Ninth Level Ireland

“… When it comes to the first part of a PhD journey, it is vital that the process is demystified and that it is treated as a management of equals. Universities offering doctoral places should undertake due diligence in the interview and recruitment of qualified candidates. They should also make provisions to ensure that potential PhD candidates are matched with appropriate supervision teams with experience in the subject area or methodological interests of candidates …” (more)

[Nnamdi O Madichie, University World News, 6 February]

“The University of Limerick says more than 100 international students who have arrived in Limerick in recent days ahead of the Spring semester are complying with all public health guidelines and regulations. The PhD students, who travelled from Algeria on a specially chartered flight, quarantined for 14 days and tested negative for Covid-19 before their departure …” (more)

[David Hurley, Limerick Leader, 20 January]

“One hundred-and-forty students will jet into Limerick from Africa tomorrow, to study at the University of Limerick, and will have to isolate on UL’s campus for 14 days as part of international covid-19 travel protocols. The Algerian government is funding the PhD students to study at UL under a deal estimated to be worth over €10 million to the university …” (more)

[David Raleigh, BreakingNews.ie, 18 January]

“Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that PhD candidates in third level institutions who are also teaching classes as part of their stipends are paid adequately for their work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 13 January]

“Conditions for postgradaute researchers are not addressed in the new career framework for researchers, according to SIPTU. The Researcher Career Development and Employment Framework (RCF) was published by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) earlier this month. It states ‘the PhD stage is not included in the grading and salary structure set out in this Framework as it is not typically a salaried employment’ …” (more)

[Maria Dealney, Noteworthy, 29 December]

“PhD students have consistently expressed frustration with College’s lack of communication with them, and it seems that the pandemic has not improved the situation. The University Times this week reported that PhD students had been left in the dark about plans to reopen College this September. Once again, it seems, PhDs have firm grounds for frustration – perhaps even more than any other year …” (more)

[University Times, 16 August]

“PhD students have said that they were frozen out of reopening plans by the College and feel left in the dark about what teaching and tutorials are going to look like for the coming year. One of the founders of Trinity’s PhD Workers Rights Group, Thomas Dineen, told The University Times that some schools in Trinity did not involve PhD students in their ‘return to work’ committees, set up to plan the reopening of College …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 13 August]

“A number of PhD researchers have said that they no longer feel safe studying in the library as most students working there are not wearing face coverings. It is currently not mandatory to wear face coverings in the library, but students are expected to social distance while studying there …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 9 August]

“They say that there’s a first time for everything and this morning I conducted my first ever viva voce examination as an External Examiner via Zoom. Given the Covid-19 restrictions it was inevitable that I’d have to do this at some point! As it turned out candidate in question happened to be at University College London …” (more)

[In the Dark, 13 July]

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted researchers, academics and students worldwide. No one in academia is spared the direct or indirect consequences of this novel coronavirus. For higher degree research (HDR) students (masters and PhD students), the impact of COVID-19 on their research and how they keep themselves sane and academically productive during these unprecedented times is profound …” (more)

[Kimkong Heng and Daeul Jeong, University World News, 20 June]

“Trinity’s PhD workers’ rights group has denounced a new draft programme for government for its failure to promise a new department for higher education, arguing it represents a ‘failure to show a strong commitment to our youth’ …” (more)

[Emer Moreau, University Times, 16 June]

“NUI Galway’s Postgraduate Workers Alliance launched a petition this week calling for ‘a fair working environment and Covid-19 response’ for PhD and post-doctoral researchers at the university …” (more)

[Kernan Andrews, Galway Advertiser, 21 May]

“PhD students defending their dissertations must do so remotely right now. Could videoconference defenses become the new normal? ‘Can you move the computer closer?’ asks a disembodied voice. ‘Because we see a lot of roof.’ ‘Ah, I think it looks much better’, another invisible person says a few minutes later …” (more)

[Colleen Flaherty, Inside Higher Ed, 27 March]

“PhD students have expressed their anger during a townhall meeting this evening at a decision approved by College’s finance committee to cut the pay of casual staff who work as lab demonstrators. The decision to cut pay was temporarily reversed on Tuesday at a meeting of the finance committee, and a final decision has been deferred to a future meeting …” (more)

[Finn Purdy, Shannon Connolly and Madalyn Williams, Trinity News, 5 February]

“A PhD mathematical student has won his action against NUI Galway over a delay in scheduling his final ‘viva’ exam, which delayed his graduation and damaged his employment prospects. Isaac Burke (27), of Castlebar Co Mayo, who represented himself in the proceedings, was awarded damages of €13,035 by Judge Raymond Groarke at Galway Circuit Civil Court for breach of contract …” (more)

[Eavan Murray, Independent, 16 January]

“Some aspects of academia show great international variation. There is one on which I haven’t found any good data, and hence thought I’ll ask the crowd here so that we can gather our own data, even if it will be not very scientifically collected. The question is this: if you are a university teacher/professor and your department awards PhD-degrees, do you get any official time allocated (or time-compensation) for PhD supervision? …” (more)

[Ingrid Robeyns, Crooked Timber, 29 December]

“Contrary to popular belief, teaching and lecturing at university by no means automatically guarantees secure employment, ample time to pursue research, and a cosy office in which to do it. Over the past decade or so, especially since the recession in 2008/09, Irish universities, and indeed universities throughout the world, have begun to rely more and more on hourly paid or temporary staff to cover tutorials, seminars, lectures, and lab sessions …” (more)

[Trinity News, 3 December]

“SIPTU and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have launched a Charter of Rights and Conditions for Postgraduates which calls for a living wage, better access to supports and training as well as other improvements for those who carry out teaching and other work in third level institutions across the country …” (more)

[SIPTU, 30 October]

“If anyone was in any doubt about just how bad conditions are for PhD students working and studying in Trinity, they’d have had them dispelled – firmly – last week. At the first meeting of Trinity’s new PhD campaign group – set up to fight for the rights of PhD students – those in attendance spilled a litany of beans …” (more)

[University Times, 28 October]

“A Trinity PhD workers rights group is being established to advocate for the recognition and protection of working rights of PhD students in Trinity and other Irish universities. Among the group’s central aims are the recognition of PhD students as workers, with contracts and full employee and collective bargaining rights; an end to unpaid teaching; and PhD stipends based on the living wage …” (more)

[Aisling Grace, Trinity News, 18 October]