CAREER-DEVELOPMENT OF ACADEMICS - CROSS-CULTURAL AND LIFE-SPAN FACTORS

This study takes a lifespan perspective on academic career development across several countries, in examining contributions to aspects of ac ademic work in terms of gender, age groups, and years of experience in higher education. The study was based on the recent International Sur vey of the Academic Profession (Altbach, 1996). Findings suggest commo n themes regarding attitudes and activities within the gendered contex t of academic work that vary from one country to another and among wor king conditions, activities of teaching, research and service, issues of governance and management, and international dimensions of academic work. A general model is then described of activities and attitudes t hat constitute academic work. These findings are discussed in terms of strategies for career development that optimise the academic in a con text.