Madam, – Malcolm Byrne of the Higher Education Authority (April 4th) conveniently glosses over the harsh realities of the revised Employment Control Framework for externally funded research staff.
Instead he manages the impressive feat of presenting the new framework as a positive advance for contract research staff – a rose-tinted portrayal which would not be recognised by anyone working in a third-level institution.
He neglects to mention that the revised Employment Control Framework imposes explicit restrictions on the number of externally-funded research staff for the first time: the original framework was limited to core staff in third-level institutions.
The new framework requires that “. . . any proposals to appoint such new contract research staff or to renew such existing contracts must be put in advance to the HEA”. Universities may not require approval to engage in research, but they now have to secure the prior approval of the HEA for the appointment or retention of contract research staff.
Moreover, Mr Byrne is too modest in disclaiming influence by the HEA over “what research should take place”. In fact the appointment of new contract research staff is specifically linked to overall official objectives in promoting the Smart Economy agenda.
The framework allows the appointment of new contract research staff “where this is required to undertake additional discretionary activities in pursuance of the SSTI/Smart Economy agenda in accordance with a plan agreed with . . . the HEA”.
Perhaps the HEA might consider further evidence-based research on its own policies. – Yours, etc,