Universities seek to end poaching of staff

THE heads of the country’s universities are to come together next month to try and reach an agreement to prevent them poaching key staff from each other.

While the practice is not exclusive to a particular institution, University College Dublin (UCD) has been singled out for its tactics in luring major staff with significant research income potential from other universities.

The matter has been the subject of discussion among the university heads through the Irish Universities Association (IUA), which was asked by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) earlier this year to agree practices for promoting collaboration. A key part of a draft protocol drawn up over the summer was a set of transparent procedures for advertising key positions and making appointments, particularly in research fields, and ensuring they don’t undermine the research strengths of fellow universities.

The IUA is expected to recall the heads in the coming weeks to try and reach agreement on the protocol.

UCD president Dr Hugh Brady has publicly expressed reservations about it, and said at the weekend that it would limit opportunities for Irish academics and restrict educational opportunities for students. He also said it could lead to anti-competitive practices and jeopardise the goal of a world-class research and development sector.

UCD is generally perceived as being the biggest player in the so-called poaching stakes, particularly since securing the high-profile transfer from Trinity College Dublin of a food science research team led by Prof Michael Gibney.

It is believed by some sources that Dr Brady’s stance — perceived to be in pursuit of his ambition to get UCD ranked among Europe’s 30 top universities — could cost the college vital funding under the Government’s €300m Strategic Innovation Fund.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin said at the weekend that Ireland should be winning on the international stage, rather than competing on the small stage.