From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister Harris hosted the National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee at Leinster House to mark International Day of People with Disabilities on 3 December.
The Group discussed the challenges they faced in accessing postgraduate higher education in Ireland and moving into employment, including academia.
Speaking today to mark International Day of People with Disabilities, Minister Harris said he was determined that students with disabilities be given every available opportunity to reach their full potential and success in their studies.
He said:
“The theme for this year’s International Day of People with Disabilities is innovation and where better to find innovation than in our universities and colleges. It is critical that we have staff and leadership teams in third level education which are truly representatives of our population, including disabled academics and staff at all levels. Otherwise our universities and colleges are losing out on the innovation, ideas and talent of a whole section of our population.
“As a government, we must take concrete steps to change this and it starts with our new Research Bill to be published in 2023. We will develop this legislation and the new Research Agency with equality and inclusion at the centre of its mission.”
“I really want to thank the Committee members Dr Vivian Rath, Dr Patricia McCarthy, Amy Hassett, Teresa Shiels, Professor Michael Shevlin, David Loughrey, Catherine Gallagher and Aoife Price for taking the time to meet with me and update me on their experiences and the wider disabled community of researchers and postgrads."
Group organiser and spokesperson Dr Vivian Rath highlighted:
"Disabled people are significantly underrepresented in postgraduate study, only making up 2.8% of the postgraduate population. Currently we face many barriers. We urgently need to ensure disabled people have equal opportunities to access postgraduate study. Higher education institutions and funding bodies must ensure they are meeting their obligations under the UN CRPD and the public sector duty and are making their processes fully inclusive."
Additional barriers faced by disabled students were highlighted, including additional costs and lack of flexibility in delivery of programmes. Dr Rath went on to say that:
"Our Group recommend; that disabled postgraduates must be involved in the upcoming State Review of PhD Supports, the establishment of a disabled postgraduate research fund, and the creation of a transition to academic employment pathway to support disabled people."