We work, but we don’t decide: Exploring early career researchers’ leadership in university decision-making

While the importance of inclusive decision-making is widely acknowledged, the specific conditions shaping Early Career Researchers’ (ECRs) involvement in institutional governance remain underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the current state of ECR participation, the factors that facilitate or obstruct their engagement, and the role of integrating ECR voices into university decision-making as a means of driving institutional change. This case study, conducted as part of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action (CA20137) VOICES, explores whether and how ECRs are involved in decision-making at a university in western Anatolia, Türkiye. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with ten participants, eight ECRs and two academics holding admin roles, this research captures lived experiences of ECRs from both Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and social science and humanities. Interviews were conducted face-to-face or online. The data were analysed using content analysis. The findings suggest that, although ECRs provide valuable critical perspectives, their influence on institutional decision-making remains limited and institutional hierarchies often constrain ECRs’ participation in governance. This study calls for formal mechanisms to enhance ECR representation and voice in decision making, advocating for more inclusive, transparent, and equitable governance in Turkish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Broader recognition of ECRs’ contributions is essential to support their development as both scholars and future academic leaders.