Concern is growing about exploitative employment practices at Irish third-level colleges, and the impact on learning. Here, three academics share their stories
Some lecturers say that they are being denied job security and have for years been relying on a few hours of teaching here and there. Many, if not most, have PhDs. Ten days ago, third-level teachers protested at Maynooth University. The event was organised by Third Level Workplace Watch, a campaign group of third-level teaching staff.
They’re not the only ones concerned about the direction of our universities. Last month, Trinity College Dublin’s University Times* revealed that Prof Peter Coxon, head of the department of geography and a college board member, had emailed third-year geography students urging them to take action against the faculty of engineering, maths and science for “the incredible erosion of our ability to teach whole sections of a geography degree without the discipline being given any indication of future staffing. Only core staff pay is now available for departmental budgets. This will have serious implications for laboratory, field and teaching exercise.”
Through its Postcards from the Periphery campaign, Third Level Workplace Watch is highlighting serious concerns about Irish universities and what they say is the increasingly precarious nature of academic work.
