The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) today welcomed the belated publication of the Hunt report on a National Strategy for Higher Education, but warned that it betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the workload of institute of technology lecturers. TUI also described the concept of technological universities as described as “underdeveloped and confused”. It further suggested that the report should have advocated an overhaul the apprenticeship process. TUI is the country’s biggest third level union, representing almost 4,000 lecturers in Institutes of Technology.
Comments at launch of report from TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin:
“Worryingly, the report is poorly informed on the actual workload of lecturers, which the union contends is outside the report’s terms of reference. A lecturing hour, particularly at Honours Degree and Master’s level, requires a significant multiple of the teaching hour in preparation and administration time. In addition, lecturers have a list of over 20 other items of academic responsibility in their job specification, including research, course design and development, extensive student assessment, which involves the setting and correction of all examinations both terminal and continuous. Institutes carry out extensive applied research, where academic staff direct and supervise research programs including Master’s and PhD students despite a tiny share of the overall available research funding.”
The report’s quaint assertion that the Institutes should “commence a process of evolution” betrays a similar misunderstanding of a sector that has developed rapidly to a stage where it now awards Master’s (level 9) PhD qualifications (level 10).
The development of Technological Universities, as described in the report, is an interesting but ultimately underdeveloped and confused concept. As defined in the report, these institutions would not be on a par with other universities in that they appear limited to level 6, 7 and 8 qualifications. As described this concept is rejected by TUI; no university should be limited in the extent of the qualifications it aspires to offer.
TUI firmly believes that the free provision of third level education (notwithstanding the huge increases in ‘back door’ fees) should continue to be provided as part of the social contract.
We welcome the report’s commitment to increasing participation at third level, particularly to part time and mature students. The union has long advocated the recognition in contract of elements that would facilitate the improved provision of distance education and eLearning and workplace learning.
TUI is disappointed at a lack of imagination in terms of the provision of apprenticeships. The system requires a regulated flow of entry to apprenticeship rather than a system dependant on the availability of employment.
TUI will consult its members on the content of the report and will make a full response in due course.”