In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Professors: Sad or Satisfied?

(University World News) Finnish academics are happier than their colleagues in other countries, according to the Changing Academic Profession survey compiled by the University of Kassel in Germany. Although Finnish academics aren't paid as well as academics in the other 19 participating countries, 67 per cent said they are satisfied or very satisfied with their work. The survey took into account job salaries, overall job satisfaction, workload and the opportunity for research. But Finnish academics shouldn't be celebrating just yet. Their satisfaction results are still lower than most other professions. That coupled with the low salaries doesn't make academia a particularly popular choice for young Finns looking for work.

1.

What the Aussies can teach the Finns

LH Martin Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Management
The LH Martin Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Management at the University of Melbourne is a national institute established by the university in collaboration with the Australian government. The purpose is to study and aid higher education in Australia. This particular report outlines the challenges facing Finland (despite the 67 per cent academic job satisfaction) as the country moves to reform its higher education system. It makes specific reference to Australia, which went through a similar process of academic reforms several years ago. It reads a bit academically, but that's what this is all about after all, and it's a fascinating story.

2.

Canadians like teaching too

Workopolis.com
Hey, maybe teaching's not so bad. Workopolis is a Canadian job site. It's a partnership between the Toronto Star Newspaper Ltd. And Gesca Ltd., and its primary purpose is to act as an online employment classified site. But as Canada's largest job site, Workopolis also publishes unofficial polls such as this one in 2007 (the most recent to date). The Canada's Top 20 Jobs poll asked 9,000 Canadians questions on job satisfaction and ranked the results. Teachers were number two!

3.

What is an academic, anyway?

Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under the States Department of Labor. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a fact-finding body that strives to provide "impartial, timely and accurate data" for the people of the United States. This most recent occupational handbook outlines the details of hundreds of professions available in the United States based on the nature of work, qualifications, earnings and projections of where the profession will be in the future. It's everything you've ever wanted to know about what it's like to be a professor - in the United States.

4.

Why I Love This Job!

University of Windsor Office of Faculty Recruitment and Retention
Mary Lou Deitz first gave this speech in 1997 when accepting an award, but it can be found now through the University of Windsor's Office of Faculty Recruitment and Retention, Canada's first such office. Deitz's speech is about why she likes being a sociology professor - and why other people might too! She gets to read and think and meet people and (gasp!) get paid for it. Maybe even more than people in Finland get paid for it. Not sounding too bad, is it?

5.

Help! What should I be when I grow up?

The Career Key
OK, so Deitz didn't totally sway you into academics? The Career Key is an Internet career help site. It was founded by Laurence K. Jones, professor Emeritus in the College of Education at North Carolina Sate University. Jones has authored several books on the subject of career psychology and his site - which includes a career suitability test! - helps people decide what career path to take. If you want to be as happy as a Finn, take a look at the steps outlined on this site to achieving job satisfaction whether you want to be a professor or not.