Creating Supportive Working Environment for Academics in Higher Education; Country Report Ireland

A major new study involving almost 1,200 academics calls for ‘significantly increased and sustained levels of investment’ and increased staffing levels to meet continued growth in student numbers. Almost three-quarters of respondents feel their working conditions are deteriorating. The Report ‘Creating a Supportive Working Environment for Academics in Higher Education’ by Marie Clarke, Aidan Kenny and Andrew Loxley, is published Monday, June 22nd. It was commissioned by the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and involved consultations throughout Irish third-level institutions. The Report points out that funding to the third level sector decreased by a massive 29% from 2007 to 2014. Institutes of Technology lost 29%, universities 26% and other colleges 24%. Staff numbers declined by 4,500 from 2008 to 2013. At the same time student numbers at third level surged by over 31,000 (16%) from 2008 to 2014