Being an incentive, being an obstacle, being values

In our value statements, we usually say we value diversity, but our strategies and plans don’t quite live up that. Academics are themselves diverse. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all job description. The 40-40-20 model itself doesn’t fit everyone, and doesn’t fit every stage of the career. It is natural to focus more on different roles at different times, depending on opportunities and energy. Some of us are just not meant to be president, and not everyone has to lead large EU projects to contribute to research. Individuals sometimes manage to make other types of research contributions by forging productive partnerships, eg between people at different career stages, but it requires them to work against the system a bit, and subvert the expectations the University has written into its metrics. [...] Some of my colleagues are probably thinking, based on recent discussions in committees, that I’m kind of bolshie and difficult about university administration activities. Thank you, perhaps…