Tom Tuohy looks into the growing market for academics working abroad and the pros and cons of doing so
It’s no secret that our globalized world has seen a sea change in the number of academics travelling abroad for work. This was true even before Covid when many academics may have felt their career had stalled. Now, with Covid firmly in the rearview mirror, opportunities are opening up everywhere. Whether you’re newly qualified clutching your MA or PhD, a seasoned campaigner with years of experience, or someone considering a career change, there’s something out there for every educational industry professional seeking a fresh start. Why not check out jobs.ac.uk’s Global Academic Careers Guide?
According to data from UNESCO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the number of academics participating in international mobility programs has been steadily increasing over the past two decades. OECD’s Education at a Glance report showed between 2000-2018, the number of internationally mobile researchers increased by over 60%, a number almost certainly higher post-Covid.
So, why take the plunge? What’s in it for me?
The obvious advantages include the various career opportunities available for academics abroad: teaching positions at international universities, research opportunities at renowned institutions, or collaborative projects with foreign scholars. Opportunities for professional development exist too in gaining exposure to different teaching methodologies, research techniques, or cultural perspectives.
However, if networking and collaboration is more your thing, there are always new opportunities to share ideas with others in the same field. Cultural exchange benefits exist too whereby experiencing different cultures and traditions can enrich your personal and professional life, for example, affording you that long-cherished ambition to learn a second or even third language.
You may also be seeking a better work-life balance since not all cultures value work in the same way. I taught at two universities in Thailand over an 8-year period and, not only were beaches never more than a 2-hour drive away, cheap massage shops and Bohemian cafes everywhere, with many on-campus sports facilities, but my working day typically finished at 4pm, academic meetings were kept to a minimum, and there were always plenty of social events to attend if you wanted to. I also learned conversational Thai.
With the British pound not having as much buying power nowadays, salary differences, cost of living adjustments and potential funding opportunities for international research projects can be quite pronounced. While working for a large German company in Saudi, I received a generous tax-free salary, housing and transport allowances, VIP medical with free return flights for myself and family plus 10 weeks a year holiday entitlement.
What others say
Currently at a university in Bahrain (Country Profile), American lecturer Jack Benson has worked in the Middle East, Asia and S. America. “I originally chose S. Korea to improve my professional career. The jobs were plentiful and, apart from an arbitrarily complicated process, easy to secure. That accompanied with safety, housing benefits and return tickets to my home country were great incentives.” He admits specific opportunities for resources weren’t what attracted him to pursue his career there as there were, “None to speak of. It had the best pay and conditions at the time.” Assessing his work-life balance in Bahrain compared to his home country, Jack says, “It’s better in the sense work does not intrude into areas of private life and, if it does, it is deemed okay for the employee to push back on out-of-hours requests.”
Australian Andrew Livitsanos currently works at The American University of Iraq, Baghdad, after previous stints in S. Korea (Country Profile), Saudi Arabia, Libya and Bahrain. He says he chose Iraq to further his career, and his decision was influenced by “money, security, prestige and to experience the culture” as “Iraq is the cradle of civilisation produces world scholars and is full of opportunities and resources.” He’s particularly happy working on a newly established modern campus, with state-of-the-art technology.
In terms of challenges or disadvantages faced as a result of relocating, he says, “Sacrificing a lifestyle of the world I know, my family is distant, and there’s occasional loneliness.” To maintain a good work-life balance, he tries to, “keep calm at all times, treat it as a working holiday, accept the job needs (even on weekends).”
Londoner, Faisal Ali, a Computer Science Teacher, previously worked in Saudi but moved to Dubai (Country Profile – UAE) 6 years ago with his family. Currently working at a private school, he says “Dubai has always been ranked as one of the safest countries in the world. This was a big factor when raising a young family. The many attractions were also a big selling point. Dubai being a travel hub gives us opportunities to travel to places we would not consider as a family due to the travel time from the UK.”
He says of his work-life balance, “There is a big push within our school whereby meetings, if possible, are held during the school day, sports kits can be worn by staff on busy days, Friday being a half day, so we have a four and a half day working week.”
It’s clear working abroad has a lot to offer anyone with an eye for adventure. Maybe it’s time you dusted off your passport and started searching on jobs.ac.uk’s career pages? You never know–there could just be a job there that’s a perfect fit for you.
Thankyou for your insights. I would like to know more about these academic experiences and opportunities abroad, the examples you provide of academics working abroad are all males (…some with families). Do you have examples or case studies of female (e.g. single) academics doing the same?