Weak ties, fragile lives: Challenges to career ecological diversity for international academics in the UK

This chapter examines international careers in UK higher education, drawing upon composite stories of international academics’ experiences within English Business Schools. We examine UK HE as an ecosystem for international academics, illustrating the multifaceted challenges that they face in their career behaviours. Bridging the literature of psychological contracts and careers, to the multiple career ecosystem actors and stakeholders, we show how international academics face a fragile career ecosystem characterised by sparse network ties with critical career actors, restricted employment opportunities, transactional psychological contracts, and thus scarce career choices. We attribute the unsustainability of this fragile career ecosystem for international academics to, what we term, its reduced career ecological diversity. We suggest that international academics’ career ecological diversity is reduced through their lack of access to critical career capital within UK academic communities. We conclude with recommendations for future research and practice for enhancing the inclusivity and sustainability of the career ecosystems for international academics in the UK.