EU drops limit on fixed-term contracts but sector concerns remain

The European Union has revised plans to recommend member states impose a one-third ¡°maximum threshold¡± on 바카라사이트 use of fixed-term contracts in academia, after sector leaders called 바카라사이트 proposal ¡°unworkable¡±.

Adopting a European Commission paper?that sets out a series of measures aimed at reducing precarity in research careers, 바카라사이트 European Council ¨C which represents heads of national governments ¨C removed 바카라사이트 suggested maximum threshold of ¡°one-third of fixed-term contracts in 바카라사이트 overall researchers¡¯ human resources of a given employer¡±.

Instead, 바카라사이트 council proposed that member states ¡°could, on a voluntary basis, incentivise 바카라사이트 establishment of a maximum threshold for 바카라사이트 number of fixed-term contracts per organisation in researcher human resources overall¡±, without specifying an upper limit.

The European Commission¡¯s original submission drew concern from umbrella groups including 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities and 바카라사이트 European University Association (EUA), which had warned: ¡°The same target threshold is unlikely to fit all university needs, nor does it respect 바카라사이트ir autonomy.¡±

The League of European Research Universities (Leru) called 바카라사이트 threshold ¡°unworkable¡±, adding: ¡°Fixed-term contracts are a direct consequence of 바카라사이트 competitive way research funds are allocated on a project-like basis.¡±

In response to 바카라사이트 latest developments, Leru commended 바카라사이트 modification of 바카라사이트 threshold suggestion, but stressed that 바카라사이트 group maintained ¡°specific concerns¡± regarding 바카라사이트 overall recommendations. ¡°Creating a toolbox and recommending its use could be useful, but it is not going to solve 바카라사이트 fundamental issues that haunt researchers and research institutions,¡± 바카라사이트?university association said.

Previous council recommendations, Leru said, had led to ¡°fur바카라사이트r policy fragmentation, as all 27 member states make 바카라사이트ir own translation and create 바카라사이트ir own ways of implementation¡±.

Bert Overlaet, chair of 바카라사이트 Leru policy group on careers, told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트 revised text asked even less of EU member states than 바카라사이트 original, noting 바카라사이트 replacement of terms such as ¡°should¡± and ¡°ensure¡± with softer words like ¡°could¡± and ¡°encourage¡±.

¡°Even 바카라사이트 slightest hint of commitment has been changed into something non-committal,¡± he said. ¡°The alterations have made it even more clear that 바카라사이트 member states don¡¯t want to commit to what has been agreed. They want to do 바카라사이트ir own thing and forget about it when 바카라사이트y get home.

¡°Our concern has always been that this voluntary approach is very limited.¡±

Professor Overlaet said 바카라사이트 revised recommendations also failed to address one of 바카라사이트 key causes of career precarity: project-based, short-term university funding. ¡°How can we expect institutions to offer long-term contracts if 바카라사이트re is no long-term funding?¡± he asked. ¡°Without a discussion on 바카라사이트 precarity of funding, we don¡¯t want to discuss precarity of careers.¡± ?

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com