Exploiting Excellence: How Malta Treats Its Young Researchers

Many people may not be aware that much of the research conducted in Malta through academia, at the University of Malta and MCAST, is carried out by researchers employed as…

Many people may not be aware that much of the research conducted in Malta through academia, at the University of Malta and MCAST, is carried out by researchers employed as temporary staff. These researchers are usually on short, one- to two-year contracts and typically work on research projects. Unfortunately, the project-based nature of the work means that this category of employees is not properly represented within academic structures, by GWU, UHM, UMASA, or any other union, leaving them with weak working conditions. While one might argue that, after all, these are temporary employees and should not be compared to full-time academics, they contribute significant research output to the nation, in many cases in areas not yet undertaken by industry because of their early stages in the research cycle.

This niche of highly-level research begs for better working conditions, which in turn will make research more attractive and generate more output.

Imagine this: you are a Maltese researcher who has just finished a PhD. The prospect of a full-time, permanent research position in Malta’s academic institutions does not exist, and the next best thing is to do what in academia is known as a postdoctoral job. You hope for a research project in your area of expertise to be available at UM or MCAST. Assuming you are selected for the project, you are set for the length of the project, typically two years.

But this is where the dream of becoming a full-time scientist ends and the nightmare begins. You need to start thinking immediately about what you will do after the two years pass and the project ends. You hope there will be another funded project you can apply to and that you will be selected again.

Yet, the number of years you have worked for the same institution is irrelevant because, technically, you are employed by the project. A typical contract includes a clause stating that a fixed-term agreement will not become indefinite even if the employee has been continuously employed for four years. As a result, many researchers remain trapped in repeated fixed-term contracts with the same institution for many years.

If you’re lucky enough to be working on a project, your working conditions still aren’t ideal. For example, if a researcher needs to take weeks or months of sick, maternity, paternity, or parental leave, these are granted according to law, but the project deadline does not shift, and failure to meet those deadlines may breach the signed contractual agreement.

The opportunity to apply for your own funded research project is non-existent because funding schemes require applicants to be on a permanent contract with a host institution. Some researchers end up writing research proposals to be submitted by permanent academics, and if the proposal is awarded, they must apply for a position as if they had nothing to do with the research.

The reality is that this project-based research work is nothing short of a precarious job. And short-term projects undermine research continuity.

By now, you are likely 30 or older. Unable to buy your own house, and even less to start your own family. You are forced to choose remain in the vicious cycle of applying and hoping every few years, wait for an academic lecturing post to open at a university or MCAST, or quit. Sadly, many end up doing the latter. Postdoctoral precarity is a global issue, but in a small island state like Malta, it takes on a stronger strain, as the loss of specialised researchers can disproportionately weaken our national capacity. Malta is losing some of its most educated and talented people.

Momentum proposes to improve the system and conditions for researchers:

• First, by doubling research expenditure from the current 0.6% of GDP to 1.2%. Although this is still far from the European average of 2.3%, it would be a good start. We should aim for a 3% of GDP.
• Establishing a dedicated Ministry for Science, Innovation and Research, rather than retaining research within a broader portfolio such as a Parliamentary Secretariat under the Ministry for Education. This will signal research as a core national priority and improve policy coordination.
• Research opportunities should not be limited to classical science and engineering subjects but should also include social sciences, education sciences, and humanities.
• Provide funding for projects longer than two years to make it possible to sustain PhD programmes and provide more stability for postdoctoral researchers.
• Provide national fellowships similar to the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships and the European Research Council fellowships.
• Offer permanent, full-time research positions at academic institutions.
• Encourage UM and MCAST to: (i) allow researchers to apply for funding even if they are not employed as resident academics, (ii) provide temporary staff with opportunities to grow and eventually move to permanent positions, (iii) allow academics to switch to full-time researchers if they are able to secure their own funding, and (iv) motivate researchers to apply for large-scale European funds by providing competitive wage packages to successful applicants, similar to what is done in industry.
• Safeguard funding when researchers go on sick, maternity, or parental leave so project deadlines can be shifted accordingly.

Malta has incredible talent, but the enthusiasm starts to fade when faced with such limitations. Let us support our young, motivated researchers and also focus on retaining highly skilled researchers to foster a more diverse and resilient research ecosystem.

Dr Matthew Agius is a geophysicist and an election candidate for Momentum. He also serves on the executive committee. Visit http://partitmomentum.org .

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