Prospects for the New Zealand Geographer Seeking a Lectureship in Britain

During 1993 advertised geography lectureships in British Universities reached unusually high levels, most probably due to major structural changes in tertiary education and the provision of funding attached to research ranking, superimposed on the general trends of increasing student numbers and an ageing academic population. As the research assessment exercise takes place every four years, and the new academic league tables have just been published, it is predicted that a similar surge in advertised lectureships will occur during 1997 and 1978. Research active New Zealand geographers are well placed to capitalise on this projected recruitment phase, which is likely to peak between April and July and again in November. Some specialist subjects within the discipline are in greater demand than others although their popularity may change over time. Many of the traditional obstacles that have in the past discouraged New Zealanders from targetting an academic position in Britain are now more perceived than real.