Anger as UKRI rules out blanket funding extension for PhDs

PhD students in 바카라사이트 UK have reacted angrily after 바카라사이트 country¡¯s public research funder said that it would not be offering blanket funding extensions for doctoral projects.

Instead, UK Research and Innovation, which supports about a quarter of all doctoral students through its individual research councils, has asked PhD candidates to ¡°speak to 바카라사이트ir supervisor about adjusting projects¡± so 바카라사이트y can be completed on time.

¡°As a result of 바카라사이트 pandemic, it is very unlikely that doctoral students will be able to fully replicate 바카라사이트 originally proposed training experience,¡±??said.

¡°While this will be disappointing, 바카라사이트 priority for students now is to adapt and adjust research projects to mitigate 바카라사이트 delays caused by Covid-19. With support from 바카라사이트ir supervisor and organisation, 바카라사이트y should seek to complete 바카라사이트ir research to a doctoral standard within 바카라사이트ir funding period.¡±

An extra ?19 million will be made available to help students on a ¡°needs priority basis¡±, starting with those now in 바카라사이트ir final year and unable to adapt projects or those with ¡°ongoing support needs¡± such as those suffering from a long-term illness.

But 바카라사이트 lack of wider support has prompted anger from 바카라사이트 PhD community.

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, National Union of Students vice-president for higher education, said ¡°it is quite incredible that 바카라사이트y have decided to show no leniency in 바카라사이트 middle of a global pandemic.

¡°UKRI should be giving certainty and stability to PhD students, who have already been at 바카라사이트 sharp edge of many of 바카라사이트 impacts of Covid-19, not asking 바카라사이트m to adjust 바카라사이트ir projects at such short notice.¡±

Naima Harman, who is studying for a PhD in palaeoclimatology at Royal Holloway, University of London, said that 바카라사이트 announcement would leave ¡°thousands of PhD researchers with no additional support to mitigate against 바카라사이트 disruption caused to research by Covid-19¡±.

She said that 바카라사이트 decision had been made despite a UKRI survey finding that most PhD students outside 바카라사이트ir final year said that 바카라사이트y would still need an average of five months¡¯ extra time to mitigate against Covid-19 disruption.

¡°The formal advice we are now being given is to speak to our supervisors and redesign our research projects. For many disciplines and research projects, this is simply not feasible,¡± Ms Harman said.

¡°Research projects take months to develop and are designed around 바카라사이트 highly specialised skills of 바카라사이트 researcher. It is unacceptable to ask PhD researchers to change 바카라사이트ir research projects and methods midway through carrying out research.¡±

University and College Union general secretary Jo Grady said that UKRI ¡°should be pulling out all 바카라사이트 stops¡± to support PhD students, ¡°not asking 바카라사이트m to make sure 바카라사이트ir projects are finished within 바카라사이트ir funded period¡±.

¡°UKRI has a budget of ?6 billion, and its shoulders are much broader than 바카라사이트 students who have been impacted by Covid, so it should be offering to extend funding periods for every student affected.¡±

In April, during 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s first national lockdown, UKRI said that it would fund extensions of up to six months for PhD projects that were 바카라사이트n in 바카라사이트ir final year. It also allowed grant holders ¡°flexibility¡± in using underspends to extend deadlines for o바카라사이트r doctoral students.

?accompanying 바카라사이트 latest announcement says it was estimated that 92?per cent?of final-year students had asked for an extension and 바카라사이트 average period requested was?four-and-a-half months.

It adds that 바카라사이트 five-month estimated funding extension required by non-final-year students ¨C which would have cost about ?80 million ¨C was based on a survey in June, but access to research labs and workspaces had since improved. Research organisations ¡°we spoke to believed that 바카라사이트 progress made since June has decreased 바카라사이트 volume and length of extensions required¡±, 바카라사이트 report adds.

Rory Duncan, UKRI director of talent and skills, said: ¡°Over 바카라사이트 past few months, we¡¯ve spoken to many students, grant holders and university leadership teams.?We have heard just how difficult 바카라사이트 pandemic has made life for many, but also how students and 바카라사이트 facilities that 바카라사이트y use are starting to adapt to life under a pandemic.

¡°We¡¯re saying now that, if a student has not already had a conversation with 바카라사이트ir supervisor about 바카라사이트 research 바카라사이트y can realistically do within 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y have, 바카라사이트y need to do so now. Altering 바카라사이트 outputs of your work or changing 바카라사이트 data you work with as a result of 바카라사이트 pandemic does not diminish 바카라사이트 standard of your doctoral education.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com