Early career researcher's peer support group

In this research I present the findings of a research on an early career research academics (ECRA) peer support group. I have used Autoethnographic reflections as a member of the group as well as the findings from individual and focus group interviews with the other group members. The research found that early career research academics face a difficult balancing act between teaching and doing research. The university structures were considered oppressive while the peer support group was helpful in offering support, guidance, motivation and solidarity in resisting or subverting an oppressive university system. The group also had weaknesses in being informal in its structure and tangible achievements were limited due to time constraints. Nevertheless, the group has developed into a unique learning community that is worth duplicating in other universities that don’t have such learning communities.