The monitoring of academic careers and the careers of PhD holders in the non-academic labour market is based on administrative data, surveys and theme-specific studies (e.g. added value of a PhD, entrepreneurship).
Human Resources in Research Flanders
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Objective: The HRRF is an administrative database that has been tracking career-related indicators since 1991 for all employees working part-time or full-time at Flemish universities. This includes junior researchers (including doctoral students), senior researchers (with or without a PhD) and professors. Among other things, the HRRF records all employment contracts, annual doctoral student enrolments and all doctoral defences.
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Year: Annually, since 1991
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Description of methodology: HRRF basic indicators; ECOOM-brief 64 - at the moment only available in Dutch
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Privacy statement (in Dutch)
Survey of Junior Researchers
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Objective: The SJR is a five-yearly survey of all junior researchers at Flemish universities. Approximately 9 out of 10 junior researchers are engaged in doctoral research. The SJR monitors performance, well-being and career interests, focusing on both individual factors (e.g. gender, nationality, personality) and structural and cultural factors (e.g. scientific discipline, relationship with supervisor, leadership style, team climate).
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Year: 2008, 2013, 2018, 2023
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Description of methodology: ECOOM-brief 2 (SJR 2008), ECOOM-brief 8 (SJR 2013), ECOOM-brief 17 (SJR 2018), ECOOM-brief 51 (SJR 2023)
PhD Career Survey
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Objective: The PhD Career Survey asks PhD holders about their careers after completing their PhD, both withing academia and in the non-academic labour market. Where and how are PhD holders employed? How do transitions to jobs in industry or government unfold? Which acquired competences and skills proved crucial and which were lacking? The survey also explores career progression and patterns in terms of sector of employment, remuneration, responsibilities, promotion opportunities and working hours.
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Year: 2017
Survey of Employers
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Objective: The Survey of Employers asks employers in R&D companies in Flanders about their perceptions, opinions and attitudes towards PhDs and PhD holders. The survey aims to gain insight into individual and organisational factors within R&D companies that influence the recruitment, selection, optimal employability and retention of research talent.
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Year: 2022
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Description of methodology: ECOOM-brief 48
Theme-specific interview series – The added value of a PhD
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Objective: In a series of interviews, 30 employers (16 profit, 8 non-profit/education/government, and 6 social partners/politics) were interviewed about their experiences and views on the added value of a PhD for their sector.
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Year: 2016
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Interview series: Stassen, Levecque & Anseel (2016). PhDs in transition : what is the value of a PhD outside academia? ECOOM, Gent. ISBN 9789090297538 https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8613201
Theme-specific interview series – Entrepreneurship and PhD
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Objective: Little is known about how many PhD students and PhD holders in Flanders are working as entrepreneurs, and how they can be optimally supported in their entrepreneurial endeavours. Do doctoral research and the competencies, skills and knowledge developed during the PhD process add value to entrepreneurship?
Through twenty-one interviews with stakeholders focused on supporting and enhancing entrepreneurship among doctoral students and PhD holders an overview of the innovation ecosystem in Flanders is provided. The additional 18 interviews with entrepreneurial PhD students and PhD holders reveal a diversity of perspectives and challenges throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.
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Year: 2023
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Interview series: Mortier, Matthys, Levecque, Verlinden & Wille (2023). A PhD and entrepreneurship: what value does a PhD bring to entrepreneurship? ECOOM, Gent. ISBN 9789490595029 https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01H14D1SGPFHTZXRN3C30XDDWA
Event – “Talent in Demand: The Potential of Doctorate Holders”
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Objective: Organized by ECOOM HR in R&D and the Observatory of Research and Scientific Careers-F.R.S.-FNRS, the event "Talent in Demand: The Potential of Doctorate Holders" was held on 18 April 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. Nearly 80 people from Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia joined this event to discuss the potential of doctorate holders in the non academic labour market. The objective of this event was to bring together all relevant stakeholders in Belgium to engage in a fruitful dialogue about the careers of doctorate holders. The audience was a diverse mix of policymakers, researchers (including both doctoral candidates and doctorate holders), university representatives and non academic employers.
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Year: 2023
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Report: Event report Talent in Demand
