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Tenure track policies, procedures and career outcomes in a case study university in Ireland - a gendered critique

O'Connor, Pat and Drew, Eileen LU (2024) p.156-172
Abstract

This chapter is a gendered critique of the tenure track (TT) model in Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the oldest and most prestigious university in Ireland, with a record of fast-paced change in gender representation since 2012. The methodology includes a documentary analysis augmented with qualitative data from TT appointees. All of those interviewed who had completed the TT process obtained tenure and roughly 40 per cent had been promoted to associate professor. Significant flaws emerged in the recruitment process, the implementation of maternity leave, receipt of feedback and the assignment of mentors. Women who were ‘outsiders’ to TCD (with no prior educational or occupational experience there) were susceptible to intersectional... (More)

This chapter is a gendered critique of the tenure track (TT) model in Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the oldest and most prestigious university in Ireland, with a record of fast-paced change in gender representation since 2012. The methodology includes a documentary analysis augmented with qualitative data from TT appointees. All of those interviewed who had completed the TT process obtained tenure and roughly 40 per cent had been promoted to associate professor. Significant flaws emerged in the recruitment process, the implementation of maternity leave, receipt of feedback and the assignment of mentors. Women who were ‘outsiders’ to TCD (with no prior educational or occupational experience there) were susceptible to intersectional disadvantage, accentuated by not being allocated a senior mentor. The situation of women who had taken maternity leave and were in FAHSS, was particularly fraught. This raises questions about the introduction of TT and how it reproduces male dominance.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Career outcomes, Case study, HR procedures, Ireland, Tenure track, Trinity College Dublin
host publication
Tenure Tracks in European Universities
pages
17 pages
publisher
Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85217336340
ISBN
9781035302444
9781035302451
DOI
10.4337/9781035302451.00015
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © Editors and Contributors Severally 2024.
id
eea00178-aa66-4dab-b204-278be0743f72
date added to LUP
2025-04-22 14:27:11
date last changed
2025-08-13 00:27:07
@inbook{eea00178-aa66-4dab-b204-278be0743f72,
  abstract     = {{<p>This chapter is a gendered critique of the tenure track (TT) model in Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the oldest and most prestigious university in Ireland, with a record of fast-paced change in gender representation since 2012. The methodology includes a documentary analysis augmented with qualitative data from TT appointees. All of those interviewed who had completed the TT process obtained tenure and roughly 40 per cent had been promoted to associate professor. Significant flaws emerged in the recruitment process, the implementation of maternity leave, receipt of feedback and the assignment of mentors. Women who were ‘outsiders’ to TCD (with no prior educational or occupational experience there) were susceptible to intersectional disadvantage, accentuated by not being allocated a senior mentor. The situation of women who had taken maternity leave and were in FAHSS, was particularly fraught. This raises questions about the introduction of TT and how it reproduces male dominance.</p>}},
  author       = {{O'Connor, Pat and Drew, Eileen}},
  booktitle    = {{Tenure Tracks in European Universities}},
  isbn         = {{9781035302444}},
  keywords     = {{Career outcomes; Case study; HR procedures; Ireland; Tenure track; Trinity College Dublin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  pages        = {{156--172}},
  publisher    = {{Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.}},
  title        = {{Tenure track policies, procedures and career outcomes in a case study university in Ireland - a gendered critique}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781035302451.00015}},
  doi          = {{10.4337/9781035302451.00015}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}