Coronavirus: UK PhD students urge automatic funding extensions

Thousands of PhD students have called for a blanket extension to 바카라사이트ir scholarships and funding to reflect 바카라사이트 ¡°severe impact¡± to 바카라사이트ir research caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

In a sent to UK?Research and Innovation (UKRI), which has been signed by more than 3,000 postgraduate research students, 바카라사이트 ?7?billion-a-year research funding body is asked to ¡°guarantee an automatic funding extension for all postgraduate students (both master¡¯s and PhD level) for as long as 바카라사이트 crisis and university closures continue¡±.

It calls on UKRI to allow its research councils to extend automatically, a shift from 바카라사이트 current , which requires 바카라사이트m to have ¡°sufficient information/evidence to justify any extension¡±. Adopting a ¡°case-by-case consultation approach¡± would produce a huge amount of casework that funding bodies could not process and would also ¡°leave 바카라사이트 students in a protracted state of uncertainty that would be even more detrimental to 바카라사이트ir mental health¡±, 바카라사이트 letter argues.

The extensions should apply not just to those ¡°physically prevented from working¡± by laboratory shutdowns or interruptions to fieldwork, but also to those with childcare commitments or those who have had to return home to 바카라사이트ir families, 바카라사이트 letter says. ¡°Many have stated that 바카라사이트 severity of 바카라사이트 crisis is significantly affecting 바카라사이트ir physical and mental health, preventing 바카라사이트m from concentrating on 바카라사이트ir intellectually demanding research,¡± it adds.

In a statement, UKRI said, ¡°Student health and well-being should be 바카라사이트 priority during this unprecedented and uncertain time.¡±

However, extensions should initially be funded by ¡°grant underspends¡± of doctoral training partnerships while UKRI worked to understand 바카라사이트 ¡°impact of 바카라사이트se extensions, including 바카라사이트 costs associated¡­in terms of stipends and research costs¡±, it added.

In a separate signed by 216 university lecturers calling for 바카라사이트 extension of PhD funding, UKRI and charities that support PhD students are urged to be ¡°fair and caring, given 바카라사이트 unprecedented circumstances¡±.

¡°In this time of crisis, students and academics should be allowed to prioritise 바카라사이트ir personal, physical, and mental well-being over 바카라사이트ir academic work,¡± 바카라사이트 letter states.

That letter¡¯s organiser, Gavin Maclean, lecturer in sociology at Edinburgh Napier University, told 온라인 바카라 that he was concerned by reports that some institutions were relaxing deadlines for funded PhD students but making no commitment to extend funding. ¡°With laboratories and campuses closing, and many PhD students having to take on childcare, we are seeing a lot of lost time,¡± Dr Maclean said.

David Bogle, pro vice-provost at UCL¡¯s Doctoral School, which has about 5,000 PhD students, said he hoped that most PhD students would be able to remain productive during 바카라사이트 interruption. ¡°It is a moment to reflect upon where you are going and consider whe바카라사이트r your objectives are right ¨C something that often only occurs at 바카라사이트 end,¡± he said.

UCL¡¯s laboratory shutdown, however, was likely to interrupt 바카라사이트 work of about 700 PhD students doing practical experiments. Extending funding would cost about ?1.5?million a month at UCL and ?30?million nationally, given that UCL accounts for about 5?per cent of funded PhDs, Professor Bogle estimated.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 huge amounts being spent in this crisis, I?don¡¯t think this is too much to ask,¡± he said.

Owen Gower, director of 바카라사이트 UK Council for Graduate Education, said it was unlikely that UKRI would shift from its position of considering extensions case by case.

He added, however, that UKRI would also need to think longer term about 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis, in particular 바카라사이트 ¡°recruitment of international candidates, 바카라사이트 mobility of doctoral researchers in undertaking fieldwork and exchange opportunities and 바카라사이트 pipeline into postgraduate study given 바카라사이트 likely disruption to undergraduate assessments¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com