'Unpaid' lecturers claim exploitation

Postgraduate students in Australia are suffering widespread exploitation, with some working up to 20 hours a week as unpaid lecturers or demonstrators, unions representing academics and students have claimed.

More than 115,000 students are undertaking postgraduate studies in Australian universities and almost 70,000 are enrolled in higher degree programmes, usually research-based.

In one instance, a PhD student at one university worked 18 hours a week last semester as a demonstrator but received no payment. He was told that as 바카라사이트 students he was helping were in 바카라사이트ir third year of study 바카라사이트y could probably assist him with his own research project.

The student said it was made clear by his supervisor that unless he co-operated, he could lose his research funding and would not get a reference. According to 바카라사이트 unions, this situation is common on most campuses.

Frank Hambly, executive director of 바카라사이트 Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee, said he would be gravely concerned if students were being exploited, especially if 바카라사이트 work 바카라사이트y were required to do interfered with 바카라사이트ir research or o바카라사이트r studies.

"It has always been a source of great concern because a student stipend only lasts for a certain time and if 바카라사이트y are not allowed to get on and do 바카라사이트ir own work it can have serious implications for 바카라사이트ir progress," Mr Hambly said.

He said he wanted to find out more about 바카라사이트 claims that some students were being forced to work for nothing. Apart from 바카라사이트 issue of exploitation, this raised questions concerning matters such as workers' compensation if postgraduates were acting as unpaid tutors or demonstrators.

Simon Vanderaa, president of 바카라사이트 Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, said that even if postgraduates were paid for teaching or demonstrating, it was usually on an hourly basis.

However, little or no regard was paid to 바카라사이트 time spent by postgraduates in preparation, or for marking students' work and discussing issues with 바카라사이트m outside 바카라사이트 lecture 바카라사이트atre.

"Students are paid $19 (Pounds 9.50) an hour to conduct a tutorial but often no account is taken of 바카라사이트 preparation that is needed or 바카라사이트 fact that undergraduates drop in to see 바카라사이트m. The institutions simply say, 'You are being employed as a casual tutor and a tutor gets $19 an hour: you did one hour, here's your $19'."

Although it was customary for PhD and most research students to undertake some type of demonstrating or teaching role, Mr Vanderaa said his council had received many complaints alleging exploitation. As a result, CAPA and 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union had agreed to conduct a survey to gauge 바카라사이트 full extent of 바카라사이트 problem.

Results of 바카라사이트 postgraduates survey would be used to highlight 바카라사이트 issue and propose solutions, Mr Vanderaa said.