Advancing Humanities and Social Sciences Research in Ireland

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graduates are at a disadvantage when compared to those in receipt of IRCSET awards. 45 The group supports previous proposals by IRCHSS and the IUA for a commonality of postgraduate studentship funding across national funding agencies, including agreement on a national standard for studentships. 46 Higher-education institutions should also consider the establishment of a part-time fees structure, in recognition of these constraints. The negative impact of socio-economic factors in determining undergraduate participation in third-level education is well-documented. Issues of equity of access and participation may also arise in relation to participation in doctoral studies. The HEA (2006d) has expressed its intention to undertake further analysis of the equity aspects of third-level access and it is hoped that this can be broadened to include an analysis of access to postgraduate degrees. It is vital that national science policy considers the issue of research careers clearly: the vision to increase the number of PhD graduates must be matched with a vision for research careers if the national R&D strategy is to be successful. Organisations such as the HEA and the research councils should play a central role in bringing together key stakeholders to set out a career structure for researchers with reference to remuneration, pension and other entitlements, as well as contract conditions. 47 Funding agencies should also explore the provision of ‘bridging funding’ to support the transition from PhD training to postdoctoral fellow employment within highereducation institutions. Enhanced doctoral training would generate a cadre of multi-skilled, adaptable hum - an ities and social-science researchers ideally equipped to participate in knowledge and technology transfer. Higher- education institutions must promote the contribution of the HSS to enterprise and innovation. The HSS community itself should draw on learning from the experiences of the natural and life sciences in developing industry-academia partnerships in research, teaching and learning. 45 The current IRCSET living stipend has increased twice within 12 months: from 12,700 in 2005 to 14,351 in January 2006, and to 16,002 in October 2006. This increase of 26 per cent would not have been introduced unless warranted, and the same logic should, it is suggested, apply to HSS postgraduates, whose living and research-related expenses are broadly comparable. 46 The IRCHSS is currently in discussion with the HEA to raise the living stipend for IRCHSS postgraduate awards to 16,000 and increase the eligibility threshold for higher-education grants (HEG) to the same amount. If granted, this would increase the living stipend to 16,000 for all postgraduates in receipt of scholarships and to 19,300 for those award holders in receipt of additional HEG. 2002/2003 data show 24,180 students in receipt of HEGs and 9,987 receiving ‘top-up’ grants (out of a total of 77,287 full-time HE enrolments inclusive of undergraduates and postgraduates) (HEA 2004b, 27; 2006b, 6). 47 See also HEA and Forfás (2003). 72
Participation in European and international networks and research is vital to raise the profile of the Irish HSS community and attract world-class researchers to Ireland. There are very limited domestic funding opportunities for HSS human resource mobility activities and this should be addressed through enhanced investment in international travel schemes and exchanges such as those offered by the RIA. In conclusion, the group’s work was hampered frequently by the absence of a coherent database or centralised information source on the HSS with, for example, little collated information available on participation in HSS postgraduate and postdoctoral studies and research. Responsibility for data collection in these areas is assigned across the individual higher-education institutions and various state agencies including the HEA and Forfás. The group supports the development of a coherent data strategy to assist in the preparation of a strategic training and career framework for HSS postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers. Such a strategy requires the establishment of a centralised database containing information on the numbers enrolled in PhD studies, awards granted, postdoctoral positions available/occupied, and a register of PhD research. This database should be integrated into the general register of HSS research previously suggested in section 5.6. 73
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A D V A N C I N G H U M A N I T I E
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7 HSS RESEARCH AND THE EUROPEAN UNI
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Table 11 HERD expenditure on humani
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Glossary AAI CONUL COST CSC DES DET
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Foreword The Royal Irish Academy (R
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Preface This report is the result o
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1 Executive summary INTRODUCTION In
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• Enhanced investment in national
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Increased investment in HSS researc
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• Establish a national research r
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2 Introduction Education and resear
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• Facilitate cultural exchange in
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A LL- ISLAND RESEARCH COLLABORATION
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• Identify competing and compleme
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educational, entrepreneurial and ma
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4 Strategic planning in the HSS 4.1
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teaching, learning and research cap
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of research, as part of the new res
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‘PROMOTING THE STUDY OF SCIENCE,
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Page 115 and 116: References Bric, M.J. 1999 The huma
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Advancing Humanities and Social Sciences Research in Ireland

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