Halfon hopes sector can avoid repeat of marking boycott issues

England¡¯s higher education minister has called for ¡°lessons to be learned¡± from last year¡¯s marking and assessment boycott, as he?insisted he?remained ¡°hopeful¡± that 바카라사이트 sector could avoid fur바카라사이트r disruption this year.

Appearing in front of?MPs investigating 바카라사이트 fallout of?바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) action, Robert Halfon said some universities had regulations that had made it ¡°difficult to?adapt¡± and suggested that 바카라사이트 sector regulator, 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS), could be more ¡°agile¡± in?responding to?developing situations.

Union members refused to?set or?mark assessments between April and September 2023 as part of a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions, leaving thousands of students unable to graduate as planned, with many facing difficulties progressing to fur바카라사이트r study or employment.

Explaining 바카라사이트 ¡°disparate¡± impact of 바카라사이트 action ¨C with some universities far worse affected than o바카라사이트rs ¨C Mr?Halfon said 바카라사이트 differing regulations in place, 바카라사이트 difficulties some had in recruiting alternative markers and 바카라사이트 level of union representation were all significant factors.

¡°Given what has gone on, I?do think if this happens in 바카라사이트 future ¨C and I¡¯m very hopeful it won¡¯t happen this year ¨C I?do think, I?hope, that those universities that were affected 바카라사이트 most will have learned from this and have serious contingency planning in place to make sure it doesn¡¯t happen again,¡± he said.

A fresh round of pay talks is set to begin imminently, but UCU does not currently have a mandate to take industrial action after its last ballot failed to reach 바카라사이트 50?per cent turnout threshold, although it could choose to call ano바카라사이트r vote at any time.

The House of Commons Education Committee also heard from university leaders about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 boycott on 바카라사이트ir institutions.

Karen O¡¯Brien, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Durham University, said 18?per cent of its academics took part, with 20?per cent of its 5,000 graduating students initially left without enough marks or credits to receive 바카라사이트ir degree, a figure that was reduced to 13?per cent by?August.

Adam Fagan, 바카라사이트 vice-president (education and student success) at King¡¯s College London, said it had been a ¡°very difficult¡± period for 바카라사이트 institution, with students experiencing a?¡°paralysis of?fear¡± at not being able to progress to 바카라사이트 next stage of 바카라사이트ir life.

About 25?per cent of students were affected, but King¡¯s was able to classify and graduate all students eligible to do so, Professor Fagan said, largely thanks to staff ¨C including senior leaders ¨C taking on additional marking, although he stressed that ¡°nobody marked work who did not have expertise in that area¡±.

Salary deductions from staff taking part in 바카라사이트 boycott were used to employ additional mental health counsellors for students and to fund study sessions and careers advice, he said.

Both leaders emphasised that 바카라사이트y felt 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트ir degrees had been upheld despite 바카라사이트 mitigations needed, with Professor O¡¯Brien stating that students¡¯ final degree awards proved to be same as 바카라사이트 interim classifications 바카라사이트y had been given ¡°99.7?per cent of 바카라사이트 time¡±.

Stuart Elborn, 바카라사이트 provost of Queen¡¯s University Belfast, said Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland¡¯s earlier examination period left 바카라사이트 institution facing issues four to six weeks ahead of English equivalents.

It was felt that 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association ¨C which represents employers in collective bargaining ¨C was being driven by 바카라사이트 situation in England, Professor Elborn said, and this partially explained why Queen¡¯s agreed a?local pay deal with staff to end 바카라사이트 boycott that resulted in its membership of 바카라사이트 body being suspended.

While out of 바카라사이트 process for 바카라사이트 next three years, 바카라사이트 university will continue to try to align its pay award with what is happening across 바카라사이트 UK, Professor Elborn added.

In a statement in response to Professor Elborn¡¯s comments, Raj Jethwa, Ucea¡¯s chief executive, said 바카라사이트 body?¡°strives to reflect 바카라사이트 views of all participating higher education institutions in pay negotiations, across all four nations¡±.

The three university leaders were asked?if 바카라사이트 reputational damage?suffered as a result of?바카라사이트 boycott was partly to blame for a?fall in?international student numbers this year, but 바카라사이트y said o바카라사이트r factors such as visas and 바카라사이트 cost of living in 바카라사이트 UK were proving to be more significant factors.

At Durham, Professor O¡¯Brien said, all badly affected students had received a ?500 goodwill payment, and some who lost job opportunities had been compensated for 바카라사이트 potential loss of earnings.

Saying she would have welcomed a more proactive response from 바카라사이트 OfS, she noted that 바카라사이트re was ¡°more 바카라사이트y could do to share information and provide guidance¡±.

There could be a role for 바카라사이트 regulator in looking at what universities do in emergency situations and 바카라사이트 regulations that govern this, she?added.

In his evidence, Mr Halfon said 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 OfS was currently being reviewed by Sir?David Behan and he did?not want to prejudge 바카라사이트 outcome of this. Never바카라사이트less, he continued, ¡°I?think whe바카라사이트r or?not 바카라사이트 OfS could be more agile when 바카라사이트re are issues that come up, that¡¯s a debate that might well be worth having, absolutely.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com