Challenging career models in higher education: the influence of internal career scripts and the rise of the “concertina” career

Abstract The paper develops the metaphorical concept of “concertina” career to describe ways in which academic staff, across a diversifying workforce, modulate their interactions with institutional frameworks, tend be unilinear and characterised by detailed progression criteria milestones. In doing this, they are guided Internal scripts, providing an additional dimension dichotomy boundaried boundaryless careers found literature. Drawing on longitudinal study between 2017 2020, forty-nine mid-career staff eight UK universities, consideration is given individuals’ spatial movements, for instance, activities, professional personal commitments; manipulation timescales accelerate or decelerate progress relation opportunities constraints. shows parameters being stretched order accommodate new forms work supplementing disciplinary activity, such as online learning, employability initiatives public engagement, well work-life considerations. addition, individuals adapting activities health practice community outreach, commitments caring responsibilities. Thus, concertina career, expand contract extending compressing timescales. As result, it concluded that models do not entirely reflect reality career-making individuals, likely involve detours (therefore dimension) disruption assumed timelines temporal dimension).