The academic performance of older academics: A review

About 40 per cent of academic staff in Australian universities are over 45 years of age and predictions are that, by the turn of the century, there will be an ‘abundance’ of tenured, older academics in these universities. The situation elsewhere is even more stark. In the United States, for instance, 35 per cent of all academic staff in institutions of higher education are over the age of 55 and by 2000 it is estimated that half will be over 55 years of age. Given these demographic trends, questions are now being asked about the performance of the older academic, and, in particular, whether there is a causal relationship between age and academic productivity. This paper will review the available research evidence on the performance of older academics and, in light of this evidence, will question why so much emphasis in Australia continues to be placed on the potential negative outcomes arising from an ageing academic workforce in higher education.