Treat postgraduate researchers as staff, union tells universities

A new manifesto setting out why postgraduate researchers studying for a doctorate should be given the same rights as university staff in the UK has been published by the country’s main academic union.

Among the proposals put forward in the University and College Union’s “postgraduate researchers as staff” manifesto are for PGRs to be given terms and conditions “comparable” with employees and an end to any requirement to deliver unpaid teaching as part of a scholarship, bursary or stipend.

Those studying for a doctorate in the UK often work as part of larger teams carrying out major research projects but, unlike in some other countries, are classified as students.

Other proposals put forward in the manifesto are for PGRs to be given “adequate facilities to complete their research” and for those who teach to have an employment contract that is not “zero hours”.

The manifesto also calls for funded extensions for “any PGR who has been prevented from working as a direct or indirect result on the pandemic”, an issue that has caused major controversy over the past year.

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said that although PGRs “produce high-level research and also deliver excellent teaching”, universities were still treating them as students and “exploiting them”. 

“As a result, they miss out on some of the most basic benefits, such as access to sick leave and parental leave. In 2021, this is totally unacceptable, as is the practice of making some PGRs even pay for the privilege of doing research at a university,” she said.

Alex Kirby-Reynolds, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Sheffield who has campaigned on the issue, said: “We want to be paid fairly for the work we do, have access to the same rights and benefits as staff, and be adequately supported to do our research.

“We aren't asking for much and, following the pandemic, it’s time that universities stepped up.”

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association, said: "HE institutions always want to ensure staff, whatever contract they are on, feel that they are appropriately rewarded and supported to deliver to students.

"Variable contracts are used to retain the highly-valued input of skilled professionals contributing specialist teaching on specific courses. Most staff on these contracts receive the excellent benefits of working in HE and value the experience and the flexibility that these arrangements offer."

simon.baker@timeshighereducation.com