No abstract

Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) are students who assist in the delivery of higher education programmes. Surprisingly, such employment is not recorded by HESA. In the absence of national data, this paper reports the findings from a survey of postgraduate students studying in Scotland. The analysis of the data provides evidence to suggest that GTAs perform an assortment of academic duties and receive a wide range of hourly rates of pay. Training provision varies and is often generic. Feedback and support mechanisms are evident but not universally provided. Increased attention is likely to focus on the GTA labour market as the quality and value for money debate gathers pace and becomes a priority for new high fee paying students that opt to study in Scotland. This paper exposes some interesting characteristics of this opaque and imperfect market.