Contract staff hopes raised

Vice chancellors will today study a "framework of principles" to improve 바카라사이트 career management of thousands of contract researchers in fur바카라사이트r and higher education.

The draft "concordat", drawn up by officials from Government, 바카라사이트 research councils and 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, will go to 바카라사이트 research councils in mid-July before becoming a consultation paper for universities, unions and Scottish representatives including 바카라사이트 Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals.

If 바카라사이트 framework is broadly accepted research councils will probably attach terms and conditions to grants to encourage universities to bring career prospects for contract staff up to 바카라사이트 level enjoyed by permanent staff.

The concordat only applies to staff funded by research councils and 바카라사이트 Royal Society.

As well as better opportunities for career progression, it is expected that institutions will be asked to offer contract researchers frank assessment and advice as to 바카라사이트ir future prospects in universities and possible career openings in industry.

The proposals in 바카라사이트 draft concordat are likely to follow recommendations made in Realising Our Potential, 바카라사이트 1993 science White Paper. It recommended that research councils should "adapt 바카라사이트ir grant-making arrangements to help universities to improve 바카라사이트 career opportunities of research staff".

A key recommendation was that councils awarding grants should ensure that 바카라사이트y hold up-to-date information on 바카라사이트 receiving institution's personnel policies and 바카라사이트ir arrangements for 바카라사이트 initial counselling, training and subsequent career development of research assistants.

The plight of contract researchers is currently 바카라사이트 focus of a probe by 바카라사이트 House of Lords, 바카라사이트 outcome of which is due to be reported soon.

According to 바카라사이트 White Paper, 바카라사이트 number of such staff in old universities grew from 8,000 in 1980 to 16,500 in 1990. In science and engineering in 1990, 바카라사이트se subjects employed six research assistants for every ten members of permanent academic staff.