Contract researchers
27. Researchers are the Science Base's greatest asset
and it is an ongoing concern of ours that this has not been reflected
in their pay and conditions. In particular, in our Report on Short-Term
Contracts in Science and Engineering, we criticised the fact
that in many disciplines half the researchers were not permanently
employed.[34] We raised
this issue with Lord Sainsbury and were pleased that he stated
clearly that "we have too many people on contracts for research".[35]
He was keen to emphasise the importance of the EU Fixed Term Work
Directive but we are concerned that he did not give greater attention
to the impact that funding mechanisms can have in tackling this
problem.[36] This is
surprising since this is implicitly recognised in Investing
in Innovation, the Government's response to Sir Gareth Roberts's
Report. The Government announced that it would provide funding
to create 1,000 new "Academic Fellowships" (200 a year,
each lasting 5 years). The aim of the new scheme was to address
some of the concerns and issues affecting those who have completed
their PhDs and are faced with "unattractive and unstable"
career routes into permanent academic posts.
28. The OST published a consultation paper on Academic
Fellowships in September 2003. It outlined a proposal for a new
scheme that has been developed in response to the Roberts Review,
SET for Success. It is envisaged that this scheme will
be administered by one of the Research Councils on behalf of all
the grant-awarding Research Councils and under the banner of RCUK.[37]
The Government intends to launch the scheme at the end of February
2004, with proposals being submitted at the end of May. Allocations
will be agreed by mid-July, with the first awards commencing in
October 2004.
29. OST has proposed a system in which the principal
contribution to the fellowship shifts during the 5-year period,
from research funder (e.g Research Council), to the Academic Fellowship
fund and then to the higher education institution. The fellow
must have funding from elsewhere for the first two years. The
higher education institution has no obligation to continue the
employment after Year 5 but any that do not may be subject to
claw-back of funds or sanctions in future years of the scheme.
Figure 1: Proposed funding profile for Academic
Fellowship scheme.
30. The Academic Fellowship scheme is well conceived
but we worry that institutions may be subject to claw-back
if permanent employment is not provided at the end of the fellowship.
We are concerned that universities will attempt to avoid any commitment
to permanent employment. The response to this must be that if
such institutions are unable or unwilling to provide open-ended
contracts to researchers on completion of their fellowship then
they should be considered inappropriate recipients of the grants.
31. OST told us that it was "satisfied that
the Research Councils are fully conversant with their obligations
under the 'Fixed-term (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment)
Regulations 2002'", and that they "are also fully implementing
the standards set by the 1996 Concordat on Contract Research Staff
through the terms and conditions of their research awards".[38]
We interpret this is being the bare minimum required of them.
We welcome the Academic Fellowship initiative which demonstrates
that the Research Councils can directly intervene to create more
stable careers for scientists. We believe that the principle of
obliging universities to provide open-ended contracts as a condition
of securing future grants could be more widely applied as a means
for reducing the number of contract researchers.
32. The final Report of the Research Careers Initiative
(RCI, a joint initiative between the OST and Universities UK)
was published in June 2003. It recommended that the new Funders'
Forum proposed in Investing in Innovation should address
careers in research, not only of contract researchers, but also
of research students and new lecturing staff.[39]
This UK Research Base Funders' Forum brings together major research
sponsors to share strategic information about their research plans;
to consider the financial impact of their plans on the system
overall, including its long term sustainability; and to make sure
that there is a shared understanding of how all the funding streams
for research fit together. From January 2004 the Funders' Forum
will also take forward work on the Research Careers Initiative.
We welcome the introduction of the UK Research Base Funders'
Forum and hope that it will bring much-needed coherence to public
research funding and that it will result in careers in research
becoming a more attractive and secure option.
31 
