careers, such as the increase in funding for permanent positions in institutions, fair research assessment, and equity in grant evaluation. Other institutions also urge changes in research working conditions in several spheres. In 2023, the Global Science Forum of the OECD [4] completed a project to reduce the precarity of research careers through strategic planning and management. The project indicates that the research system requires changes in employment legislation, the way funding is made, and clear measurements of the changes in careers. Building onto these initiatives and based on pan-European consultations of our members, in 2023, Eurodoc has put forward recommendations for ensuring high-quality employment conditions for early career researchers. [5]
All these recommendations together helped the European Commission to create a Council recommendation document, approved in December 2023 [6]. The European Union Council of Ministers proposed a recommendation for the 27 member states to support the researcher’s work, whether in the public or private sectors. The main aspects mentioned in the document are social protection measures for early researchers in particular, support for the mobility of researchers between sectors to provide them with cross-functional qualifications, and a preference for a more diverse science.
Within the SECURE project, we aim to explore the recently published EU recommendation, and together with the partner institutions, be able to provide a practical framework for research-performing organizations and research funding organizations, which could have a direct and concrete impact on the lives of researchers.
We are at a pivotal moment for change in research culture. There is no way back. Neglecting reforms to improve the working situation of European researchers sets Europe at risk of losing its lead as the main destination for researchers and may generate low innovation. Building a society capable of overcoming the next great global challenges is only possible with professionals capable of generating knowledge in a favorable environment. It requires strategic career planning for researchers with job stability, long-term funding programs, and cooperation between the public and private sectors. Researchers have the potential to guide the world to overcome future vulnerabilities, but governments, institutions, and society must recognize the leadership of scientists in this role.
References
[1] European Charter for Researchers (2023) Annexes II to the COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe. https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15135-2023-ADD-1/en/pdf
[2] Kismihók, G. et al. (2019) Declaration on Sustainable Researcher Careers. Brussels: Marie Curie Alumni Association and European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.3082245
[3] Initiative for Science in Europe. (2020) Position on the precarity of academic careers. Link accessed on 30.04.2024: https://initiative-se.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Research-Precarity-ISE-position.pdf
[4] OECD (2023) Research precariat. Link accessed on 30.04.2024: https://www.oecd.org/sti/science-technology-innovation-outlook/research-precariat/
[5] Davcheva, M., Rutkowska, J., Dahle, S., Pilia, S., Raczyńska, M., Rajab, H., & Saugmann, P. M. (2023). Setting high-quality employment conditions for early career researchers. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8105629
[6] European Commission (2023) Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe. Link accessed on 30.04.2024: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2023%3A0436%3AFIN#footnote11