CAPA to outsource research
THE Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, strapped for cash in a fee income drought since the introduction of voluntary student unionism, has closed its research office and for the first time will tender for contract research work.
President Nigel Palmer said CAPA's budget had shrunk from about $600,000 in 2006 to $214,000 now as university organisations struggled to pay the association's membership fees.
"Pre-VSU we were billing members on a per-(equivalent full-time student unit) basis of $5. Now we're billing about $1 per head," he said.
"We've had to scale back our staffing capacity to a point where in 2008 we can no longer afford full-time researchers."
CAPA had three full-time equivalent research positions in 2004. "The pay rate for our researchers at that time would have been in excess of our entire budget today," Mr Palmer said.
CAPA would now advertise for expressions of interest from researchers keen to explore issues relevant to postgraduate students, either course work or research, he said. Pay, to be based on research experience, would be between $25 and $55 an hour. Projects would range from one week to six weeks.
"We're encouraging people to submit a 500-word synopsis of their research background, areas of interest and some ideas on the kind of research they would like to do," Mr Palmer said.
CAPA will compile a register of candidates who meet essential criteria. Registered candidates will be invited to participate in projects determined by CAPA's priorities.
Mr Palmer said CAPA research allowed the organisation to respond to government reviews and to keep students' issues "on the agenda".
"We have an obligation to make sure that the postgraduate voice is heard, and high-quality research is the best way to support that," Mr Palmer said.
First expressions of interest should be in by May 9. The second round closes in July.
Mr Palmer said CAPA would reprise a 2004 nationwide survey on the resources students needed.
Many universities adopted CAPA's earlier findings of what students wanted as a minimum level of resources, such as access to printers and online journals and desk space, Mr Palmer said.
President Nigel Palmer said CAPA's budget had shrunk from about $600,000 in 2006 to $214,000 now as university organisations struggled to pay the association's membership fees.
"Pre-VSU we were billing members on a per-(equivalent full-time student unit) basis of $5. Now we're billing about $1 per head," he said.
"We've had to scale back our staffing capacity to a point where in 2008 we can no longer afford full-time researchers."
CAPA had three full-time equivalent research positions in 2004. "The pay rate for our researchers at that time would have been in excess of our entire budget today," Mr Palmer said.
CAPA would now advertise for expressions of interest from researchers keen to explore issues relevant to postgraduate students, either course work or research, he said. Pay, to be based on research experience, would be between $25 and $55 an hour. Projects would range from one week to six weeks.
"We're encouraging people to submit a 500-word synopsis of their research background, areas of interest and some ideas on the kind of research they would like to do," Mr Palmer said.
CAPA will compile a register of candidates who meet essential criteria. Registered candidates will be invited to participate in projects determined by CAPA's priorities.
Mr Palmer said CAPA research allowed the organisation to respond to government reviews and to keep students' issues "on the agenda".
"We have an obligation to make sure that the postgraduate voice is heard, and high-quality research is the best way to support that," Mr Palmer said.
First expressions of interest should be in by May 9. The second round closes in July.
Mr Palmer said CAPA would reprise a 2004 nationwide survey on the resources students needed.
Many universities adopted CAPA's earlier findings of what students wanted as a minimum level of resources, such as access to printers and online journals and desk space, Mr Palmer said.