Creating a Supportive Working Environment for Academics in Higher Education: Country Report Ireland
Citation:
Clarke, M., Kenny, A. and Loxley, A., Creating a Supportive Working Environment for Academics in Higher Education: Country Report Ireland, Dublin, Ireland, Teachers Union of Ireland & Irish Federation of University Teachers, May, 2015, 138Download Item:
Clarke, Kenny and Loxley 2015.pdf (Published (publisher's copy)) 1.194Mb
Abstract:
In March 2010 the Higher Education Ministers of the European Higher
Education Area issued the Budapest-Venue Ministerial Declaration. This
statement, inter alia called for “a more supportive environment” for
academic staff across the Continent of Europe”. By this important
Declaration the Ministers made two statements, at least by logical
implication; that a healthy and thriving system of Higher Education requires
the provision of a supportive environment for the academic staff who are
charged with delivering it and; that the current environment is not
supportive enough.
Whilst welcoming this important recognition of the role and entitlements
of academics, ETUCE, the European Region of Education International1
felt that there was an obvious need to spell out in detail just precisely what
European academics themselves would identify as the elements necessary
to build the supportive environment which had just been given such strong
political support. ETUCE therefore conducted a detailed study across nine
European Counties (carefully selected for representational balance);
Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and
the UK. The Irish section of this massive research project was conducted
by the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) and the Teachers’
Union of Ireland (TUI).
This report contains the details of the Irish case study findings. The report
constitutes, we believe, essential reading for any person or body with an
interest in Higher Education in Ireland. The report maps out the current
issues, concerns and challenges of the sector, sign-posting routes for
enhancing supportive work environments for academics, including
researchers. If they are, in the main, predictable then all the more reason to
take them extremely seriously. We see familiar themes such as lack of
funding, deteriorating staff-student ratios, lack of confidence in the thrust of national policy for the sector, deteriorating working conditions, excessive
workloads, and pressure to raise funds externally. Other concerns that
emerged may be less familiar but are equally deeply felt and crucial for the
health of the sector. These issues require even greater attention from those
in positions of authority who find them novel or surprising. These include
the following: teaching-related duties not adequately funded, lack of
pedagogical support, lack of institutional support for research-led teaching,
teaching not valued or consideration of when it comes to career progression.
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Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/loxleya
Author: Loxley, Andrew
Publisher:
Teachers Union of Ireland & Irish Federation of University TeachersType of material:
ReportCollections:
Availability:
Full text availableSubject (TCD):
Making Ireland , Academic Work ConditionsISSN:
(ISBN 978-1-905254-93-4Licences: