Precarity is, unfortunately, a familiar experience for many PhD students - particularly in the strange times that we find ourselves in. This week’s episode touches on both the precarity brought about by the pandemic but also the on-going precarious nature of employment within the Higher Education sector.
Bee talks about their own experience of the PhD process and the importance of assembling a team that support the work you are doing.
We explore researching during the pandemic and the challenges of undertaking a viva via MS Teams!
We also discuss Bee’s frustration with the precarity of working as a sessional lecturer which led them to their work with the union.
Bee outlines some of UCU’s current campaigns and how the union can support you if you are working within HE.
Here are links to further information:
UCU membership FAQs: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/10509/Future-of-the-profession-free-membership-FAQs
UCU pages on casualisation, including links to employment law commentary and campaigning resources: https://www.ucu.org.uk/socc_memberinfo
UCU Report Second Class Academic Citizens: The dehumanising effects of casualisation in higher education (Megoran & Mason, 2020) https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/10681/second_class_academic_citizens/pdf/secondclassacademiccitizens
UCU Guidance on requesting permanent contract: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/3567/Fixed-term-regulations-requesting-confirmation-of-permanence
UCU Anti-Casualisation mailing list sign up (for members only): https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/5364/Login?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucu.org.uk%2Felists
PGRs as staff, not studets: https://fundthefuture.org.uk/event/pgrs-as-staff-not-students/
#CoronaContract: https://coronacontract.org/
UCU Solidarity Movement: https://www.ucusolidaritymovement.org/
Pandemic PGRs Report: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/11396/Falling-Short-report-Pandemic-PGRs?list=7268
Here are Bee’s contact details:
Website: www.beehughes.co.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeeHughes_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beehughes_art/
And here is the link to the association for Art History that we mention in the episode: https://forarthistory.org.uk/
You can sign up to Note from the Life Raft a weeklyish email with lots of information to inspire and support you on your PhD journey - just click here: https://mailchi.mp/f2dce91955c6/notes-from-the-life-raft
