Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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45. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the practice of postgraduate students being expected to do unpaid teaching hours. [41659/20]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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In October, the Minister admitted to me that it is common practice for universities to require PhD researchers to do five hours of teaching per week without payment. Similar to the situation with student nurses, the Minister tried to claim this was not work but merely an upskilling programme. These are workers working in universities through lockdown, running classes and laboratories, often by themselves, while students are paying the highest fees in the EU to be there. How can the Minister and the Government justify expecting them to continue to work for free?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. As he will know, postgraduate programmes are comprised of a range of elements designed to further the training and development of students. In particular, PhD students, in addition to conducting research, participate in other activities to develop generic and transferable skills. These activities are, and always have been, regarded as an integral part of their training and typically include teaching. Development of these skills is important in equipping postgraduate students for their future careers, including for academic positions. The teaching contribution assists in the acquisition of transferable skills, as described in the published national framework for doctoral education and the PhD graduate skills statement provided by the Irish Universities Association.

PhD students may contribute to teaching, often at a level of up to five hours per week, in the course of their studies. Such duties are commonly part of their terms and constitute an important element of their skills development programme. A range of activities can be included under their teaching contribution, such as taking tutorial groups, demonstrating at practical classes, co-supervising undergraduate projects and student mentoring. Hours may be included that are spent in class preparation, advising on or monitoring student projects and correcting projects, notebooks or essays. This will vary according to the particular school and discipline. Where postgraduate students are in receipt of funding awards, participation in such activities can be considered a valuable activity within the career of the award holder. Although contributing to teaching is an integral part of the training of a research master's or PhD student, the core component of research programmes across all universities is the advancement of knowledge through original research, which must remain the primary focus of the activity of research students.

Where individual issues arise, these fall to individual institutions to address, consistent with the terms of the framework and skills statement. However, given the issue raised by the Deputy and the wide range of potential situations reflecting the diversity of institutions, disciplines, course fees and, in some cases, the relationship with research funding awards and stipends, I intend to bring together a group to engage with the Higher Education Authority, the Union of Students in Ireland, USI, research funders and all other relevant stakeholders to seek advice on this matter and consider any issues arising. There needs to be a common rule set relating to this issue. I accept there is a body of work to do. I am happy to do that work.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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In the Minister's reply, there was much reference to transferable skills. It seems to me that he and the Department are at pains to avoid referring to work as work. Instead, it is about developing transferable skills. Although there are differences, there are also parallels with the situation for student nurses. In this case, the universities are reliant on free labour from PhD researchers. Without this work, universities would not be able to continue to function. The people in question are PhD researchers who are obliged to teach classes without payment. Does the Minister accept that is work? Does he accept it is essential work in terms of keeping colleges open and training a new generation, yet the PhD researchers are expected to do it for free? Another problem is that we are not told how much unpaid work is being done. NUI Galway has refused freedom of information requests on the basis that it does not even know how many unpaid hours of teaching are taking place.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Just in case the Deputy missed some of my reply, let me be clear. I wish to acknowledge the points he has raised on this issue. I acknowledge the work of Noteworthy on this issue. I have read the article it published on the issue, possibly since I last discussed the matter with the Deputy, and I am concerned about the inconsistency of approach. For example, I am concerned that postgraduate students in receipt of a stipend from Science Foundation Ireland receive approximately €8,500, while those in receipt of a stipend from the Irish Research Council get approximately €6,000. There are issues in that regard. I am concerned about the inconsistency of approach, as I stated. There needs to be some sort of common rule set. The Deputy and I may not agree on this issue, but the national framework for doctoral education is a very clear published document relating to the importance of some of this work as part of postgraduate education and training. However, I do wish to see a much more consistent approach. I wish to hear the voice of students and researchers as well as hearing from higher education institutions and research funders. I intend to bring that group together early in the new year and I am more than happy to report back to the House and engage further on the matter.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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I ask that the Minister include a representative of the Postgraduate Workers Alliance on that group. It is a specific organisation made up of postgraduate researchers across the country and set up precisely to discuss this issue. Its presence at those meetings would be important. For me, there is something quite simple here, which is that where people are engaged in productive labour, they should be paid for that work.

There is a more general issue beyond PhD researchers deserving a living wage for all their teaching hours. It is also time to recognise their research work as work. In Sweden and certain other countries, PhD researchers are recognised as workers and paid a wage for their work, but here they are dealt with as students who must go begging and applying for grant aid to support their research. The result is that many who would like to do a PhD simply cannot afford to do so unless they have wealthy parents. Does the Minister agree that research should also be recognised as work and that the researchers should be paid a living wage for it?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am very happy to hear from the Postgraduate Workers Alliance, receive a submission from it and engage with it. I would welcome its views on this issue. Frankly, I need to have as much information as possible and we need to take a co-ordinated approach on the matter. We now have a new Department dedicated to higher education. It is appropriate that we apply a policy focus to some of these issues. It is also important to state that there are various views on this issue. I have met researchers, universities and student groups. Many researchers see the teaching hours of up to five hours per week as part of their course and an integral part of their training and mentorship. As I stated, I am concerned about some of the examples of which I have heard and read in the media in recent times. I wish to see a researcher career structure put in place with clear progression opportunities. I also point out that there are opportunities under the Haddington Road agreement in terms of an expert group on fixed-term and part-time employment in lecturing for the broader issue relating to precarious employment, to which I am sure we will return.