Svet i mi: položaj naučne profesije sa osvrtom na društvene i humanističke nauke
SCIENTIFIC PROFESSION IN SERBIA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Author(s): Suzana Ignjatović, Željka Buturović
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Social Sciences
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: academic researchers/scientists; social sciences and humanities; vertical and horizontal stratification; Serbia
Summary/Abstract: The paper explores the status of science as a profession in general, focusing on the social and humanities in Serbia. At a global level, academic jobs are becoming increasingly unstable, poorly compensated and, consequently, less appealing. Knowledge production in academia is undergoing a profound crisis due to a new management model of efficient, useful and measurable scientific production, which has paradoxically resulted in the hyper proliferation of scientific papers and academic misconduct. In the long run, job stability and research autonomy are likely to determine the intrinsic value of scientists’ research careers, professional identities, and their reputation in society. In Serbia, these global trends have not yet reached full swing. The above-than-average socio-economic status (relative to Serbian average socio-economic status), relative job stability and significant research autonomy, may explain persistent desirability of a science career. Recent research shows that despite some unfavourable trends, research scientists remain committed to this sector and recognize the intrinsic value of scientific research. In Serbia, there is an equal share of women and men in almost all scientific fields while in the social sciences, there is also an equal share of genders in leadership positions. Institutional financing and absence of up-or-out system, help maintain environment that supports scientific risk-taking and creative autonomy. The generation gap between young and old scientists is growing because life course trajectories are overlapping with the adverse trends of jobs insecurity/scarcity for young researchers that is, paradoxically, exacerbated by efforts to recruit ever-increasing numbers of young people to science.

• Details
• Contents