Online launch of the Scientific and Teaching Employment Observatory

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

The OECD is an analysis mechanism that enables monitoring of the hiring of PhD researchers and research careers. 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 makes it possible to publicise the results of the measures to Stimulate Scientific Employment, which were designed between 2016 and 2017 and have been implemented since then.

The data currently show that in the period following the introduction of the Scientific Employment Stimulus measures there was a 9% increase in the total number of indefinite-term contracts (career positions) with teachers and researchers and an increase in the hiring of researchers, the vast majority of whom were previously holders of Studentships , with 6,101 more contracts in execution today than compared to the total numbers recorded at the end of 2015.

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

ATTACHMENTS:
Scientific and Teaching Employment Observatory Manual
New Contract Registration Platform
FCT Scientific Employment Stimulus Program