Skip to main content

Online launch of the Scientific and Teaching Employment Observatory

The Observatory of Scientific and Teaching Employment (OECD) is online as of today, July 6th , a platform launched by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES) and consists of a public nominative registry that lists all contracts of doctorate holders involved in research activities (R&D), teaching or management and communication of science and technology. The data are collected and disseminated by the Directorate General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC).

The OECD translates into an analysis mechanism that enables the monitoring of the hiring of doctoral researchers and careers in research. With this step, Portugal becomes one of the first countries to follow the recommendations of the Council of the European Union, approved on May 28, 2021, during the Portuguese presidency. This Observatory aims to enable free and open observation on mobility, career plans, employment and scientific working conditions. It also allows to make known the results of the Scientific Employment Stimulus measures, which were designed between 2016 and 2017 and applied since then.

The data currently show that in the period after the introduction of the Stimulus Measures for Scientific Employment there has been a 9% increase in the total number of open-ended contracts (career positions) with faculty and researchers and growth in the hiring of researchers, the vast majority of whom were previously holders of Studentships, with 6,101 more contracts being executed today than compared to the total numbers recorded at the end of 2015.

It should be noted that the funding mechanisms made available by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) are the main generators of contractual positions, with 44% of the contracts (i.e., 2,635 contracts) being established as a result of Calls of the FCT integrated in the Scientific Employment Stimulus program.

ANNEXES:
Manual of the Scientific and Teaching Employment Observatory
Platform for the Registration of New Contracts
FCT Scientific Employment Incentive Program