State Supports for PhD Researchers Public Consultation February 2023

State Supports for PhD Researchers Public Consultation

WITS welcomes the public consultation as part of the national review of State supports for PhD researchers. The public consultation is an opportunity for all stakeholders and interested parties to provide their views on State supports for PhD researchers. The public consultation, runs until 10am on Monday, 13 March 2023.

The review was launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris on 24 February 2023. Minister Harris encourages submissions on the supports the State should be providing to PhD researchers.

The Co-Chairs of the independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers are WITS Chair Dr Andrea Johnson and David Cagney. The co-chairs will report to Minister Harris by the end of March 2023, detailing the current situation and offering short- and long-term recommendations. The Minister will consider the co-chairs’ report and may bring forward proposals before the end of June 2023, depending on any recommendations made.

The review and consultation is part of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy, as the government is committed to supporting all students as they gain the skills and experience to help them develop and succeed in the research and innovation (R&I) space. This is pillar 4 of the strategy.

WITS encourages as many stakeholders as possible to make a submission. Please see the consultation paper, Impact 2030 and consider the consultation questions:

1. What, in your view, are the primary challenges facing PhD researchers in Ireland at present and how are these affecting their educational experience and graduate outcomes?
2. How can these challenges be best resolved such that educational experience and graduate outcomes are enhanced?
3. Are there wider ramifications of your proposed solutions? If so, discuss.
4. Are there any other issues facing PhD researchers in Ireland at present that are relevant in addition to the six review elements outlined on page 2 and the over-arching Impact 2030 strategy?
5. Is there anything else that you would like the co-chairs to consider?

Submit your responses to the consultation using the online form. More information about making a submission is here.