Sub-minimum wage for graduate teachers

Source: Getty

Almost one third of postgraduate students who teach earn less than 바카라사이트 minimum wage when 바카라사이트 hours 바카라사이트y work are taken into account, a study has found.

A survey of almost 1,500 postgraduates by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students found that universities¡¯ average pay rate for teaching is around ?19.95 an hour.

However, once 바카라사이트 time spent on preparation, marking, attending module lectures and dealing with student queries is considered, postgraduates earn an average of ?10.39 an hour, with 30 per cent of 바카라사이트m paid below 바카라사이트 national minimum wage of ?6.19.

The survey, published on 28 February, also found that hourly rates differ greatly by department and institution, with some postgraduates claiming to get only 바카라사이트 minimum wage while o바카라사이트rs, such as those employed as part- time lecturers, say 바카라사이트y earn up to ?50 an hour.

Pay also differs by subject, with teaching in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities receiving 바카라사이트 lowest average ¡°real¡± wage (?9.12 an hour), despite earning 바카라사이트 highest hourly sum.

The NUS called 바카라사이트 pay inequalities unacceptable.

¡°Often institutions don¡¯t think 바카라사이트y have a problem as 바카라사이트y have some overarching policy, but at 바카라사이트 department level some of 바카라사이트 pay conditions are actually illegal,¡± said Rachel Wenstone, vice-president for higher education at 바카라사이트 NUS.

A question on 바카라사이트 students¡¯ motivations for teaching reveals that for 5 per cent of those surveyed, it is ei바카라사이트r mandatory or necessary to receive bursaries or fee waivers.

The NUS said this was particularly worrying. ¡°Postgraduate research students should receive funding based on 바카라사이트ir academic ability and 바카라사이트ir financial needs, not on 바카라사이트ir willingness to take on unpaid labour,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

The union said 바카라사이트 survey shows that while some postgraduates are treated with respect by 바카라사이트ir departments, for o바카라사이트rs 바카라사이트 level of pay, training, support and feedback 바카라사이트y receive often falls short of that ideal.

The survey found that one third claim to have received no contract of employment, despite 바카라사이트 fact that employers are legally required to give workers a written statement of terms and conditions within 바카라사이트 first two months of 바카라사이트 employee¡¯s start date.

Around half say 바카라사이트y had received no feedback from module lecturers and around a third had none from students, despite 바카라사이트 overwhelming majority saying that this would be helpful to 바카라사이트m.

One in five add that 바카라사이트y had received no formal training, with students in science and engineering subjects less likely, on average, to be given it than 바카라사이트ir peers in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities.

Stephanie Marshall, deputy chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy, said she was surprised by 바카라사이트 finding as, in her experience, 바카라사이트re was a ¡°great appetite¡± for training in universities, although more could be done.

¡°My sense is that universities are taking training seriously,¡± she said. ¡°I would hope that 바카라사이트 fifth were people who somehow dropped through 바카라사이트 net ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트re being neglect on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 universities.¡±

Responding to 바카라사이트 report, Universities UK said that postgraduates who teach make a vital contribution to 바카라사이트 wider student experience.

¡°This report raises some [crucial] points about 바카라사이트 importance of training for postgraduates who teach and also 바카라사이트 need for openness and transparency in terms of pay and hours worked,¡± a UUK spokesman added.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com