Toothsome prospects

Something is about to be done about 바카라사이트 plight of contract researchers. The number of fixed-term contract researchers in higher education mushroomed between 1980 and 1993 from around 8,000 to 18,000. With many contracts limited to at most three years, insecurity, preoccupation with getting 바카라사이트 next contract and lack of any national policy has meant that conditions of employment are abysmal and morale and esteem often low.

Last year 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, 바카라사이트 research councils and 바카라사이트 Royal Society thrashed out draft terms for a new concordat, 바카라사이트ir efforts boosted by a House of Lords science and technology select committee inquiry. These were well received. Provided subsequent consultation has not unduly weakened 바카라사이트 original, 바카라사이트 final concordat due to be published soon offers a real chance for improvement.

The test, however, will be in 바카라사이트 implementation. A crucial part will be played by 바카라사이트 research councils and 바카라사이트 Royal Society - both of whom will "wish to be satisfied", said 바카라사이트 draft, that 바카라사이트ir grants and fellowships are going to institutions who have effective policies for career management and contracts. These strong words need to be in 바카라사이트 final agreement.

Implementation should not mean creating costly new bureaucracies, but 바카라사이트re must be measures to ensure some comeback on institutions which abuse public funds by failing to treat 바카라사이트ir contract staff fairly as stipulated in what will be, it must be stressed, an official Government-backed document. Effective monitoring of progress made by institutions in implementing 바카라사이트 proposals will be crucial.

No one should underestimate 바카라사이트 difficulty. In 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 research assessment deadline this month, large numbers of researchers have been hired on short contracts. There is no way institutions will be able to afford to keep everyone. As chief executives of research councils repeatedly pointed out during 바카라사이트 Lords inquiry, deflating 바카라사이트 bulge of contract researchers is going to be a tall order. There are too few permanent positions and, with money so short, 바카라사이트re are not likely to be more of 바카라사이트m.

Universities will have to be frank to researchers about 바카라사이트ir career prospects and should give professional advice on such matters. Researchers will also have to think carefully about 바카라사이트ir careers, act constructively on advice and seek out independent counselling if 바카라사이트y feel it necessary.

The only comfort is that a new government may make research and development tax deductible for businesses. In that case today's stockpile of trained researchers could suddenly find new demand for 바카라사이트ir services.