For the full dossier on changes proposed, please click here
For actionuni’s response to the consultation, please click here
Fresh off the press from The Guardian, the article reports on how UK academic institutions have created a pool of underpaid researchers and lecturers with little to no prospects of permanent employment and adequate retribution. This effectively creates a mass of highly-educated albeit abused academic workers who have voiced their anger and dismay.
For the full report, please click here.
An exciting opportunity for networking and mentoring for mid-level academics has been developed by the Swiss Academies of Science.
The Swiss Young Academy gives young researchers the opportunity to carry out inter- and transdisciplinary projects. With their dedication and contributions, members pursue the early identification of challenges facing society, provide solutions for these challenges, and foster a dialogue between science and society.
The Swiss Young Academy offers its members the following benefits:
Swissuniversities released this statement concerning its ongoing negotiations with major academic publishers for the promotion and adoption of open access practices
The 2019 round of negotiations between swissuniversities and Elsevier, Springer-Nature and Wiley came to an end on 13 December 2019. The results are as follows:
The non-renewal of the contract with Springer Nature could at some point imply a lack of access to works published after January 2020 (previous publications will remain accessible). However, it is worth noting that researchers from Dutch and German universities have continued to have access to publications in the past, despite facing a similar contract discontinuation situation. Furthermore, swissuniversities argues that experience abroad has shown that the publication of research results is guaranteed even without a contract.
The worst-case scenario would certainly limit the access to literature but should not fundamentally hinder your research and teaching activities. Indeed, a series of options exist that provide access to scientific resources. swissuniversities has compiled a list in collaboration with the consortium of Swiss university libraries and is available as a factsheet. swissuniversities points out that “the illegal clandestine library Sci-Hub is not mentioned, even if its private use is authorised in Switzerland”.
Follow the link to view this great resource!
University.Now! is an event organized by our member ACIDUL at the UNiversity of Lausanne from 5-6. December 2019.
Please find more information on this important event dedicated to the future and perspectives for mid-level staff in Switzerland by following this link.
Heidi.news is a new information portal that often focuses on the world at large of scientific research in Switzerland. Amongst others, actionuni co-President Carmen Faso was interviewed by journalist Sophie Gaitzsch on the status of precarious researchers at Swiss universities, the numbers, the challenges and possible solutions.
Read the interview here
A recent article in one of Germany’s leading newspapers Die Zeit on why it is important to not only support but just generally show respect to early career researchers.
Our board member Alexei Evstratov is part of the organizing committee for the event titled
University.Now, Quelle université aujourd’hui ? Forum de la relève suisse
which will be held in Lausanne on the 5th and 6th of December.
Please follow this link for more information in French and this link for more information in English.
We will post updates and further information in the coming days.
A recent article published by Franziska Meister on the Wochenzeitung analyses the current situation on promotion of junior and senior researchers who make up the largest part of mid-level academic staff and mentions actionuni and our position paper.
Please follow this link to the article.
The ordinance focuses on higher education at all three types of universities, defining which types of academic diplomas and certificates can be issued, how many ECTS are associated to each kind of study program and which sort of institutions is allowed to offer third-cycle programs such as doctorates.
Our main feedback point as actionuni is that UAS and PH should, similarly to cantonal universities and federal polytechnics, be also allowed to develop and offer their own third-cycle study programs, provided a rigorous quality control procedure be put in place to ensure quality standards comparable to those of existing third-cycle programs.
Read our full response here (in Italian).