Calls for proper research contracts

IRELAND’S economic development could be at risk unless proper contract systems are put in place for the growing number of third- and fourth-level researchers, it was claimed yesterday.

David Duffy, an author of the Prospectus survey of the higher education system, says researchers are likely to move to other countries unless they are given greater job security.

“People are on contracts of say, three or five years, but once that is finished they are waiting on work elsewhere. There needs to be a government fund to bridge researchers between contracts,” he said.