How do you know that you have imposter syndrome? The imposter syndrome is a state of mind, a psychological phenomenon. It is when you have accomplished something huge but don’t permit yourself to recognise it. Remember you are not alone. The highest achievers often feel it too. Some even say…>
Career Development
Unconditional Offers and the Visit Day
As outlined in my previous article Managing the (new) Admissions Cycle there have been great changes in the last year or so to the number of unconditional offers made by universities to applicants, with unintended consequences for the overall pattern of admissions across the academic year, as well as with larger, still…>
Managing the (new) Admissions Cycle
Changes are afoot in university admissions. In 2017-2018 the number of unconditional offers made to applicants shot up seventeen-fold, or 40%, from a mere 2,985 students in 2013-2014, to last year’s record of 51,615 (see UCAS’s 2017 End of Cycle Report on Offer-Making). This increase has been the subject of debates in…>
Examination Boards
Examination Boards in the UK are the official bodies that set and mark exams for qualifications such as GCSEs, A levels and BTEC vocational qualifications. Jobs with examination boards are well suited towards candidates with teaching or lecturing experience, as well as a degree or postgraduate qualifications. Careers with Exam…>
Impact and Your Research
If you’re an early-career researcher or lecturer the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) may be your first REF round, but it probably won’t be your last. The main way in which the REF will affect early-career academics is in its requirement for outputs (between two and four published outputs for…>
Making the Most of Research Leave
Research leave can be a blessing, but like other aspects of academic life, needs to be managed carefully in order to get the most out of it. Here are a few tips on how to make the best use of your time if you’re fortunate enough to be awarded leave…>
The Importance Of Social Media To Your Academic Visibility
As a tool of academic networking, social media has become an almost indispensable feature of academic life. It is possible that its importance varies according to your standing within the profession. For older and more established scholars, some remain reluctant to experiment with social media, believing that their status within…>
Publishing Articles, and the Debate Over ‘Open Access’ Publications
Academics, and those aspiring to enter into the academic profession, are most probably familiar with the phrase ‘publish or perish’. The need for academics to publish is integral to applications for jobs, promotion to permanent positions and to obtain research funding. Publishing peer-reviewed journal articles are a key part of…>
Getting Your First Book Contract
The publication of an academic book, especially a monograph, is still regarded as the ‘gold standard’ in British academia, especially in the humanities.
Setting Up Placement Systems
The student experience lies at the heart of the modern UK university. Institutions vying to offer students the best in teaching and learning opportunities, research-driven expertise, top-of-the-range facilities, and excellent support services. But the one thing students really need in the competitive marketplace into which they will graduate is also…>