What we can do to help intersectoral mobility of researchers ? From Research to Employee

According to a new report by HEPI 67% of PhD students want a career in academic research but only 30% stay in academia three years on.

2022 EURAXESS Biannual conference in Nantes (March 2022) hosted a Workshop ‘Careers Beyond Academia’ (lead by FECYT, Spain) where the importance of transition from academia to industry was discussed as a critical factor for the healthy and modern society.

What is needed to better facilitate intersectoral mobility of researchers?

Future researchers are generally trained for a career in academia and do not always have the necessary skills to find a job in the other sector. Graduates and young researchers need to be equipped with communication, entrepreneurship and networking skills and need to understand the industry language.

So, what should be offered?

We should prepare early-stage researchers for a career in both sectors with awareness of the key employment skills. They should be offered entrepreneurship, communication, and research management trainings and should have access to the online resource such as:

• ??Sci-Hub Platforms where alumni researchers in sectors beyond academic could virtually connect with R1 and R2 researchers, for example, through matchmaking events or career events.
• ?Online e -tools helping to understand business language.
• Social media and scientific communication that highlight the importance of research-related topics in our daily life to increase the visibility of the researchers in beyond academia sectors.
• Social media and scientific communication that highlight the importance of experts in humanities such as??languages, the arts, literature, philosophy, religion, and history. As they are great assets to various working teams.

Many countries in Europe have already developed very efficient ??inter-sector mobility opportunities via staff exchanges for young stage and ??established researchers. ?Also, academia-industry partnerships through jointly funded research grants and fellowships are generally working very well. Good practice examples include Ireland whose cutting-edge RD&I sector is driven by outstanding levels of collaboration between industry, academia, and government agencies, aiming at maximising the impact of research in Ireland on industry competitiveness (KTI).

What is still lacking?

Both worlds: Academia and Industry should be aware that they are really part of the same story. Researchers of various backgrounds can learn quickly. Scientific research is a problem-based learning activity that sharpens critical thinking skills. Therefor employers should value them highly.

Why?

98.5% Percent of employers are rating critical thinking as very/extremely important in candidates according to NACE (2021).