Deficiencies in the work environment
Almost 1000 doctoral students have answered questions about everything from work and supervision to sleep problems and whether one dares to criticize in their workplace. The report makes it clear that there are major shortcomings in the doctoral students' work environment.
Today's doctoral students work under tough working conditions. Many work when they are sick, have sleep problems and don't feel they have time to take their vacation. More than 45 percent responded that they had difficulty thinking about anything other than their dissertation work daily or several times a week. This was especially true for women, younger students and Swedish doctoral students.
"What emerges in the report is remarkable and requires action. Unfortunately, it has become far too common for this type of statistics to be dismissed because we have become accustomed to an unsustainable situation. This is not enough and will in the long run create major problems for both the individual doctoral students and the supply of doctoral skills to the university and other sectors of society. Especially during the pandemic, we at SFS have seen that doctoral students have had a particularly challenging situation and the report reinforces the image that doctoral students are a vulnerable group that needs more support than what is available today."
Says Simon Edström, chairman of the Swedish National Union of Students
Read a short interview with the report author at st.org here
Summary in English
In a new survey "Hur mår doktoranden", conducted by SFS and Fackförbundet ST, a 1000 doctoral students across Sweden answered questions about their working and studying conditions, and the result is worrisome. The report will be presented on a webinar Thursday 25/3. The report is in Swedish, but there is an English summary of the report.