Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is not an oversight. The Bill relates specifically to how the Higher Education Authority will interact with the institutions, but I am happy to examine that with the Deputy in the pre-legislative scrutiny.

Postgraduate programmes comprise a range of elements designed to further the training and development of students. PhD students, in addition to conducting research, participate in other activities, including teaching, to develop generic and transferable skills. A range of activities can be included under the teaching contribution, such as taking tutorial groups, demonstrating at practical classes, co-supervising undergraduate projects and student mentoring. Officials from my Department and the HEA, at my request, have been collecting information from all the higher education institutions on these practices, because the Deputy raised this with me previously, as well as information from a number of research funding agencies on any terms and conditions they specify when allocating grants to PhD students.

The Higher Education Authority and Quality Qualifications Ireland co-chair the national advisory forum for Ireland's framework for doctoral education. Membership of the forum also comprises representatives of the higher education institutions, research funding organisations, representatives of the university and the technological sector, student representatives and the Department. Examination of relevant issues raised in respect of PhD students arising from the information obtained on current practices will be undertaken by a sub-group of the advisory forum, so we are collating the information and asking the advisory forum to consider it. We are specifically asking it to look at what happens in Ireland in light of international best practice in this area - how we benchmark what we do with others. The outcome of this analysis will help guide and inform consideration of next steps and any policy decisions I may make on this issue. In parallel with this process, I am continuing to meet research funders, researchers, higher education institutions and other stakeholders to explore the potential for improvements.

My Department at my request, and indeed somewhat at the Deputy's request because she has raised this previously, is currently collating the information. We will send it to the national advisory group which will advise on any further actions that need to be taken and will benchmark it against international best practice.

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