Doctoral graduates' transition to industry

Networks as a mechanism? Cases from Norway, Sweden and the UK

Bibliographic Data

ID4097982
AuthorsEloïse Germain-Alamartine (0000-0003-1188-4422, Helix Competence Centre & PIE, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, corresponding author), Rhoda Ahoba-Sam (0000-0003-2869-9856, Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK), Saeed Moghadam-Saman (0000-0001-6715-7924, University of Stavanger), Gerwin Evers (0000-0001-5762-2589, Aalborg University)
Year2021
Volume46
Issue12
Pages2680-2695
Publication date2021-12-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0307-5079 • E-ISSN: 1470-174X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03075079.2020.1754783
OpenAlexW2995033749
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited41

Increased public investment in PhD education to drive innovation has led to a recent rapid growth in the number of PhD graduates. Academic labour markets have not developed at the same pace. An ever-larger share of the graduates is finding employment in industry. The transition from academia to industry is not always easy. The present study aims to provide insights into the role played by PhDs’ networks in the job search after graduation. Our data comprise interviews with industry-employed doctoral graduates in STEM disciplines from Sweden, Norway and the UK. Our findings show that PhDs’ autonomously built personal networks can help match their specific scientific expertise with labour market demands. We distinguish country-specific patterns and characteristics of the transition, in which regional career paths are more (Scandinavia) or less (the UK) noticeable. The study has practical implications, in particular for PhD students and graduates, related to their career orientation

Economic growth · Economics · Higher education · Pedagogy · Sociology · Chemistry · Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions · Higher Education Governance and Development · Psychology · University-Industry-Government Innovation Models