Young Academics Research Articles

Comments: Development of an early career academic supervisor in Statistics - a discussion on a guiding rubric

We thank the authors for the well thought out and interesting paper; one can clearly see that a great deal of research, diligence, and time went into this atypically non-mathematical exploration of the world of post-graduate supervision in the Mathematical Sciences. The authors mention that funding is a challenge, especially for young academics. In this respect, we would like to point out that the university capacity development programme (UCDP) has gone to great lengths to provide funding for graduate academics that are busy with their PhDs (or within 5 years after completing their PhDs). Their funding extends to conference attendance, staff time buy-out, and research visits, to name but a few funding opportunities that they provide.

Academic pipeline or academic treadmill? Postdoctoral fellowships and the circular logic of "development"

South African higher education policy related to postdoctoral fellowships is informed by two related discourses: the discourse of the “academic pipeline” and the discourse of “human capital development”. Both of these are forward-looking concepts which imply that good things lie in future employment for postdocs, and/or increased competitiveness and employment for the nation. This article, which is part autoethnography and part higher education policy analysis, offers a critique of these discourses by narrating the author’s own transition from postgraduate psychology student to contract worker, postdoctoral fellow, unsuccessful permanent job applicant, and finally to accepting an offer of a permanent academic job outside South Africa. While seeing myself as one of these early-career academics in the “pipeline” which the policy documents purport to address, I discuss how research managers use discourses of career development and human capital development to mislead young academics about their academic employment prospects and silence their attempts to critique the system. The article proposes that the concept of the academic pipeline works to obscure how postdoctoral fellowships are part of the casualisation and de-professionalisation of academic work, through which disciplinary identity and accomplishments are being divorced from secure university employment.

The Expulsion of Academic Teaching Staff from German Universities, 1933–45

In spring 1933, a political purge began in German universities, affecting around one fifth of their academic staff. This study examines the various stages of this process, uses new data to create a collective portrait of those dismissed and asks why they received so little support from their unscathed colleagues. An analysis of the reasons for their dismissal shows that approximately 80% were driven out on antisemitic grounds, even though less than a third belonged to the Jewish community. Their lives after their dismissal varied greatly. Whereas some managed to pursue highly successful careers while in emigration, others were murdered by the Nazis or committed suicide. At the same time the purge policy improved the career chances of younger academics and it is no coincidence that it was from their ranks that the largest number of supporters of the Nazi regime were recruited. Not until the second half of the war did leading German politicians and academic leaders recognise a further effect of this policy, namely that the emigration of numerous influential scholars had provided the Allies with a ‘considerable gain in potential’, including in highly significant military research.

Factors influencing intention to leave of younger employees in an academic institution

Orientation: The retirement age of most of the academics currently in the workforce is approaching fast. To understand factors that would influence younger academics to leave the profession is becoming more important in order for institutions to avoid a knowledge gap and ensure information and skill transfer.Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate factors influencing the intention to leave younger employees in an academic institution. The objective was to explore factors that would result in younger employees leaving the institution.Motivation for study: It is important to understand how younger employees experience the academic world in order to attract, develop and retain them within academia as employees.Research design, approach and method: Purposive sampling was utilised, which provided the researcher the opportunity to gain further understanding on participants whilst exploring their experiences. The participants were under the age of 35 years, either in possession of a master’s degree or in the process of obtaining a master’s degree. A thematic analysis was conducted after 17 semi-structured interviews were completed and transcribed.Main findings: The study revealed that employment practices are the leading reason for the intention to leave of younger academics followed by job satisfaction. Further reasons why employees considered leaving the institution were work engagement and well-being. These findings can assist in developing effective methods of attracting, managing, engaging and retaining these younger employees in the academic institution.Practical/managerial implications: The results of this study provide insights into human resource management practices to better manage and design methods to reduce younger academics’ intention to leave the institution.Contribution/value-add: Thoroughly exploring factors that can influence younger academics’ intention of leaving the profession, meaningful methods to encourage them to stay in these academic institutions could be designed.

THE PASSIVITY OF ITALY IN COUNTERACTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: THE TALPIS V. ITALY CASE

Amsterdam Law Forum (ALF) is the student-run 'International Law Journal' of VU University. Every year ALF publishes a winter, spring, and summer issue. The journal consists of three sections; scientific articles, opinion articles, and commentaries. As of this year, ALF also creates a section for inaugural speeches. In addition, ALF hosts a conference in spring with a relevant legal theme, where renowned speakers are invited to share their perspectives. Overall, ALF is a topical journal that provides a platform for established scholars and young academics to share knowledge, opinions and experiences and to make contributions to the international law discourse. Staff, PhD students and master students who have written a very good thesis are invited to submit an article to ALF. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb: we are looking forward to sharing your articles on our website!

REGULATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: PLEASE APPLY EXISTING REGULATION

Amsterdam Law Forum (ALF) is the student-run 'International Law Journal' of VU University. Every year ALF publishes a winter, spring, and summer issue. The journal consists of three sections; scientific articles, opinion articles, and commentaries. As of this year, ALF also creates a section for inaugural speeches. In addition, ALF hosts a conference in spring with a relevant legal theme, where renowned speakers are invited to share their perspectives. Overall, ALF is a topical journal that provides a platform for established scholars and young academics to share knowledge, opinions and experiences and to make contributions to the international law discourse. Staff, PhD students and master students who have written a very good thesis are invited to submit an article to ALF. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb: we are looking forward to sharing your articles on our website!

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR FACTORS HAMPERING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL?

Amsterdam Law Forum (ALF) is the student-run 'International Law Journal' of VU University. Every year ALF publishes a winter, spring, and summer issue. The journal consists of three sections; scientific articles, opinion articles, and commentaries. As of this year, ALF also creates a section for inaugural speeches. In addition, ALF hosts a conference in spring with a relevant legal theme, where renowned speakers are invited to share their perspectives. Overall, ALF is a topical journal that provides a platform for established scholars and young academics to share knowledge, opinions and experiences and to make contributions to the international law discourse. Staff, PhD students and master students who have written a very good thesis are invited to submit an article to ALF. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb: we are looking forward to sharing your articles on our website!

Editorial

The first issue of volume 8 of the UDS International Journal of Development (UDSIJD) has been published. A total of eight papers are included in Volume 8, Issue 1 of the UDSIJD. Seven papers cover Humanities whilst one in the Agricultural Sciences. The UDSIJD has fully migrated its operations to an online journal management system and therefore, all authors, contributors, reviewers, and editors are to interact via the journal system. By this, it is imperative that one visits his/her dashboard regularly, to track updates to manuscripts and review. The UDSIJD urges all authors and contributors to pay particular attention to the journal’s guidelines and adhere strictly to them. Also, comments from peer review are meant to improve the quality of the manuscripts and hence should not be personalized. We encourage young academics, researchers, development practitioners, and entrepreneurs to submit original research across disciplines for consideration to be published in our journal. The UDSIJD strives to enhance scholarly communications with a development focus, on a regular and sustained basis. The Editorial Team wishes to sincerely thank the University Management, authors, reviewers, and staff of the Journal and all those who in diverse ways have supported in making this issue of the journal a reality. The Editor-in-Chief Prof. G. A. Teye

Novice Doctoral Supervision in South Africa: An Autoethnographic Approach

This paper presents an autoethnographic, narrative analysis through self-reflection of my own personal transition from doctoral student to doctoral supervisor. An evaluation of the importance of the PhD in South Africa, the role of doctoral supervisors, and characteristics of good supervisors was undertaken; against which my personal experience was assessed. This paper was important in challenging whether institutions of higher learning in the country are adequately preparing young academics to become independent, effective doctoral supervisors. Some of my recommendations include the need for universities to come up with PhD supervision development programmes, as well as to consider alternative supervision models so as to facilitate mentorship of new doctoral supervisors, to ensure the attainment of PhD standards. The limitations of this paper are that, the researcher and subject, are one and the same person, hence there may be concerns of objectivity.

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression among Italian UNiversity academics: the 2020 UN-SAD study

Abstract Background The potential impact of demanding working conditions and career opportunities on the mental health of academic professionals has recently arisen some concerns, possibly resulting in psychological distress. This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety within Udine University, comparing academic and administrative staff. Methods A cross-sectional survey involving regular (RP) and short-term academic professionals (STP), and administrative staff (AS) was carried out between June and December 2020 throughout the administration of an online anonymous survey. Prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was assessed using PHQ-9 and GAD-7 tools. Demographic information about age, gender, marital status and seniority was collected. Relationship between mental health outcomes and professional role was analysed using nonparametric tests and ordinal logistic regression. Results All 5 university departments participated for a total of 366 people, being 109 of them STP, 146 RP and 111 AS. 55,7% of them were female, with a mean age of 47,9 years. Compared to administrative and regular staff, short-term professionals have a higher prevalence (95%CI) of both depressive (39,4% (30,8 - 48,8) vs 14,4% (9,6 - 21,0) vs 27,0% (19,6 - 35,9); p < 0,001) and anxiety symptoms (STP: 33,0% (24,9 - 42,3); RP: 15,1% (10,2 - 21,8); AS: 22,5% (15,8 - 31,1); p < 0.005). Multivariate models suggest an increased risk of depression OR 1.61 (0.98-2.64) and anxiety OR 2.08 (1.27-3.41) for female. Conclusions The higher prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among STP could represent the effect on younger academics' mental health of the career uncertainty and challenging arena. The difference between AS and STP in psychological distress could be explained by the different job security status. More support should be given by universities to young academics for their both effective and healthy contribution to the progress of research. Key messages The high level of external pressure, referred as “publish or perish”, can play an important role in determining academics’ mental health. Investment to provide coping tools for young academics could be strategical for researchers’ empowerment.

Telemedicine and eHealth Literacy in the Era of COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Peripheral Clinic in Israel.

The COVID-19 pandemic mandating isolation, quarantine, and social distancing has accelerated and expanded the use of telemedicine. This study examines the extent of the use of telemedicine and the relationship between eHealth literacy and satisfaction with using telemedicine during the pandemic. A total of 156 participants from a clinic in a peripheral community in southern Israel completed an online questionnaire. We found that 85% knew how to use the internet for health information, but only one third felt safe using it to make health decisions. Furthermore, 93% used the internet for technical needs, such as renewing prescriptions or making a doctor’s appointment. Even lower use for telemedicine was found (38%) for consultation or treatment sessions. A positive association was found between eHealth literacy and satisfaction variables with using telemedicine (rp = 0.39, p < 0.001). Although respondents understood the benefits of telemedicine, they were not satisfied nor interested in online sessions after the epidemic’s end, preferring a meeting involving personal interaction. Young people and academics benefit more from telemedicine, thereby creating usage gaps and potentially increasing existing inequality. We recommend developing intervention programs, especially among vulnerable populations, to strengthen eHealth literacy and remove barriers causing skepticism about the use of telemedicine during and after the pandemic.

Early career researchers' identity: A qualitative review

AbstractIn recent decades, higher education has witnessed the development of a series of policies aimed at improving its quality. To this end, accountability measures have been promoted, which are having a major impact on academics. In addition, the precariousness of work in this professional sector is contributing to emphasise its consequences. In this context, early career researchers have become a highly vulnerable group, as the pretence of wanting to be part of the academic world is becoming an increasingly challenging purpose. This systematic review of the literature aims to collect and systematise the most relevant contributions on the impact that this situation has on the professional identity of young academics. To this end, a bibliographic search was carried out in four different databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Education Resources Information Center, Google Scholar), which yielded a total of 24 articles published in international journals. The results show how the political‐economic measures that currently surround higher education are contributing to the development of a new neoliberal academic subject characterised by a professional identity unconsciously subjected to the system's requirements. This identity is characterised by a prioritisation of research over teaching, by the development of unethical research practices and by their impact on health and social and family relations. Finally, the need for more studies in this line with other approaches (longitudinal) and with more general and varied samples is emphasised.

Research Collaboration: Enhancing the Research Skills and Self-Confidence of Early Career Academics

Abstract: An academic’s career development chiefly depends on research and publication performance. For young academics, support and guidance are needed to help with the transition to new work culture and practices in the early phase of their career. This study intended to explore the benefits of research collaboration activities in relation to young academics’ knowledge, skills, and personal development. A total of 15 young academics from one research university with each having less than five years of work experience selected using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. The data transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that research collaboration activities have substantial impact on young academics in updating their research knowledge and skills, and this subsequently caused them to be more confident with their ability to manage research independently. Collaboration activities also have remarkable impact on young academics’ generic skills development and psychological wellbeing, increase young academics’ self-confidence, to reduce isolation as well as overcome the problem of low performance. Based on the findings, it is suggested that collaborative working culture is promoted and enhanced by universities as a practical platform for young academics to continue upgrading their knowledge and skills.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Performance, Research Collaboration, University, Young Academics

Systematic literature review on business process re-engineering approaches in logistics

PurposeBPR is “the central reconsideration and thorough restructuring of business procedures to enhance the critical and contemporary aspects of performance like the expense, quality, service, and speed”. Also, as it's a key factor for guaranteeing businesses' achievement, however, the profound discussion about the BPR is very rare as far as we know. We need more studies regarding the subject due to the absence of BPR works in the logistics industry. Hence, this study investigates the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of BPR for logistics companies, leading the managers and writers active in BPR, and making them aware of the present, past and future trends in this discipline.Design/methodology/approachAs BPR is a necessary foundation for ensuring enterprise systems' success, this study will systematically investigate the BPR in logistics. The proposed BPR in logistics research classification framework is based on a comprehensive literature review, which concentrates on peer-reviewed journal papers published until 2019. A total of 22 academic sources have been retrieved and analyzed in terms of research purpose and nature, the employed method, theoretical approach and analysis level.FindingsThe findings of this paper showed that BPR companies outperform the non-BPR ones regarding information computing, technology uses, organizational architecture, coordination and all key logistics procedures. The results can motivate non-BPR logistics organizations to reassess the feasibility of these plans.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides an overview of BPR to young academics. Also, it identifies some distinct research gaps that could be worth studying. However, this paper may be restricted by choice of dimensions and the selection of relevant articles. In turn, researchers need to become more innovative in terms of their research techniques when examining BPR implementation.Practical implicationsThis paper guides researchers and practitioners to insight into published research work and their findings. The findings are valuable to logistics firms in an emerging market, as logistics resources may affect logistics service costs and quality. Also, it discusses indications for future research in BPR. It emphasizes the need to bridge the lacuna between BPR theory and evidence-based practice. Furthermore, it provides a better understanding of BPR implementation, which can be applied toward overcoming operational difficulties during the implementation process.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need for a comprehensive classification framework of BPR in logistics studies. We can consider it as the first-evaluated methodically gathered workaround BPR in logistics. It essentially provides both academics and practitioners with a conceptual map of existing BPR in logistics research and points out future research opportunities.

Determinants of the Sustainable Entrepreneurial Engagement of Youth in Developing Country—An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

The article identifies the motivating factors behind the career preferences of university graduates who chose to engage in sustainable entrepreneurship. In this research, multi-methods—theoretical investigations and qualitative interviews—have been utilized to determine the factors responsible for promoting sustainable entrepreneurship in a developing region. The sample consisted of university graduates who chose to pursue their careers in entrepreneurial activities in Hyderabad, the sixth largest city of Pakistan located in Sindh Province. While determining why young academics choose entrepreneurship as a career choice, entrepreneurial careers are explored as an ongoing process of biographical sequences in which new ways of thinking and communication, new forms of economic and occupational challenges, and necessities as well as ways of success and failure are permanently claimed or raised. Due to these challenges, the youth are confronted with complex social and economic situation to deal with. The study findings provide guidelines on how sustainable entrepreneurship can be developed, engaged, and sustained in the future in developing and under-developed regions.

Making ‘meanwhile. . .’: representing queer African youth through spontaneous collaborative graphic autoethnography

We present a participatory creative research project about the embodied experience of queer African youth, which brought together queer young people, academics and artists from Southern and East Africa (as the Qintu Collab) to produce popular media. We describe objectives and process and argue that this work can best be understood as collaborative graphic autoethnography. By working together, the Collab produced the anthology Meanwhile. . .: Graphic Short Stories About Everyday Queer Life in Southern and East Africa, that challenges dominant representations of African queerness, including pathologising public health discourses and heteronationalist political propaganda. This work also dialogically generated socially experienced embodied knowledge about the wellbeing, relationships, fears and aspirations of young queer people. Such collaboration pushes the boundaries of collaborative, autoethnographic and visual methods. Examining our experience shows the co-constructed nature of knowledge and reveals the considerable power of comics as analytical texts, and as basis for further analysis.

OBJECTIVE 8 AT THE CROSSROADS BETWEEN HUMAN RIGHTS AND NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

Amsterdam Law Forum (ALF) is the student-run 'International Law Journal' of VU University. Every year ALF publishes a winter, spring, and summer issue. The journal consists of three sections; scientific articles, opinion articles, and commentaries. As of this year, ALF also creates a section for inaugural speeches. In addition, ALF hosts a conference in spring with a relevant legal theme, where renowned speakers are invited to share their perspectives. Overall, ALF is a topical journal that provides a platform for established scholars and young academics to share knowledge, opinions and experiences and to make contributions to the international law discourse. Staff, PhD students and master students who have written a very good thesis are invited to submit an article to ALF. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb: we are looking forward to sharing your articles on our website!

ELEMENTS OF AGGRAVATION IN ICC SENTENCING: VICTIM CENTRED PERSPECTIVES

Amsterdam Law Forum (ALF) is the student-run 'International Law Journal' of VU University. Every year ALF publishes a winter, spring, and summer issue. The journal consists of three sections; scientific articles, opinion articles, and commentaries. As of this year, ALF also creates a section for inaugural speeches. In addition, ALF hosts a conference in spring with a relevant legal theme, where renowned speakers are invited to share their perspectives. Overall, ALF is a topical journal that provides a platform for established scholars and young academics to share knowledge, opinions and experiences and to make contributions to the international law discourse. Staff, PhD students and master students who have written a very good thesis are invited to submit an article to ALF. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb: we are looking forward to sharing your articles on our website!

SPRING ISSUE

Amsterdam Law Forum (ALF) is the student-run 'International Law Journal' of VU University. Every year ALF publishes a winter, spring, and summer issue. The journal consists of three sections; scientific articles, opinion articles, and commentaries. As of this year, ALF also creates a section for inaugural speeches. In addition, ALF hosts a conference in spring with a relevant legal theme, where renowned speakers are invited to share their perspectives. Overall, ALF is a topical journal that provides a platform for established scholars and young academics to share knowledge, opinions and experiences and to make contributions to the international law discourse. Staff, PhD students and master students who have written a very good thesis are invited to submit an article to ALF. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb: we are looking forward to sharing your articles on our website!

ACTORNESS OF THE EU IN MULTILATERAL RELATIONS EXAMINING THE CONCEPT OF GEHRING, OBERTHÜR AND MÜHLECK

Amsterdam Law Forum (ALF) is the student-run 'International Law Journal' of VU University. Every year ALF publishes a winter, spring, and summer issue. The journal consists of three sections; scientific articles, opinion articles, and commentaries. As of this year, ALF also creates a section for inaugural speeches. In addition, ALF hosts a conference in spring with a relevant legal theme, where renowned speakers are invited to share their perspectives. Overall, ALF is a topical journal that provides a platform for established scholars and young academics to share knowledge, opinions and experiences and to make contributions to the international law discourse. Staff, PhD students and master students who have written a very good thesis are invited to submit an article to ALF. What is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb: we are looking forward to sharing your articles on our website!