ARTS AND CULTURE
OPINION
IN OC F US
SPORT
Why Diversity Matters
Spotlight: TCDSU Elections
A Mixed Bag for Trinity’s Teams
Choy-ping Clarke-Ng explains why Ireland’s theatre awards need to be updated to match our diverse cultural scene page 8 »
The University Times staff breaks down who’s running for what in the 2023/24 TCDSU sabbatical elections page 6»
Charlie Moody-Stuart breaks down some of the recent matches Trinity’s sports teams have played page 13»
UNSEEN DUBLIN Our Radius staff outline some of Dublin’s best spots, some well-known and some hidden gems page 14
Volume XIV, Issue V
Student Newspaper of the Year
Review of PhD Supports Delayed to Summer 2023 Ailbhe Noonan Editor
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he review of PhD supports previously announced by the Department of Higher Education and Research has been delayed to the end of the second quarter of 2023. The report, commissioned in October of 2022, was originally due to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023. In a letter seen by The University Times, Dr. Deirdre Lillis, Assistant Secretary and head of research, innovation, evidence for policy and EU and international division confirmed that the review, “informed by a robust evidence base, will be completed in the first half of 2023” and will make “recommendations which will inform future actions to ensuring a sound framework of PhD supports is in place”. In response to the delay, the Postgraduate Workers Organisation (PWO), a new-
ly-merged body consisting of the Postgraduate Workers’ Alliance of Ireland (PGWA) and the PhDs’ Collective Action Union (PCAU), said that “it is in the opinion of the PWO that this delay is unacceptable”. “PhD researchers are denied protections for parental leave, sick leave, minimum wages, and workers’ rights under Irish law”, they added. “The delay of this review signals that the Department of Higher Education and the Irish Government are apathetic to the Irish research and education crisis, and that the systemic issues faced by some of Ireland’s most talented researchers are not a priority.” They finished: “We call for the review to be completed on its original timetable of the First Quarter of 2023 so that current and future PhD
and PG researchers can have their basic needs and rights addressed”. In the same press release, Matt Murtagh, Data Officer of the PCAU, said: “This delay is incredibly disappointing and yet another sign that the welfare of postgraduate researchers is almost completely absent from decision making at the department”. “You don’t need a review to know that no postgraduate researcher in Ireland is eligible for a minimum wage or basic protective leave”, he added. “We need leadership and action now from those responsible for our welfare, not a vapid promise of potential action at some unspecified time in 2023.” Conor Reddy, the President of PGWA at Trinity, added: “When government announced cost of living supports for IRC and SFI funded PhD re-
searchers late last year, many of our members felt let down – non-IRC/ SFI PhDs were left unsupported and the €500 payment provided fell far short of what was needed to ease the burden felt by PhDs”. “At the time, the supports and announcement of the Review into PhD Conditions were seen by some as little more than lip service, and a demonstration of ignorance by the Department”, he continued. “Today, with news of a further delay to the Review process, it’s hard to disagree with that sentiment.” “This delay is tremendously disappointing, but a confirmation of the need for a large and well organised union for PhDs. We are disappointed but we will use this disappointment to build our Union and raise our voices in the months ahead.”
An Ireland For All
Tuesday February 28th, 2023
Trinity to Increase Stipend for Internal Research Schemes Ailbhe Noonan Editor
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ollege has approved a proposal to consolidate its internal postgraduate research schemes and increase the stipends to €25k per year starting from September 2023. The change comes as part of the Postgraduate Renewal Programme, which aims to fundamentally renew postgraduate education at Trinity and is currently in its first stages following consultation with members of the college community. The increased stipend will apply to existing students on Trinity’s three internal research schemes for the duration of the award – the Ussher, 1252 Postgraduate Research Studentships and the Provost PhD award – as well as students beginning their research in September on a new programme bringing all three schemes together. College Board also ap-
proved a proposal to waive the fee differential charged to individual schools for postgraduate researchers who are recruited through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the Irish Research Council (IRC) and the Health Research Board. This will be introduced as a pilot for all researchers beginning their studies in September 2023. In an email statement, Dean of Graduate Studies at Trinity Martine Smith said: “Both of these initiatives are important steps in a much bigger ambition, which is to transform the funding landscape for PhD researchers and to fundamentally review the supports for PhD researchers and supervisors alike. She continued: “We are acutely aware that the students who will benefit from this stipend uplift represent only a small proportion of our overall cohort of research students”. “A national review of the funding supports for PhD students is underway and we will continue to advocate through this forum as well
as through the Irish Universities Association for living stipends for all PhD students as an essential policy move”, she finished. In a statement to The University Times on the stipend increases, TCD Postgraduate Workers Organisation (PWO) said: “This is definitely a step in the right direction, and also a clear sign to other universities and funding agencies that the current stipend is far too low”. Despite this, they said, they would “like the university to go further and apply pressure on the departments to follow suit, and raise the funding level those being funded by TCD at any level to 25k”. “Additionally, many of our demands in the Fair Researcher Agreement can only achieved through an employment based model for postgraduate researchers. This includes access to sick and personal leave, and addressing the visa issues faced by non-EEA researchers.”
College Appoints Professor Sinéad Ryan as Dean of Research ollege has announced that Professor Sinéad Ryan will take over from Professor Wolfgang Schmitt as Dean of Research. The Dean of Research is responsible for overseeing and coordinating research, innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship strategies within College. They also chair the Research Subcommittee, which is designed to “formulate policy on all research-related matters which impact on the strategic objectives of the College”. Professor Ryan has previously served as the Head
of the School of Mathematics from 2012-2016 and then again from 2019-2022. She served as chair of the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) Scientific Steering Committee in 2017/18 and is a life member of Clare Hall Cambridge. She is also a member of the Irish Research Council (IRC), a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Mainz Institute for Theoretical Physics and the chair of the EuroHPC Infrastructure Advisory Group, which is responsible for developing the agenda for classical and quantum computing resources in Europe. Speaking on her appointment, Provost Linda Doyle said: “Sinéad is Professor of Theoretical High Energy Physics in the School of Mathe-
matics where she previously served as the Head of School”. “Sinéad has a significant track record in issues relating to research and is well positioned to take on this responsibility. I want to wish Sinéad well in this role.” She added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Dean of Research, Professor Wolfgang Schmitt, for his dedicated service. During Wolfgang’s time as Dean, he oversaw major restructuring of Trinity Research and is now returning to his own research, having been awarded a significant research grant.” Speaking on her new role, Professor Ryan said: “It is an honour and a privilege to serve as Dean of Research at Trinity”.
Editor: Ailbhe Noonan Volume 14, Issue 5 ISSN: 2013-261X Phone: (01) 646 8431 Email: info@universitytimes.ie Website: universitytimes. ie
This newspaper is produced with the financial support of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union, but maintains a mutually agreed policy of editorial independence.
To contact The University Times write to: The Editor, The University Times, 6 Trinity College Dublin 2
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PHOTO BY GIULIA GRILLO FOR THE UNIVERSITY TIMES
An Ireland for All: Thousands line the streets of Dublin to protest in favour of migrant and minority rights in Ireland as a counter-protest to the recent rise in far-right sentiments.