Antecedents and Consequences of Academic Pressure Among Faculty Members at World-Class Universities From Scopus Database: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61255/jupiter.v4i3.1273Keywords:
Academic Pressure, Lecturer, World Class University, Antesedent, Consequent, Narrative ReviewAbstract
World-Class University (WCU) is a goal for universities around the world, including those in Indonesia, to demonstrate excellence in various fields, resources, and faculty measured by all relevant criteria as well as academic excellence and quality, as evidenced by a range of achievements. Academic pressure is one of the challenges faced by faculty members in the context of achieving various academic goals, with a focus on the antecedents and consequences of this issue within the WCU. The purpose of this article is to identify and synthesize the antecedents and consequences of academic pressure on WCU faculty members using a narrative review approach. Data were obtained from the Scopus database using the keywords “international ranking,” “World Class University,” or “academic,” yielding a total of 376 articles, of which 141 were suitable for in-depth analysis start at 2005-2024. This study examined the antecedents of academic pressure, including external factors such as the Tri Dharma, scientific publications, administrative workload, and frequently changing policies, as well as internal factors such as self-efficacy, personal capacity, time management, and work-life balance and the ambivalent consequences that trigger stress, burnout, a decline in work-life balance, and a deterioration in academic quality; yet, on the other hand, they can also enhance faculty competence, strengthen research culture, and accelerate global competitiveness. This research provides a comprehensive conceptual framework grounded in empirical evidence to help policymakers and strategists design faculty management approaches that are more supportive and focused on long-term academic performance. The conclusion of this study is that the consequences of academic pressure on lecturers not only have a negative impact but can also be a trigger for lecturers to improve their performance. Based on the background, this study has a different focus from previous research, namely related to the antecedents and consequences of academic pressure on lecturers at world-class universities as a novelty.
Abstract views: 17
, 
PDF downloads: 7
Downloads
References
Altakhaineh, A. R. M. and Zibin, A. (2021) ‘A new perspective on university ranking methods worldwide and in the Arab region: facts and suggestions’, Quality in Higher Education. English Language and Linguistics, English Language and Literature Department, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan: Routledge, 27(3), pp. 282–305. doi: 10.1080/13538322.2021.1937819
Chaeddhananan, K. and Dhirathiti, N. S. (2022) ‘The model for strategic drive of Thai higher education institutions toward world-class universities’, Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences. Public Administration, Public Policy and Public Management, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand: Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute, 43(2), pp. 271–278. doi: 10.34044/j.kjss.2022.43.2.02
Davarpanah, S. H. et al. (2021) ‘Ritualism as a Form of Academic Malfunctioning: Iranian Higher Education as a Case Study’, Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies. Higher Education Management, University of Isfahan, Iran: Ali Khorsandi Taskoh, 2(3), pp. 30–56. doi: 10.52547/johepal.2.3.30
Ertaş, M., Kozak, M. and Kırlar-Can, B. (2023) ‘Scholarly publishing in tourism and feelings of envy: impacts on emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction, and life satisfaction’, Current Issues in Tourism. School of Tourism, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey: Routledge. doi: 10.1080/13683500.2023.2273918
Fu, W. and Larbi, F. O. (2022) ‘The rebirth of the Chinese higher education: analysis of higher education policies from the economic reform to date’, International Journal of Comparative Education and Development. Institute of Special Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China: Emerald Group Holdings Ltd., 24(1), pp. 1–19. doi: 10.1108/IJCED-04-2021-0044
Gabdrakhmanov, N. K. et al. (2019) ‘Influence of supply chain management on universities development: An outward glance’, International Journal of Supply Chain Management. Kazan Federal University, Institute of Management, Economics and Finance, Russian Federation: ExcelingTech, 8(2), pp. 304–308. Available at: https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85064974839
Gaitán-angulo, M. et al. (2018) ‘Bibliometric Analysis of Social Innovation and Complexity ( Databases Scopus and Dialnet 2007 – 2017 ) Keywords’, p. 2017.
Gao, J. and Li, C. (2020) ‘Version 2.0 of Building World-Class Universities in China: Initial Outcomes and Problems of the Double World-Class Project’, Higher Education Policy, 35, pp. 397–413. doi: 10.1057/s41307-020-00211-z
Gao, X. and Zheng, Y. (2018) ‘“Heavy mountains” for Chinese humanities and social science academics in the quest for world-class universities’, Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 50, pp. 554–572. doi: 10.1080/03057925.2018.1538770
Gao, X. and Zheng, Y. (2020) ‘“Heavy mountains” for Chinese humanities and social science academics in the quest for world-class universities’, Compare. School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia: Routledge, 50(4), pp. 554–572. doi: 10.1080/03057925.2018.1538770
Harty, C. and Leiringer, R. (2017) ‘The futures of construction management research’, Construction Management and Economics. School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom: Routledge, 35(7), pp. 392–403. doi: 10.1080/01446193.2017.1306089
Hauptman Komotar, M. (2020) ‘Discourses on quality and quality assurance in higher education from the perspective of global university rankings’, Quality Assurance in Education. Alma Mater Europaea – Faculty of Humanities, Institutum Studiorum Humanitatis, Ljubljana, Slovenia: Emerald Group Holdings Ltd., 28(1), pp. 78–88. doi: 10.1108/QAE-05-2019-0055
Hong, M. (2022) Internationalizing Higher Education with National Characteristics: Similar Global Trends but Different Responses, Internationalizing Higher Education with National Characteristics: Similar Global Trends but Different Responses. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-4082-8
Kang, Y. and Mok, H. (2024) ‘China’s policy responses to university ranking: changes and new challenges’, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. School of Law and Sociology, Xihua University, Chengdu, China: Routledge, 68(1), pp. 67–78. doi: 10.1080/00313831.2023.2211987
Kang, Y. and Mok, K. (2023) ‘China’s policy responses to university ranking: changes and new challenges’, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, (May), pp. 1–12. doi: 10.1080/00313831.2023.2211987
Li, J. and Xue, E. (2021) ‘Returnee faculty responses to internationalizing “academic ecology” for creating world-class universities in China’ elite universities’, Higher Education. Faculty of Education, China Institute of Education Policy, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing, China: Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 81(5), pp. 1063–1078. doi: 10.1007/s10734-020-00599-y
Li, W. and de Costa, P. I. (2021) ‘Problematizing enterprise culture in global academic publishing: Linguistic entrepreneurship through the lens of two Chinese visiting scholars in a U.S. University’, Multilingua. Nagoya University of Commerce and Business, Nagoya, Japan: Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 40(2), pp. 225–250. doi: 10.1515/multi-2020-0036
Li, Y. et al. (2025) ‘Academic pressure and suicide risk among adolescents: a dual mediation model of depression and school cohesion’, BMC Public Health. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-25805-3
Muller, S. M. (2017) ‘Academics as rent seekers: distorted incentives in higher education, with reference to the South African case’, International Journal of Educational Development. Parliamentary Budget Office, Parliament of South Africa, Southern African Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa: Elsevier Ltd, 52, pp. 58–67. doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.11.004
Nazarzadeh, M. et al. (2016) ‘In search of a world-class university in Iran’, Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. University of Tehran, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Tehran, Iran: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd., 8(4), pp. 522–539. doi: 10.1108/JARHE-03-2016-0021
Rhoads, R. A. and Hu, J. (2012) ‘The internationalization of faculty life in China’, Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 32, pp. 351–365. doi: 10.1080/02188791.2012.711293
Takagi, K. (2018) ‘Accommodating project-based professionals in higher education institutions in Japan’, Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. Office of Global Education and Collaboration, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan: Routledge, 40(3), pp. 272–286. doi: 10.1080/1360080X.2018.1462434
Tang, W. (2019) ‘To be a first-class department in a first-class university: perceived effects of a world-class initiative in two departments in a Taiwanese university’, Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management. Graduate School of Education, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan: Routledge, 41(3), pp. 275–291. doi: 10.1080/1360080X.2019.1589661
Tian, M. and Lu, G. (2017) ‘What price the building of world-class universities? Academic pressure faced by young lecturers at a research-centered University in China’, Teaching in Higher Education, 22, pp. 957–974. doi: 10.1080/13562517.2017.1319814
Xie, M. (2018) ‘Living with internationalization: the changing face of the academic life of Chinese social scientists’, Higher Education. Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong: Springer Netherlands, 75(3), pp. 381–397. doi: 10.1007/s10734-017-0145-x
Yang, X. and You, Y. (2018) ‘How the World-Class University Project Affects Scientific Productivity? Evidence from a Survey of Faculty Members in China’, Higher Education Policy, 31, pp. 583–605. doi: 10.1057/S41307-017-0073-5
Zhe, C., Lu, X. and Xiong, X. (2021) ‘Analysis of Influence Factors on the Quality of International Collaboration Research in the Field of Social Sciences and Humanities: The Case of Chinese World Class Universities (2015–2019)’, SAGE Open. Hubei University, Wuhan, China: SAGE Publications Inc., 11(4). doi: 10.1177/21582440211050381
Zhou, Y. and Wu, J. (2016) ‘The game plan: Four contradictions in the development of world class universities from the global south’, Egitim ve Bilim. University of Macau, Faculty of Education, Macao: Turkish Education Association, 41(184), pp. 75–89. doi: 10.15390/EB.2016.6152
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Laili Qomariyah, Dian Ekowati, Mohammad Fakhruddin Mudzakkir, Fiona Siska Dinda
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
