51福利

51福利 has welcomed news that the University of Northumbria has postponed plans that required postgraduate students to teach as a condition of their research stipend and committed to work with the union on any changes.

The union had condemned the original proposal to make PhD students in receipt of a 拢14,296 stipend to support their studies teach up to 180 hours per year without additional payment as 'grossly exploitative'.

51福利 said such a move would directly contradict advice from both the and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), and amount to forced unpaid labour.

51福利 regional official, Iain Owens, said: 'Expecting research students to deliver over five weeks' worth of teaching, on top of their full-time research practice for no extra reward, would have been grossly exploitative and we are pleased they have postponed the move by a year and will consult with us over any new proposals.'