Following discussions between the Department of Education and Skills, THEA and the TUI, agreement has been reached in relation to the re-designation of the second ‘flex’ hour. The document entitled ‘Agreement between the Department of Education & Skills and TUI to conclude the re-designation of the flex hours’ (click here) was approved by the TUI Executive Committee on Friday 29th June 2018.
To clarify, members in the Institutes of Technology will revert to the flex hours system which existed prior to the Croke Park Agreement in 2011 i.e.
Lecturer:
There will be a norm of 16 class contact hours per week, which may be varied by Institute management from 14 to 18 following consultation with the Lecturer.
Assistant Lecturer:
There will be a norm of 18 class contact hours per week, which may be varied by Institute management from 16 to 20 following consultation with the Lecturer.
Specific arrangements will be in place for the 2018/2019 academic year, with all staff liable to flex up by one hour - to 19 for Assistant Lecturers and 17 for Lecturers - in the first semester/term and flex down in the second semester/term to 17 and 15 hours, respectively, (unless otherwise agreed locally). This requirement is in acknowledgement of the need for the Sector to operate within existing funding allocations for 2018.
This Agreement completes the re-designation of the two ‘flex’ hours from teaching to other duties, in line with contract. As a result of this Agreement, the Directive issued on the 15th May is lifted.