Academic Profession

The academic profession is an umbrella term used to describe academic workers who fulfill the core functions of teaching, research, or service in institutions of higher education, as well as their related career structures, pathways, and professional ethos. The term is sometimes used inclusively to encompass anyone performing academic work within an institution, though it is more commonly used to describe the characteristics associated with the traditional professoriate within systems of higher education. Defining the characteristics and boundaries of the academic profession can be challenging because there are significant differences between academic career structures across and often within higher education systems. This entry discusses the roles of institutions, entry into the academic profession, career pathways, professional autonomy, and issues of equity.