Vitae research staff conference 200905 November 2009

Details

Day

Day 1

Session

B

Start time

14.10

Strand

Research staff

Code

B4

Presenters

Dr Liz Oliver - Research Fellow, University of Liverpool

Workshop outline:

In 2002 a piece of legislation regulating the use of fixed-term employment was introduced. This has caused quite a stir within universities, particularly in relation to the employment of researchers whose posts are funded by external short-term projects or grants. A textbook on higher education law states, ‘the law has now dealt with a long-standing scandal particularly felt in higher education: the use of fixed- or limited-term contracts on a continuous basis to preserve management flexibility'. But has it? The landscape is certainly changing and fewer fixed-term contracts are used to employ researchers. What has changed and how should the sector tackle the remaining issues?

Liz has been working on a Vitae funded study designed to work out how universities have responded to the legislation on fixed-term employment and what that means for the employment of researchers. She will share some of her research findings but more importantly she would like to hear about your experience.

This session will cover:

• a very brief overview of the law on fixed-term contracts - a general picture of how the law approaches fixed-term employment (not tailored legal advice!)
• research findings on types of university policy responses to fixed-term employment
• group discussion - where does your institution/experience fit in?
• what are the challenges in this area?
• group discussion - if you were an employer what would you do?

Format:

• Information, interaction and discussion.

 Outcomes:

• Be informed on procedures/policy in institutions and the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches
• Discuss how research staff can influence institutions policy relating to employment