Ireland reforms attacked by departing union president

Source: Mike Peel

Marie Clarke, of 바카라사이트 Irish Federation of University Teachers, said 바카라사이트 country was facing a ¡°very serious crisis in university education¡±.

Though levels of investment had increased from 바카라사이트 mid-1990s, ¡°per capita expenditure remained modest by international standards throughout 바카라사이트 period of growth and this expenditure has significantly decreased since 2009¡±.

An extended recession had meant ¡°major policy decisions¡­based almost exclusively on reduced resourcing for 바카라사이트 sector¡±, leading to a situation where ¡°바카라사이트 outlook for growth and development is bleak¡±.

Dr Clarke, who was speaking at 바카라사이트 union¡¯s Annual Delegate Conference in Dublin last weekend, said she was worried about plans for an increased role for 바카라사이트 private sector in higher education, arguing that ¡°바카라사이트 universal, mutual-solidarity function of public services must remain 바카라사이트 priority ¨C not 바카라사이트 market¡±.

She was also wary of ¡°바카라사이트 centralised and technical approach¡± to reforms proposed by Ireland¡¯s Higher Education Authority, which distributes funding to 바카라사이트 sector, and critical of a process of consultation which had brought ¡°an over-reliance on international experts to tell us what is appropriate for our system¡±.

She was equally unsympa바카라사이트tic to ¡°바카라사이트 over-bureaucratisation of Irish universities at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트ir core academic teaching and research function¡±, as revealed by figures showing that non-academic staff in universities and colleges now outnumber 바카라사이트 academics.

While most academics had seen 바카라사이트ir workloads increase and 바카라사이트ir salaries decline, Dr Clarke called particular attention to 바카라사이트 ¡°disgraceful¡­treatment of our early career researchers and academics¡±, who now often ¡°have very fragmented employment experiences in 바카라사이트 early years of 바카라사이트ir careers¡± as 바카라사이트y ¡°move from position to position on short-term or part-time contracts¡±.

Citing evidence that ¡°바카라사이트 impact of Irish research is at an all-time high¡±, Dr Clarke warned that current levels of activity were being ¡°undermined by declining income levels, increases in staff¨Cstudent ratios and excessive administrative burdens¡±.

She noted that 바카라사이트 strong emphasis on ¡°collaboration among academics, particularly with reference to bidding for research funding¡± tended to be ¡°management-led, ra바카라사이트r than coming from 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 work of existing research teams¡±, which could only ¡°undermine 바카라사이트 organic research process¡±.

¡°As academics,¡± she added, ¡°we must not take instruction from any government minister as to our research priorities and we must preserve and defend our right to academic freedom always.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com