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Cited by 30Employment and Welfare StudiesEmployment, Labor, and Gender StudiesHigher Education Governance and Development

Experiences of precarious work within higher education institutions: a qualitative evidence synthesis

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Solomon, Shihaam, Du Plessis, Marieta·2023·Frontiers in Education
DOI 10.3389/feduc.2023.960649
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Abstract

Introduction: A qualitative evidence synthesis was employed, to identify and synthesize the best evidence on the experiences of precariously employed academics in high education institutions. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) principles were followed. The identified studies were screened by titles and abstracts ( n = 308)-full-text ( n = 19), employing these inclusion criteria: studies reporting on precarious employment experiences in higher education; part-time or fixed-term academic positions; qualitative studies between 2010 to 2021. The selected studies were not limited to a particular geographical location. A quality appraisal was conducted. Data were extracted while findings from the included studies ( n = 19) were collated using meta-aggregation with the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI). The primary study findings emanated from research conducted across 14 countries both from the northern and southern hemispheres. Results: Ninety-four extracted findings were aggregated into 19 categories and then grouped into five synthesized findings: (1) Precarity is created and perpetuated through structural changes in the global economy and wider higher education landscape; (2) Coping strategies precariously employed academics used to endure precarious employment in higher education; (3) Gendered dimensions shaping employment precarity in academia; (4) Impact of precarious employment on academics; (5) Impact of academic precarity on the university. Discussion: These precariously employed academics felt overwhelmed, vulnerable, exploited, stressed, anxious, and exhausted with their employment conditions. These circumstances include operating in unstable and insecure employment with no guarantees of permanent employment. The need to reassess policies and practices within higher education institutions is necessary and could offer these precariously employed academics the much-needed support and assistance to combat the effects of precarious employment.

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  • Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the precarity and casualisation of academic labour, which is undervalued, overused, and stigmatised.

    “Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the precarity and casualisation of academic labour, which is undervalued, overused, and stigmatised (Solomon & Du Plessis, 2023).”

    From Higher Education's Generative Artificial Intelligence Paradox: The Meaning of Chatbot Mania (2024) · cites this paper as Solomon & Du Plessis, 2023

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes a growing trend of academic casualisation and says precarious workers are often undervalued, overused, and stigmatised. The Discussion and recommendations (page unavailable) also describes universities progressively moving toward casualisation. Neither passage establishes that the increase occurred since the pandemic; a search for pandemic-related passages did not substantiate that timing. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Adewumi, S. A. (2021). Academic casualization and university development in a selected public higher institution in lagos, nigeria samson adeoluwa adewumi elsabe keyser. Afr. J. Develop. Stud. 11, 7-29. doi: 10.31920/2634-3649/2021/ · DOI
  2. v11n2a1 · DOI
  3. Vosko, L. F. (2002). 'Decent Work': The Shifting Role of the International Labour Organisation and the Struggle for Global Social Justice. London,Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi: SAGE Publications. 19-46. doi: 10.1177/1468018102002001093 · DOI

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Authors
Solomon, S., & Du Plessis, M.
Affiliations
University of the Western Cape (ZA)
Corresponding author
Solomon, Shihaam
ORCID
Solomon, Shihaam
Venue
Frontiers in Education
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2023-05-24
Volume
8
ISSN
2504-284X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/feduc.2023.960649
OpenAlex
W4378072272
Cited by
30
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3
FWCI
10.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Education (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UWC Research Repository (University of the Western Cape) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Department of Higher Education and Training
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Employment and Welfare Studies
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Employment, Labor, and Gender Studies
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Higher Education Governance and Development
Keywords
precarious employment, academic employment, higher education institutions, fixed-term employment contracts, coping strategies, gender inequality in academia, job insecurity, higher education policy

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