This issues paper provides an overview of trends in tertiary education and how these developments have affected conditions of work and employment of tertiary education teaching personnel.

The paper takes into account teachers, instructors and researchers, including those who are graduate students, who work in tertiary institutions, and, where data are available, tertiary technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. It does not take into account the many education support workers who serve in tertiary education, such as administrators, maintenance and security staff, nor does it cover students who perform work as part of their study programmes. Such workers are essential in tertiary education institutions and have also been impacted by trends in tertiary education, yet the particular dynamics of their working conditions are beyond the scope of this report.