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Global study reveals barriers in academic promotion practices for minority groups and underserved regions
An overreliance on metrics used to evaluate researchers is disadvantaging academics from underrepresented regions from achieving promotion, a major international study has found.
The new research, published in prestigious academic journal Nature this week, reveals significant differences in academic promotion practices worldwide, particularly in how full professorships are awarded.
The study exposes systemic barriers in academic promotion systems, particularly for minority groups and underserved regions.
By analysing data from 190 universities and 58 government policies across 121 countries, the research highlights how promotion practices often rely on quantitative metrics like publications and citations, which may not fully capture the broader contributions of academics. This overreliance on metrics can disadvantage researchers from non-traditional academic paths and underrepresented regions.
The study is led by Dr. Yensi Flores of University College Cork and co-chair of the Global Young Academy - a team of 29 researchers from 39 organisations across 22 countries,
"The Global Young Academy was instrumental in enabling this collaboration, bringing together researchers from across the globe to examine these disparities," said Dr. Flores.
"Our study provides baseline information on global promotion practices, offering a starting point for future reforms that can help create a more inclusive and diverse research ecosystem."
"Rigid promotion criteria that focus solely on publication metrics limit opportunities for researchers from diverse backgrounds and career trajectories," Dr. Flores added. "To support a more equitable research environment, we need to recognise a wider range of academic contributions."
This study is crucial for informing ongoing discussions about reforming research assessment policies, which are currently under review by universities, funding bodies, and governments worldwide. By adopting more inclusive and qualitative measures, the global research community can build a culture that values integrity, diversity, and quality over narrow metrics.
Dr Yensi Flores Bueso is a postdoctoral researcher at Cancer Research @UCC currently working on secondment at University of Washington alongside Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Professor David Baker. She will return to University College Cork in early 2025.