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ACADEMIA
The Business Careers Handbook 2020
Academia
Overview Academia is concerned with the pursuit of research, education and scholarship. Academics are people who work in this field, either as a teacher or researcher at a university or other higher education institution. They are typically people who study and analyse their area of specialisation before sharing their findings through teaching, publishing and participating in public discussions. An academic in a business faculty for example, might seek to analyse how leadership can be used to motivate a workforce or what an ageing population may mean for productivity in the future. While their work is largely theoretical, many academics are now seeking to blend theory and practice into their research activities. This might mean commercialising an idea, for example, developing software to detect fraud in the stock market. Having academics with real-world experience is particularly important in courses such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is typically used as a drawcard to attract potential students. Entering academia A career as an academic will often begin with shortterm or casual positions as a tutor. To secure these positions you need to be a standout performer as a student. This means highly competitive marks (ideally including some academic merit prizes), strong relationships with faculty and successful admission to an honours program (many of which require prospective applicants to possess a distinction average and several references). You might also demonstrate that you’ve been involved in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). From this point, it’s a matter of continuing to distinguish yourself, through excellence in teaching and research, so that you can pursue new academic opportunities as they arise. You’ll need to make a concerted effort to publish articles in prestigious journals or take up extracurricular activities. Another way you may want to become an academic is by completing a master’s program or PhD. Today most candidates need a PhD to obtain a full-time position, as the criteria for most academic jobs tend to favour www.gradaustralia.com.au
coursework over research. Impressive professional experience is also looked upon favourably. Ideally the experience will be aligned with your research interests. For example, you have experience in audit and accounting at a large accounting firm and are interested in pursuing further research in this area. Whichever path you choose, it’s important to bear in mind that academic institutions are drawn primarily to people who possess both scholarly potential and a clear idea of their area of research. What’s involved? Academics generally divide their time between three main tasks: teaching, research and community involvement. Your teaching responsibilities will depend on your position, with lecturers, for example, generally expected to spend more time instructing students. Teaching involves more than delivering the lessons. You must also prepare classes, administer tests, mark essays, and provide students with academic support and guidance. If you’re employed at a tertiary institution and hold a relatively senior position, you may also find a lot of your time is taken up by meetings in which you set policies, review the curriculum and coordinate with colleagues to implement new academic initiatives. Most business faculties have a number of ‘schools’ within them that correspond to the university’s specialisations. For example, there might be schools in organisation and management, innovation and entrepreneurship, economics or marketing. You will typically be teaching within one of these schools. Generally, academics are expected to support the reputation of their home university by engaging in research and publishing their findings in reputable journals. There are social and professional advantages to doing this. Business academics often offer key insights that can play a role in shaping public policies, including banking regulation, or work and management culture. Best and worst The tertiary sector is perceived as offering impressive job stability and excellent working conditions.
