The Impact of Upbringing on the Experiences of an Eastern European Female Academic in the UK

Working in the higher education (HE) sector in the UK can be challenging, as lecturing and researching are constantly evolving due to changes in demand and expectations of the academic roles, thus requiring a high level of adaptation skills and resilience. For an Eastern European female researcher, this is further exacerbated by different teaching and research cultures, which frequently involve working with multifaceted and complex groups of stakeholders, including students, colleagues, industry partners and the employer. This essay provides a reflective narrative of my journey as an Eastern European academic adapting to the UK education system, with a specific emphasis on the role my upbringing and communication skills played in this process. I will share some reflections on the implications of this journey on my professional practice and family life. This will be done in the context of my career trajectory in Economics.