Nitza Davidovitch

Ariel University, Israel

E-mail: d.nitza@ariel.ac.il

The attitude of academic faculty to continued work by faculty members after reaching retirement age

Eyal Eckhaus

Ariel University, Israel

E-mail: eyale@ariel.ac.il

ORCID 0000-0002-1815-0045

Abstract. This study is a pioneer study that examines directly how lecturers and other faculty members perceive the possibility of continued faculty work in research and teaching after reaching the retirement age. The topic of retirement age and the possibility of continuing to work beyond this age is a well-known issue that is arousing interest in general and in academia in particular. This is true especially in non-physical activities. Hence, the question is what is the added value and what are the limitations of retirement age in academia? 108 questionnaires administered to senior faculty were collected in a case study of a single university. Qualitative and statistical research tools were used, with the aim of creating a model that expresses faculty members’ perception of work after reaching retirement age. The research findings indicate that even lecturers who are in favor of the retirement age restriction understand the value of emeriti experience and support their continued academic activity in research, guidance and, partially, in teaching. The condition is that the continued academic activity of emeriti shall not block the employment of young faculty members at academic institutions.

Received: September, 2019

1st Revision: April, 2020

Accepted: June, 2020

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2020/13-2/9

JEL Classification: E24, J21

Keywords: retirement age, employment, work capability, faculty members