Reflection: Collaborative work of early career researchers: How the impact agenda transcends across contexts

The growing complexities of academia and the role and support for early career researchers (ECR) can vary depending on individual pressures; given this, explore whether universities are able to provide the supportive environment needed for ECRs to succeed. At the start of an academic career, there is an onslaught of acronyms, agendas and expectations that ECRs need to manage. There is also a realisation that the business of academia is to publish, to have impact, and to generate income: this can create a tension between teaching duties and scholarly ambitions as researchers. There is an abundance of literature examining the role of the institution in managing and supporting ECR scholarship. Within this literature, there is an emergent consensus as to what constitutes good practice but a plethora of institutional challenges are also documented. This chapter argues that collaborating with other ECRs can help with progression and support, through the collegiality of working with others at a similar career point.