News
ARCS AGM 2013 Report
Dear ARCS,
The ARCS AGM was held on Thursday 20th June. I am delighted to announce that a new Chair of ARCS has been elected – Ruairi O’Reilly (The Centre for Unified Computing). A new chair will bring new ideas and a fresh approach for the association, and ensures the continuation of the ARCS association.
Ruairi has been the driving force on many of ARCS recent initiatives. He was the main committee member behind the recent paid membership drive which, I am pleased to report has significantly increased the number of fully paid up ARCS members, ensuring the financial viability of ARCS. Ruairi was also the lead in last years ARCS coffee mornings which were a great success in introducning ARCS directly to the Research community.
As Ex-chair, I will be assisting in the handover of duties for the next few months. I will be staying on as an ordinary member on the committee.
Other members elected:
Treasurer:
Cathal O’Mahony
Ordinary Committee members:
Brendan Palmer
Andrey Temko
Gordon Dalton
Mark Jessopp
I would be grateful if any other ARCS members want to become ordinary committee members. Due to the continued gender imbalance on the committee we would especially encourage any female members of ARCS to put themselves forward.
The motions that were passed at the AGM for the following year are:
1. ARCS will seek amendments to the Researcher Career framework by the formation of a formal steering committee of PIs, college heads and Researchers. Completion of the survey of PIs will be the main avenue to ensure this outcome.
2. ARCS officially disapproves of current submitted Charter and Code application on the basis of:
(a) No address as to the long term career as Researcher in UCC or stability of career progression between the grades, especially from Postdoc to Research Fellow.
Point 20 of the Charter and Code. The wording of the code is as follows: “The levels of qualifications required should be in line with the needs of the position and not be set as a barrier to entry.” The UCC Researcher Career Framework states that a researcher must exit their existing level after 3 years, and cannot reapply for a similar grade position in the university. ARCS is of the opinion that the code implies that a position must always go to the best person for the job and that a time bound condition cannot be imposed. Furthermore, a Researcher cannot be prejudiced against being eligible for reapplying for a similar grade position.
(b) Clarification and specifics relating to the statement “Review and adjustment of the researcher policy framework, as appropriate within the context of internal and external developments.”
(c) ARCS requests that the term "traniee" be removed from the document and all reference to “training” be replaced by the term “'Training and Professional Development'”
3. To allow the ARCS committee to discuss and vote on:
(a) To allow permanent Researchers to eligible for ARCS membership (ARCS at present represents temporary contract staff only)
(b) To discuss changing the name of ARCS to UCC RSA, to reflect the broader Researcher membership in UCC.
The AGM was addressed by IFUT General Secretary Mike Jennings. Mike gave an uplifting presentation on recent IFUT endeavours to protect the employment terms and conditions of Researchers in Irish universities. It was agreed that ARCS will endeavour to advertise IFUT membership among its members.
Finally, I would like to thank you all again for your support and encouragement in my role as Chair of ARCS over the last 3 years.
Best wishes
Gordon