CONDITIONS FOR POSTGRADUATE researchers are not addressed in the new career framework for researchers, according to SIPTU.
The Researcher Career Development and Employment Framework (RCF) was published by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) earlier this month. It states “the PhD stage is not included in the grading and salary structure set out in this Framework as it is not typically a salaried employment”.
SIPTU’s education sector organiser Karl Byrne said “there’s still nothing in that framework or anywhere else around problems that arise with PhD students”.
Currently “they don’t have things like sick leave, holidays or any of those rights”, added Byrne. “Even if someone were to become pregnant, they don’t have maternity leave.”
The Salzburg Principle was an agreement reached by the European University Association (EUA) on what should underpin doctoral programmes back in 2005. It stated: “Doctoral candidates as early stage researchers should be recognized as professionals – with commensurate rights – who make a key contribution to the creation of new knowledge.”
SIPTU’s Byrne said that PhDs “should be given commensurate rights” and has told the Department and employers, including universities, that also.
We believe that full stop. We would back that completely. That discussion needs to happen in Ireland.
In our recent Academic Uncertainty investigation into the call for workers’ rights by postgraduate groups, Noteworthy found that unpaid teaching contributions were expected in most universities and ITs but PhD candidates can’t get a liveable wage. You can read our findings here.
Through freedom of information (FOI) requests, we asked every university and institute of technology (IT) for the number of PhD students teaching, supervising or conducting other activities such as tutorials with no monetary compensation or as part of a condition of their PhD funding.
The full breakdown of information we obtained via FOI, is available here:
Source: Noteworthy/Flourish
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The “IUA is working on implementing the RCF”, according to a spokesperson. “It will provide clarity and transparency on the career progression pathways for researchers for the first time.”
The spokesperson said that the RCF doesn’t deal with PhDs but specific proposals have been made by the IUA to Government for increased funding for PhD stipends.
Lorna Fitzpatrick, president of the Union of Students in Ireland, said there is inconsistency when it comes to PhD rights and stipends – a tax-free grant that PhD students can be awarded.
At the moment an awful lot are on minimum wage, nevermind the living wage. The immediate step is to increase the stipend but the stipend isn’t available to…
Read More: PhD rights have been ignored in new employment framework, says SIPTU