Advancing the Career Prospects of Postdoctoral Research Fellows: An Organisational Justice Perspective

Postdoctoral research fellows (PDRFs) play an invaluable role in the academic realm, but little distinctive research attention has been paid to this cohort relating to their future career prospects. In response to this lacuna and the career uncertainty faced by PDRFs, the current study adopted a qualitative interpretive case study approach to examine the career prospects of PDRFs from an organisational justice perspective in one South African public university. The main purpose is to remind universities of the significance of supportable career pathways. Thirteen purposefully selected PDRFs participated in in-depth online interviews. The study employed analytical content analysis supported by the Coding Analysis Toolkit (CAT). The findings revealed that the supply of PDRFs has not led to them being absorbed into academia, leaving the current model questionable. The findings further revealed that PDRFs are confronted with an overabundance of institutional challenges which are mainly perpetuated by their hosts, with the “publish or perish” condition weaponised to instil fear. Without a clear national policy shift that gives PDRFs an authentic route into the academic profession they will remain stagnant without any sustainable career progression. We recommend that the careers of PDRFs can be advanced through a customised programme of intent to absorb them into academia. The findings are of great significance to the South African Department of Higher Education and Training to realign the current postdoc model to advance PDRFs’ career prospects.