Un singur candidat pentru preşedintele Senatului la UAIC: Ovidiu Gabriel Iancu
Astăzi au loc alegerile pentru funcţia de preşedinte al Senatului la Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza“ din Iaşi, iar senatorilor UAIC li se va propune un singur nume: prof.dr. Ovidiu Gabriel Iancu. Acesta este şi în prezent preşedintele Senatului, iar la conducerea forului academic nu a mai fost nicio altă candidatură în cele patru zile cât au fost deschise înscrierile.
Despre prof.dr. Ovidiu Iancu s-a vehiculat că ar putea fi unul dintre cei care l-ar concura pe prof.dr. Tudorel Toader la funcţia de rector al universităţii, însă acesta a dezminţit informaţiile şi şi-a anunţat public decizia de a candida doar pentru funcţia de preşedinte al Senatului.
În momentul de faţă, acestea sunt ultimele alegeri care mai urmează înainte de desemnarea rectorului - la acest ultim pas, candidaturile se depun în perioada 24 - 28 februarie, iar singurul care şi-a anunţat intenţia este prof.dr. Tudorel Toader, care doreşte să obţină astfel un al doilea mandat.
În perioada 2 - 6 martie vor fi dezbătute în comunitatea academică programele manageriale ale profesorilor care doresc să fie rector, turul I al alegerilor este programat pentru 11 martie, iar turul al doilea pentru data de 18 martie.
În ceea ce priveşte desemnarea preşedintelui Senatului, prof.dr. Ovidiu Gabriel Iancu este cadru didactic al Facultăţii de Geografie şi Geologie de la UAIC, a fost prorector responsabil pentru programele de masterat şi studii doctorale, dar şi decan al facultăţii, fiind titular al disciplinelor Petrologie Metamorfică, Geologie Planetară şi Riscuri Geochimice de Mediu
Publicație : Ziarul de Iași
Prof. Jităreanu va deveni pentru a treia oară rector al Agronomiei
După ce a condus Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară „Ion Ionescu“ de la Brad (USAMV) în perioada 2004 - 2012, prof.dr. Gerard Jităreanu va deveni primul rector din Iaşi care va începe un al treilea mandat, respectând integral prevederile Legii Educaţiei Naţionale.
După ce săptămâna trecută a fost reales în funcţia de preşedinte al Senatului USAMV, prof.dr. Gerard Jităreanu este singurul candidat care şi-a depus dosarul pentru a deveni rector în mandatul 2016 - 2020 al Agronomiei. Conform legii în vigoare, după confirmarea de către Ministerul Educaţiei, care va veni în săptămânile de după votul propriu-zis, acesta nu va putea să ocupe ambele funcţii, astfel încât va demisiona din cea de preşedinte al Senatului.
Sursele „Ziarului de Iaşi“ au precizat că, la alegerile nou organizate, va candida prof.dr. Vasile Vîntu, care a fost rector în perioada 2012-2020, şi nu a mai putut candida pentru un al treilea mandat, fiindcă legea specifică faptul că pot fi maximum două mandate consecutive.
Contactat telefonic, prof.dr. Gerard Jităreanu a explicat pentru „Ziarul de Iaşi“ că se va baza pe experienţa managerială pe care a căpătat-o deja în noul mandat. „Această experienţă cred că mă va ajuta să am un mandat în care să conduc universitatea, împreună cu echipa pe care o voi propune, spre realizări frumoase, să ajungem să fie o universitate de educaţie şi excelenţă în cercetare, să crească numărul de studenţi şi să se îmbunătăţească toate aspectele vieţii universitare“, a declarat prof.dr. Gerard Jităreanu pentru „Ziarul de Iaşi“.
Acesta a explicat că societatea, tehnologizarea şi globalizarea vor aduce o serie de noi provocări pentru universităţi, care trebuie să răspundă printr-un „management bazat pe transparenţă, iniţiativă şi respect, responsabilitate individuală, creativitate şi profesionalism, un management eficient şi realism“.
Inginer agronom, titular al disciplinei de Agrotehnică de la Facultatea de Agricultură a USAMV Iaşi, prof.dr. Gerard Jităreanu este în prezent preşedinte al Filialei Iaşi a Academiei de Ştiinţe Agricole și Silvice „Gheorghe Ionescu - Şişeşti“ şi membru în următoarele asociaţii şi organizaţii profesionale: European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC), Soil and Tillage Research Organisation (ISTRO), Balkan Environmental Association (BENA), Societatea Naţională Română de Ştiinţa Solului şi Societatea Română de Cercetări pentru Lucrările Solului. Votul pentru desemnarea rectorului este programat pentru data de 26 februarie 2020.
Publicație : Ziarul de Iași și Evenimentul și Bună Ziua Iași
University employers say union demands on pay are unaffordable
Employers appeal to union to go back to members with latest revised offer in hope of averting strikes
Union demands on pensions, pay and conditions are unaffordable and will put vulnerable institutions that are already in deficit at even greater risk, university employers have said.
Speaking before strike action planned for this week on 74 campuses across the UK, the employers said many institutions that had already reported shortfalls were being asked to go beyond what they could afford to meet union demands.
They appealed to the University and College Union, which represents lecturers, librarians, technicians and other academic staff, to go back to their membership with the latest revised offer in the hope of breaking the deadlock between the two sides.
UCU members are due to go out on strike on Thursday for the first of 14 days of industrial action in what is being described as the largest wave of strikes ever seen on UK campuses. It is expected to impact on more than a million students, many of whom are now veterans of university industrial action.
It is the third time higher education staff have taken industrial action since 2018, most recently before Christmas when 40,000 staff at 60 universities went out on strike for eight days over the same issues. Staff at a further 14 universities subsequently voted in favour of industrial action after being re-balloted by the UCU, taking the total number of institutions up to 74.
Mark E Smith, vice-chancellor of the University of Southampton and chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) said employers had moved a long way to meet the demands of union members, particularly on casualisation, gender pay and workload.
“We know that in many institutions they are at the edge – or beyond – what they can really afford. If you look at the number of institutions that have reported deficits this year, it’s a very difficult position for them.”
We'd like to hear from university staff and students who are affected by the strike. Share your views and experiences in the form below.
Universities pay more than half of their overall income on staff costs. “Therefore if your major cost is inflating further, the logical conclusion is those institutions which are under financial pressure will be under increasing pressure,” said Smith. “I would not want to be as alarmist as to say some will go under, however you can join the dots up and see where the logical conclusion of that lies.”
Smith called on the UCU to go back to their members with the detail of the final offer.
“The employers have moved a long way on this, but according to the negotiating team of the union it’s not enough, but that’s their view,” he said. “We don’t know what their members think.”
Students, meanwhile, are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact on their studies, with many launching petitions urging universities to address what they see as legitimate staff concerns and others demanding compensation for lost tuition.
A UCU spokesperson said: “The reason staff are walking out and education is being disrupted from Thursday is because universities have failed to move the conversation forward and address the concerns of staff.”
Publicație : The Guardian
Beat the graduate blues: how to prepare for life after university
Graduating can be a daunting experience, but you can get ready for the transition during your final year at university
Around half of students report feeling low after leaving university, according to a recent study which highlighted a lack of support available to recent graduates. “There are lots of reasons why they might experience difficulties with their mental health. Moving on after studying can be both exciting and daunting,” says Stephen Buckley, head of information at Mind. However, there are steps you can take in your final year at university to make the transition easier.
Avoid comparisons
“It is completely normal to have no idea what you want to do after university,” says Buckley. “It’s important to remember that many people take months or even years to work out their next steps.”
Even if it feels like all your friends are sorted, they’re likely to be in a similar position to you. “The hardest thing for me was seeing some people go in to internships or full-time work straight away and the pressure I felt to do the same,” says recent graduate Rosie Chalk. “I knew I wasn’t ready to go on to anything big or drastic like moving to London due to my lack of experience, poor mental health, and lack of money.
“I wasn’t prepared to not see my friends as often which has left me quite lonely since my work clashes with theirs,” she says. Although she isn’t working in London and in her ideal role yet, she adds “it’s not a competition, despite how it can feel”.
Lay the groundwork
There’s pressure among students to find work, which is why Carly-May Kavanagh put the wheels in motion before graduating. “I attended student journalism and radio conferences,” she says. “I also applied for an NCTJ course in Brighton, and for the Journalism Diversity Fund, which I knew would benefit me when it came to job searching.” She’s now a community reporter for The Mid Sussex Times.
You may not be able to walk into the job of your dreams straight away. But if you make contacts and connections during your final year, you could start the process of getting there. “Most of the opportunities I’ve had have come through working closely with those around me,” says Ben Winter, who studied music promotion at Solent University. His time involved with his university’s radio society proved helpful in finding work in the music industry, he says.
Look after your health
Graduate life can get lonely. As Buckley explains, it’s important to stay healthy and get the basics right. He advises a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, keeping fit and not abusing alcohol and drugs.
At a time where there can be quite a lot of upheaval, it’s important to look after your physical and mental health. Recent graduate Lucy Wynne recommends sport. She trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu during her studies and continued after graduating and moving city. “Because I was forced to meet a whole new bunch of people at my new gym it got me settled into [city] life more. The routine of having a sport to do is great for your mental health too.”
Ask your university for support
Graduates may feel isolated, but there is some support available. According to an NUS spokesperson, “your student union and institution may be open over the summer, and often services such as the career service will still be open to you even after graduation.”
Buckley recommends that you “stay in touch with university friends – everyone finds this transition tricky, and hearing from an old friend is reassuring”. If you feel that you need to, you can contact Mind’s Infoline on 0300 123 3393 (Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm), or talk to your GP.
Publicație : The Guardian
I learned firsthand how British universities are silencing abuse survivors
Gagging students is an unacceptable practice driven by the marketisation of education
• Danielle Bradford is suing Cambridge University for discrimination over its handling of her sexual harassment complaint
More than half of students say they have experienced sexual harassment or assault, but only 8% have reported it, a study shows. Many of those who do submit a formal report spend weeks, maybe months, retelling the story of what might be one of the most difficult events of their lives. Imagine, then, what it might feel like in the midst of all this to be presented with a legally binding document that swears you to complete secrecy – meaning you cannot speak of your experience to anyone, not friends, family, staff or colleagues. That’s what it’s like to be a student presented with a non-disclosure agreement.
Last week, an investigation by the BBC revealed that nearly a third of universities have used NDAs in student grievance disputes since 2016, including cases concerning sexual assault, bullying and lack of disability support. Involving £1.3m in payouts, these NDAs have been criticised as “legally questionable” by expert lawyers, and an “abuse of power” by the former universities minister Chris Skidmore.
We now know that at least 300 students have been subjected to NDAs to resolve complaints, but this wasn’t their original purpose. Traditionally, they have been used to protect business information, for example to prevent an employee who leaves for a competing company sharing sensitive or confidential details. The expansion and misuse of NDAs within businesses to include cases of abuse and employee grievances has been exposed in a number of high-profile cases, such as those of the film producer Harvey Weinstein and Topshop owner Philip Green. But now this culture is infiltrating public institutions: as the line between the private and the public sectors blurs, universities follow suit in these unethical practices, silencing survivors of sexual harassment and assault, and calling it business as usual.
Using legally binding documents to silence survivors in educational settings is a considerable safeguarding concern. One student who reported a sexual assault told the BBC that the process of being silenced was “hell on earth. How they treated me was worse than the assault itself. I felt so alone.” Loneliness is a serious repercussion of NDAs – unable to discuss their experiences, students can’t access proper support from their friends, families or lecturers.
It is unlikely that such a document will be signed by students of their own free will: the power held by an institution that can either grant or withhold one’s degree, versus that of an individual student, means that even the suggestion of having to sign an NDA could be seen as coercive. Students have reported being threatened with expulsion or legal action if they break their silence around the abuse they have suffered. But a fair and accessible complaints process should not involve being coerced into signing legally binding documents, especially when students often lack access to any independent legal guidance.
To make matters worse, while students are harmed, more often than not perpetrators are able to move freely to other institutions without facing any consequences for their actions, or even a fair investigation.
I was bound by a confidentiality rule that meant I could not disclose details of my complaint, even after it was upheld
While the statistics on the use of NDAs by universities are shocking, it’s important to acknowledge that this is just a small part of a broader manipulative institutional culture. A third of universities have been reported to use NDAs, but at the remaining two thirds it’s possible that students are being silenced in other insidious ways. Many universities engage in similarly dubious legal practices, such as “confidentiality clauses”, and exert undue pressure on complainants to refrain from disclosing details of their cases. The University of Cambridge, for example, can truthfully report that it does not use NDAs – but when I made a complaint of harassment as an undergraduate student, I was bound by a confidentiality rule that meant I was not able to disclose details of my complaint to anyone in my life, even after it was upheld. There was no signed legal document; but I was threatened with a possible charge of harassment if I spoke out. Knowing that I was interested in going into academia, staff members also politely reminded me that breaking that silence would likely have a negative impact on my career.
It seems notable that NDAs find their roots in business, and we cannot overlook the fact that any form of gagging clause is part of, and a foreseen consequence of, the wider issue of increased marketisation of UK higher education in recent years. In a marketised sector, students are the fee-paying consumers, and when grievances are raised, universities are faced with what is ultimately a safeguarding issue, but they treat it as a business concern. As they see it, their consumers are being harmed, often by other consumers, or by employees of the institution itself – and that poses the risk of reputational damage. Their solution? To silence and sacrifice individual consumers in an attempt to avoid public scrutiny, and by extension a potential loss of more consumers (and, of course, their tuition fees). This logic is backwards, but nothing will change as long as universities run themselves primarily as businesses, which fundamentally conflicts with their duties as educational institutions and the duty of care they have over students.
The institutional silencing of survivors, through the use of NDAs or otherwise, must end. For myself and so many others, the experience isn’t just damaging – it can be actively retraumatising. Meanwhile, the BBC’s report, and all those practices that still largely go unreported, should be alarming not only to survivors, but to the wider academic community as well. Victims of harassment, abuse and bullying are often already convinced that their voices, their consent and their free will do not matter. We cannot allow this message to be reinforced by the very institutions that are meant to protect them.
Publicație : The Guardian
« Le secteur de l’agro offre des modèles de réussite aux jeunes femmes »
« Si le secteur de l’agro est de plus en plus féminisé, c’est qu’il offre des modèles de réussite » aux jeunes femmes, observe Anne-Lucie Wack, directrice générale de l’Institut Agro. Présidente de la Conférence des grandes écoles, elle déplore que « les écoles d’ingénieurs généralistes soient trop masculinisées ».
Anne-Lucie Wack, directrice générale de l’Institut Agro et présidente de la Conférence des grandes écoles, déplore que « les écoles d’ingénieurs généralistes [soient] trop masculinisées ». Elle entend « convaincre les étudiantes de ce qu’elles valent et combattre les schémas mentaux installés », et s’inquiète « des conséquences d’une désaffection des femmes pour le numérique ».
A diplôme égal, dans tous les secteurs de l’ingénierie, exception faite de la métallurgie, les femmes ingénieures nouvellement diplômées sont moins payées que leurs collègues masculins. Qu’est-ce qui peut expliquer ce fait ?
Nous constatons une différence en défaveur des femmes sur tous les indicateurs de l’insertion : le nombre de contrats à durée indéterminé, le niveau de responsabilité, le statut cadre et aussi les salaires, et ce dès la sortie de l’école, donc à expérience égale. Ensuite, cette différence ne cesse d’augmenter tout au long de leur carrière.
Une part de responsabilité est à la charge des entreprises qui paient moins les femmes, une autre est dans une répartition genrée des métiers. Ensuite, on constate que les femmes s’orientent plus souvent vers des métiers ou des secteurs moins rémunérateurs, comme la communication, la santé, les ressources humaines, alors que les hommes plébiscitent la finance, le digital, où les salaires sont plus élevés dès la première embauche.
Les écoles supérieures d’agro sont les seules écoles d’ingénieurs à être majoritairement féminisées, mais, là encore, les diplômés masculins sont mieux rémunérés à la sortie. Comment mettre un frein à ces inégalités ?
Nous avons, dans notre secteur, de gros progrès à faire. Comme cela se fait dans d’autres cursus, nous devons agir sur la formation des étudiants à la négociation salariale, convaincre les filles de ce qu’elles valent, combattre les schémas mentaux installés pour les pousser à se projeter sur des fonctions à responsabilités, et ce dans toutes les filières. Nous allons nous saisir de ce dossier dans le cadre de la nouvelle grande école d’agro [l’Institut Agro], qui rassemble, depuis janvier 2020, Montpellier SupAgro, l’Agrocampus de Rennes et Angers (ainsi qu’Agrosup Dijon, en 2021).
Publicație : Le Monde
Les écoles d’agronomie, bastion de femmes dans le monde des ingénieurs
Avec près de deux tiers d’étudiantes, ces établissements font figure d’exception dans le paysage des grandes écoles d’ingénieurs. Le secteur est aussi celui où les salaires d’embauche sont les moins élevés.
Comme souvent dans les écoles d’agronomie, ce sont des jeunes femmes qui se préparent à livrer bataille. Cet après-midi de février à Montpellier SupAgro, dix-huit étudiantes préparent leur plan d’attaque aux côtés de cinq étudiants – dans cette école, 72% des élèves sont des femmes. La professeure et stratège Marie-Stéphane Tixier rappelle les règles qui mettront à bas l’ennemi : « modification de la cible, étude des résistances métaboliques, pénétration ! ». Les doryphores, chenilles, acariens ravageurs n’ont qu’à se tenir bien éloignés des champs : les futures ingénieures agronomes veilleront.
Débouchés variés
Alors que les femmes ne représentent que 27 % des élèves des écoles d’ingénieurs, selon les derniers chiffres de la Conférence des directeurs des écoles françaises d’ingénieurs (CDEFI), elles comptent pour 59 % des effectifs dans les écoles spécialisées en agronomie. Une proportion qui tend à augmenter au fil des ans – en 2000, elles constituaient 54 % des effectifs dans ces écoles.
Une vraie particularité, alors que les autres branches de l’ingénierie s’inquiètent du peu d’intérêt qu’elles suscitent auprès des jeunes femmes (16 % des effectifs dans l’industrie des technologies, 19 % en industrie automobile, aéronautique, navale…). Seules les écoles de chimie accueillent, comme les écoles d’agronomie, davantage de filles que de garçons. Les diplômées de ces écoles « d’agro » ont des débouchés variés : l’industrie agroalimentaire, mais aussi l’aménagement des espaces agricoles, la préservation de l’environnement…
Comment expliquer cet intérêt des jeunes femmes pour ce domaine ? « Je veux être utile aux autres, répond Armance Catherin Saint-Supery, 19 ans, étudiante à Montpellier SupAgro. Une personne sur deux mange trop, pas suffisamment ou mal. L’alimentation est un enjeu planétaire. Alors qu’un médecin traitera ses patients au cas pas cas, moi, en travaillant dans l’industrie alimentaire, je participerai à la production d’un système qui permettra d’aider le plus grand nombre », s’enflamme Armance.
Nourrir mieux, prendre soin de l’humain et de son environnement sont les réponses que livrent en boucle les futures ingénieures
Il faut donc mieux nourrir mais aussi mieux produire, insiste, tout aussi passionnée, Romane Contamine, 23 ans, étudiante à l’Ecole nationale supérieure d’agronomie et des industries alimentaires (Ensaia) de Nancy. « L’industrialisation a d’importantes conséquences sur l’environnement, il faut changer ça. Il est nécessaire de proposer des produits plus respectueux, locaux, de saison », avance-t-elle. « Il faut une adaptation du système agricole, qui, aujourd’hui, ne fonctionne plus du point de vue social et environnemental, avec des agriculteurs qui ne parviennent plus à vivre de leur travail et une activité qui pollue nos cours d’eau de produits phytosanitaires », corrobore Soline Schetalat, 23 ans, étudiante à l’Ensaia. Nourrir mieux, prendre soin de l’humain et de son environnement sont les réponses que livrent en boucle les futures ingénieures.
Publicație : Le Monde
E il rettore della Sapienza lancia l'allarme: "Lo Stato torni a finanziare gli atenei o collassiamo"
L'ultimo discorso di Eugenio Gaudio, vicino alla fine del mandato: "Noi cresciamo, ma tutti insieme dobbiamo formare più laureati e trattenere i talenti. Non ci sono più margini"
ROMA - Al di là dell'applauso lungo quattro minuti e la platea in piedi, al di là dell'emozione per l'ultimo discorso a pochi mesi dalla fine dei sei anni di mandato, al rettore Eugenio Gaudio il suo mondo ha riconosciuto di aver rimesso in moto e al centro la più grande università d'Europa - La Sapienza di Roma, 717 anni di vita, 114 mila iscritti - dopo il lungo declino affidato al suo predecessore, Luigi Frati. E quando si è fermato l'elenco degli oggettivi buoni risultati realizzati dall'ateneo dal 2015 ad oggi, mostrati in slide e al presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella - per lui la decima inaugurazione di ateneo da ottobre ad oggi -, il rettore in carica ha detto al ministro dell'Università e della Ricerca Gaetano Manfredi: "Lo Stato torni a finanziare o il sistema collassa". Tutto il sistema per come lo conosciamo oggi, sessantun università pubbliche italiane presenti sul territorio.
I dati dell'inversione di rotta del gigante romano vanno ricordati, non è banale farlo. I corsi di studio in lingua inglese offerti dalla Sapienza nel quinquennio certificabile sono quadruplicati: oggi sono 48, sui 280 offerti. Questo è stato in parte possibile grazie al fatto che, di fronte a 863 docenti andati in pensione, sono stati allestiti 1.640 concorsi, di cui 680 per giovani ricercatori. Spendendo 115 milioni di euro (gran parte ottenuti dalla Banca europea degli investimenti), l'università si è mossa sul piano edilizio, prodromo di una buona didattica: 109 aule, infatti, sono state riqualificate e il complesso Marco Polo, Centro linguistico di ateneo, è testimone dell'impegno infrastrutturale. Anche il restauro del grande murale di Mario Sironi, sullo sfondo del discorso del rettore Gaudio, ha partecipato dell'investimento. Oggi, proseguendo, tre biblioteche del sistema di lettura interno sono aperte 24 ore al giorno e tutto questo è stato realizzato consentendo al 57 per cento degli studenti di iscriversi con agevolazioni ed esenzioni. Ancora, dal 2015 all’ultimo anno assestato i fondi per la ricerca acquisiti dall’esterno sono cresciuti per 60 milioni di euro e in cinque stagioni i fondi di Stato, grazie alla crescita della quota premiale, sono aumentati di oltre 9 milioni. Gli iscritti, per chiudere, nel lustro sono saliti di 5.300 (+7,8 per cento) e il fatto che 3.100 studenti siano arrivati dall'estero offre una visuale delle potenzialità attrattative di UniRoma 1.
Sul piano internazionale, l'impegno più rilevante portato a termine è stata l'alleanza - Civis - con sette università europee. Assomma, l'alleanza, 384 mila studenti e 55 mila docenti e amministrativi e ha vinto un finanziamento comunitario. Il riconoscimento più gradito, sempre sul piano internazionale, è invece il primo posto al mondo conquistato per due anni di fila (2018 e 2019) nella disciplina “Classics and Ancient History”, classifica curata dal prestigioso Qs.
In questo Paese non è solo Sapienza a crescere. Nell'ultimo quinquennio hanno prodotto corsi innovativi e brevetti di successo, hanno richiamato docenti stranieri e aperto sedi diplomatiche all'estero il Politecnico di Milano e Ca' Foscari di Venezia, le Università di Padova e Bologna. Sul fronte degli immatricolati hanno mostrato segnali incoraggianti atenei del Sud e molti medio-piccoli. Ma, ha detto il rettore in carica e in uscita, quella licenziata lo scorso dicembre è stata la Finanziaria più arida con gli atenei italiani "da decenni". E ha portato alle dimissioni dell'ex ministro Lorenzo Fioramonti, che per il settore aveva chiesto un miliardo e mai lo ha ottenuto. La questione, individuata nell'Aula Magna della Sapienza nel corso dell'inaugurazione dell'Anno accademico, è questa: "Abbiamo bisogno di formare più laureati e di trattenere in Italia i nostri talenti". In assenza di un adeguato finanziamento, tuttavia, "non sarà possibile garantire il turnover, bisognerà limitare l’ingresso di giovani ricercatori e ridurre l’offerta formativa. Un circolo vizioso che porterà al collasso del sistema", ha sottolineato Gaudio. "Non esistono più margini, non esistono più riserve".
Publicație : La Repubblica
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