A1 Journal article (refereed)
Equal Access to the Top? : Measuring Selection into Finnish Academia (2019)
Helin, J., Koerselman, K., Nokkala, T., Tohmo, T., & Viinikainen, J. (2019). Equal Access to the Top? : Measuring Selection into Finnish Academia. Social Inclusion, 7(1), 90-100. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v7i1.1620
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Helin, Jouni; Koerselman, Kristian; Nokkala, Terhi; Tohmo, Timo; Viinikainen, Jutta
Journal or series: Social Inclusion
ISSN: 2183-2803
eISSN: 2183-2803
Publication year: 2019
Volume: 7
Issue number: 1
Pages range: 90-100
Publisher: Cogitatio Press
Publication country: Portugal
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v7i1.1620
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/62475
Abstract
In this article, we draw a parallel between equality of opportunity in educational transitions and equality of opportunity in academic careers. In both cases, many methodological problems can be ameliorated by the use of longitudinal rather than cross-sectional data. We illustrate this point by using Finnish full-population register data to follow the educational and academic careers of the 1964-1966 birth cohorts from birth to the present day. We show how the Finnish professoriate is highly selected both in terms of parental background and in terms of gender. Individuals of different backgrounds differ greatly in the likelihood of completing different educational and academic transitions, but much less in the age at which they make these transitions. By contrast, women’s academic careers differ from those of men both in terms of timing and in terms of rates, with women’s PhDs and full professorships seemingly delayed compared to those of men. We additionally show with the help of a 2015 cross-section of Finnish professors how such differences are easily overlooked in cross-sectional data.
Keywords: academic degree holders; career development; transition period; gender; equality (values)
Free keywords: academia; academic career; educational transition; equality; Finland; higher education
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Yliopistoista lähteneet tutkijat ja opet
- Välimaa, Jussi
- Academy of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2019
JUFO rating: 1