Why Am I (Not) Struggling? Career Prospects of Migrant Academics at British and Finnish Higher Education Institutions

Exclusion takes many forms based on factors relating to an individual’s identity or background. Discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and disability are some common forms of exclusion that can significantly impact individuals’ lives, both personally and professionally. In this pilot study, we explore the career prospects of migrant academics and learn more about their opportunities and challenges. We focus on the experiences of ten migrant academics’ working at British and Finnish higher education institutions (HEI) across six categories, i.e., recruitment; promotion; teaching; research; leadership; and networks. While most interviewees felt ‘disempowered’ in recruitment, promotion, leadership, and network building; the results were mixed for teaching and research. We believe our evidence-based interventions can help HEIs, researchers, and policymakers work together to support migrant academics in navigating through their careers