Introduction: Understanding Change in the Academic Profession through the Perceptions of Academics and Institutional Leadership. Tatiana Fumasoli, Gaële Goastellec, and Barbara M. Kehm.- The Rocky Road to Tenure: Career Paths in Academia. Angelika Brechelmacher, Elke Park, Gülay Ates, and David F. J. Campbell.- The Changing Paths in Academic Careers in European Universities: Minor Steps and Major Milestones. Marek Kwiek and Dominik Antonowicz.- Global Models, Disciplinary and Local Patterns in Academic Recruitment Processes. Tatiana Fumasoli and Gaële Goastellec.- Changing Employment and Working Conditions. Timo Aarrevaara, Ian R Dobson, and Janne Wikström.- Academics' Perceptions of Their Professional Contexts. Marie Clarke, Jonathan Drennan, Abbey Hyde, and Yurgos Politis.- Academics and Community Engagement: Comparative Perspective from Three European Countries. Bojana Culum, Marko Turk, and Jasminka Ledic.- Implementation of Quality Assurance Systems in Academic Staff Perspective: an Overview. Luminita Moraru, Mirela Praisler, Simona Marin, and Corina Bentea.- Academics and New Higher Education Professionals: Tensions, Recipro-cal Influences and Forms of Professionalization. Barbara M. Kehm.- Academic Careers and Work in Europe: Trends, Challenges, Perspectives. Tatiana Fumasoli, Gaële Goastellec, and Barbara M. Kehm.