To Be or Not to Be an Academic: The Academic Professional Intentions of PhD Students and Influencing Factors

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

Y

18

Foreign Countries; Graduate Students; Occupational Aspiration; Career Choice; Gender Differences; Social Mobility; Work Environment; Teaching (Occupation); Teacher Supply and Demand; Family Characteristics; Socioeconomic Background; Human Capital; Labor Market

10.1080/10611932.2020.1791538

1061-1932

Using survey data on academic PhD students, influencing factors for PhD students' academic career intentions are explained from the perspectives of individual features and the academic labor market. The study found: (1) There is a diversification of PhD employment, with nearly one-third of academic PhDs going to nonacademic organizations; (2) female PhDs tend to favor stable academic professions, and rural and low-income PhD groups are more inclined to choose employment in academic organizations to become academic elites and realize upward social mobility; (3) PhD students who identify with academic majors tend to choose academic professions, but a considerable portion of top quality PhDs go to nonacademic organizations; (4) academic interests and enthusiasm are important influences on choosing an academic profession; and (5) worsening job environments in academic institutions and weakening professional attractiveness had a cooling effect on the academic employment intentions of PhDs. [Translated by Jeff Keller.]

As Provided

2020

EJ1268901