The Government is to proceed with creating a new professorship grade in the country's technological universities, but the news has been met with caution by a trade union representing staff in the sector.
The cabinet has approved the creation of professorships in the sector for the first time.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless said the Government was approving up to 50 professorships, beginning with an initial rollout of 25 positions across the system.
However, the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has said that any professorships introduced in the Technological University/Institute of Technology sector must have parity of esteem with those in the traditional universities.
The union warned that full consultation, negotiation and agreement in relation to the new grade was essential.
In 2022, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) conducted a review of career structures and academic contracts in the country's Technological Universities.
The review concluded that introducing a modern career framework, including senior academic grades, was an urgent reform essential to the successful transformation of the TU sector.
Announcing the decision to press ahead with the introduction of the senior posts Mr Lawless called it "a major step forward for the TU sector and a key commitment in the Programme for Government".
"Professors will be central to the TU mission, driving regional development, strengthening industry-focused research and innovation, and embedding research-informed teaching", he said.
"Today’s decision builds on the €65.8 million targeted enhancement fund I announced, which will be the mechanism for delivering these posts. This reform will give our Technological Universities and sector the academic leadership they need to thrive and compete internationally,"
The General Secretary of the TUI Michael Gillespie said the union had noted the Government decision to permit the recruitment of professorships in the sector.
"Our Annual Congress last year affirmed that any professorships introduced must have full parity of esteem with professorships in traditional universities and that the TUI must be fully consulted on their implementation", he said.
The union said its cooperation was contingent on a 1% pay increase agreed under the latest pay agreement’s local bargaining provision being applied to all academic, teaching and researcher grades in TUs and Institutes of Technology.
"In this regard, the union has already submitted a claim", Mr Gillespie said.
'In the absence of consultation, negotiation and agreement on the introduction of the professorship grade to the sector and agreement of the terms and conditions associated with such positions in return for payment of the 1% under the national pay agreement, the TUI will withhold all cooperation with the introduction of professorships in the sector and will ballot members for industrial action, up to and including strike action", he added.
In an earlier statement Mr Lawless thanked senior leadership teams from across the five technological universities and sector for their support.
"My officials will continue to engage with colleagues and consult with key stakeholders to ensure the successful introduction of this new grade", he said.
