FUURT’s Survey for early career researchers included, for the first time, a section on inappropriate treatment experienced in the academic work community. More than every fifth early career researcher experiences that they have faced discrimination, bullying, or violence from their own supervisor, advisor, or other senior colleague.
‘I love research work, but the competitive race for funding is exhausting.’ The Survey for early career researchers conducted by the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers in 2024 indicates alarmingly widespread inappropriate treatment in universities. Nearly one third (32%) of doctoral researchers or recent graduates reported having encountered bullying or violence at least occasionally within the academic setting. A total of 31% of the respondents had experienced discrimination and 13% sexual harassment. More than every fifth early career researcher experiences that they have faced discrimination, bullying, or violence from their own supervisor, advisor, or other senior colleague.
According to the survey results, the most incidences of inappropriate treatment are experienced by Finnish respondents who speak a language other than Finnish or Swedish as their native language and those whose gender was reported to be ‘other’. Discrimination was also experienced often by foreign respondents who speak a language other than Finnish or Swedish and respondents over the age of 39. Sexual harassment was the rarest form of inappropriate treatment experienced, but was relatively more common among women and recent graduates.
‘With this survey round, we wanted to focus on experiences with the academic environment and work community from many different angles, and for that reason, we also asked about possible negative experiences. The answers we received threw light on a less pleasant aspect of the university community, and one that is rarely talked about. This problem is not limited to Finland, since we also know from international studies that inappropriate treatment is unfortunately common in an academic environment where, among other things, the internal hierarchy may predispose one to the abuse of power’, says Miia Ijäs-Idrobo, Senior Adviser at FUURT.
Researcher diversity and different life situations challenge ‘the researcher archetype’
Comparisons to the 2022 Student Barometer indicate that all types of inappropriate treatment were clearly more common for early career researchers than for higher education students, and those who had recently completed their doctorate had met with more inappropriate treatment than doctoral researchers.
More than one third of those who experienced harassment believed it was based on their age (37%) or gender, gender identity, or gender expression (34%). Language or ethnic background were less often perceived as causes of inappropriate treatment, but these were all mentioned among the answers. The responses to open-ended questions conveyed fear concerning one’s own position in the community and uncertainty about the continuity of research work. Some of the respondents experienced that their own class, education, or professional background was wrong for an academic work setting. Some reported personal or scientific conflicts, and many mentioned that their family situation, such as pregnancy or single parenthood, was a problem. It was very common for there to be mentions of academic ranking, the subordinate position of doctoral or grant-funded researchers, or challenges otherwise presented by an early career phase and being less merited.
‘The underlying causes given for experienced inappropriate treatment make one wonder whether there exists an optimal type of researcher, and if a (early career) researcher does not correspond to that based on their age, life situation, or background, will they be subject to inappropriate treatment within the work community?’ asks Ijäs-Idrobo.
Academic work community needs to recognise power structures that predispose individuals to abuse
In an academic work culture based on peer review, the giving and receiving of criticism is an inherent part of the system, but the power structures related to career stages at universities can allow for abuse. It is, therefore, important for universities to consider the internal and structural factors within the community that can create distorted power constructs or have a negative impact on interaction situations.
Early career researchers are often in a vulnerable position within the academic work community. Fixed-term employment relationships and competition for funding, uncertainty about the continuity of research work, and concerns about the completion of a doctoral degree may cause researchers to not dare to address perceived bullying or discrimination. This is especially true if the person responsible for the inappropriate treatment is a supervisor, advisor, or other senior colleague.
Improving the supervision of doctoral researchers has been identified as an important way to develop doctoral education. The onboarding and support provided to supervisors and advisors should include possible experiences of inappropriate treatment and the means to prevent and avoid them. Experiences of inappropriate treatment can have heavy consequences for an individual’s health and well-being, so the issue should be taken seriously and the problems identified should be dealt with properly and independently.
‘Our intention is not to blame individual groups or actors, but to highlight a problem that exists beneath the surface. The results of this survey are a wake-up call for us to work together through broad co-operation to find solutions that will strengthen the openness and equality of the academic environment’, says Tero Karjalainen, President of FUURT.
The survey for early career researchers, conducted by the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers, is a repetitive data collection method that helps to clarify the experiences and perspectives of doctoral researchers and recent doctoral graduates in the early stage of their research career on their work, livelihood, and the future. The data was collected in February–March 2024 using an online questionnaire form. The target group for the survey included all doctoral researchers and those who graduated with a doctorate within the last four years in Finland, regardless of whether or not they were members of FUURT. A total of 1,138 forms were received from all universities and all fields of science.
Read the survey report here (pdf)
Further information:
Miia Ijäs-Idrobo, Senior Adviser
Tero Karjalainen, President of the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers
The e-mail addresses for both are in the form firstname.lastname(a)tieteentekijat.fi.
Requests for interviews: Siiri Hiidenvuori, Head of Communications, tel. +358 (0)207 589 617
If you have experienced harassment or bullying in an academic workplace, you can also contact the Union. On our website, we have compiled advice on what to do if you encounter inappropriate treatment at work.