Mixed reaction as government plans to woo American academics

Government plans to attract American academics who want to flee the second Trump presidency have been met with a mixed reaction.

This week, Minister for Higher Education and Research Peter Lawless received approval from the government set up a scheme to attract academics from abroad.

While not directly mentioning America by name, his references to “uncertainty for the scientific community” make it clear that the government want to attract the exodus of American academics.

This week, the New York Times ran an article with the headline “The World Is Wooing U.S. Researchers Shunned by Trump” with the article noting Trump’s cuts to American education institutes that don’t align with his views.

The Fianna Fáil Minister said, “Ireland offers stability, opportunity and excellence. We are building a future grounded in talent, collaboration and global leadership.”

The realities of trying to attract foreign academic talent at a time when the Irish education system has been criticised by unions and Fine Gael’s higher education spokesperson.

SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Karl Byrne, said “our members have noted the hypocrisy of this government’s approach to issues in the further and higher education sector.”

“While it has failed to deal with apprenticeship delivery and precarious employment issues, despite previous commitments by ministers and the department, it now has the public funds available to incentivise overseas academics to come here to work,” he said.

Irish Federation of University Teachers Deputy General Secretary, Miriam Hamilton, said, “we note with extreme concern the attacks on academic freedom in the US and acknowledge the need to promote Ireland as a place of security in terms of thought, academic freedom and institutional autonomy. “

“However, we oppose any proposal to fund top-up salaries for the recruitment of overseas academics, including those based in the US. Such an initiative would divert public funds towards salaries above rates agreed for existing staff who currently conduct world-class research and lecturing.”

Fine Gael TD and Higher Education Spokesperson Maeve O’Connell said she “applauded” the scheme, but noted there are still very real realities facing the Irish education sector as it stands.

“It is incredibly important that in facilitating this initiative, we also review the conditions of junior academic staff across the third-level sector who are already in Ireland.”

“These staff members face pay issues, insecure employment, temporary contracts, and hours of unpaid work. 

“We do not want to find ourselves in a situation whereby in our eagerness to welcome these brilliant academics from abroad, we end up alienating the hundreds of researchers, academics and lecturers we already have across our island,” the Dublin Rathdown TD noted.

O’Connell said “I know a number of lecturers who are forced to work across several third-level institutions just to get by. Those on an hourly rate are paid on a per semester and per module basis, with no guarantee of future work.”

“I call on the Minister to ensure that we take the steps necessary to respect and retain our homegrown talent, and not neglect them”.