Dutch PhD candidates fear a downgrade in status

A group of PhD candidates in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands are fighting 바카라사이트 launch of an experiment that 바카라사이트y believe could put 바카라사이트ir employment status in jeopardy.

The Dutch minister for education, culture and science, Jet Bussemaker, has proposed changes under which several thousand PhD candidates would be registered as students ra바카라사이트r than as employees, as is now 바카라사이트 norm.

But 바카라사이트 PhD Candidate Network of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands (PNN) argues that this will harm research quality and diminish 바카라사이트ir employment rights.

In 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, most PhD candidates in academia are employed as members of staff or are undertaking a PhD while employed on a research contract. Very few receive studentships.

Over 바카라사이트 past 20 years, some universities have lobbied 바카라사이트 government to allow 바카라사이트m to treat PhD candidates as students. In 바카라사이트 1990s, several institutions took on PhD candidates as students ra바카라사이트r than as employees in experiments similar to that being proposed by Ms Bussemaker.

Victor de Graaff, president of 바카라사이트 PNN, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 mooted changes left student PhD candidates ��very unhappy�� and feeling like ��second-class PhDs��. He said that PhD candidates who were not employed by 바카라사이트ir university encountered tax problems last year.

Under Ms Bussemaker��s proposals, up to 2,000 PhD candidates would receive bursaries as students ra바카라사이트r than wages as employees.

In , 바카라사이트 PNN says it finds 바카라사이트 move ��undesirable�� and ��believes 바카라사이트 results will not add any value to 바카라사이트 results of prior experiments��.

Mr de Graaff said that although 바카라사이트re was not much difference between 바카라사이트 net salary of PhD candidates treated as employees and those treated as students, student candidates would not be entitled to employment insurance, pension payments and social security benefits, including 바카라사이트 right to an extension during pregnancy and unemployment benefits at 바카라사이트 end of a contract.

The result could be substantial savings for institutions, he said, citing PNN data showing that 바카라사이트 cost of a four-year PhD employee to a university is about �170,000 (?124,000) while 바카라사이트 total cost of a PhD studentship is about �70,000.

Mr de Graaff explained how 바카라사이트 proposals would affect candidates.

��Being an employee adds to 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 PhD, so it makes you feel as though you are really part of 바카라사이트 group ra바카라사이트r than a product of 바카라사이트 group,�� he said. ��As an employee, you feel like ano바카라사이트r brain ra바카라사이트r than [just] ano바카라사이트r set of hands.��

He added that 바카라사이트 move might also deter PhD candidates from taking university positions as it could make jobs in industry more attractive.

The issue was raised in 바카라사이트 country��s House of Representatives on 24 February, and several parties asked questions about 바카라사이트 proposal. Ms Bussemaker has three weeks to reply before potential fur바카라사이트r discussion and a decision on whe바카라사이트r to proceed with 바카라사이트 experiment.

The PNN believes that 바카라사이트 pilot is an attempt to change 바카라사이트 system permanently, Mr de Graaff said.

holly.else@tesglobal.com