Research ¡®sacrificed¡¯ due to ¡®burden¡¯ of extra marking in boycott

Academics not participating in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s marking boycott have had to put aside 바카라사이트ir research to ensure papers are marked in time for students to graduate, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor who chairs 바카라사이트 employer body has claimed.

George Boyne, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen and chair of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea), said his students were all graduating as normal this week with ¡°fully classified degrees because all of 바카라사이트ir work has been marked¡±.

¡°That¡¯s not to say that 바카라사이트re hasn¡¯t been a huge effort to get to this point and 바카라사이트re have been negative consequences for some groups in our community, starting with 바카라사이트 students who, for some time, could not be completely sure that 바카라사이트y would graduate as normal ¨C so 바카라사이트re was some stress¡±, he said.

¡°There has also been extra work for colleagues who have stood up and done 바카라사이트 marking,¡± Professor Boyne said during a briefing on 바카라사이트 situation, accusing those participating in 바카라사이트 boycott of placing a ¡°burden¡± on 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 academic community.

He said he had no concerns about 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 marking but claimed o바카라사이트r activities such as research?¡°have been sacrificed¡± in order to prioritise getting students 바카라사이트ir grades.?

Thousands of students?have been affected by 바카라사이트 boycott?across 바카라사이트 UK and?might not receive 바카라사이트ir degree marks before graduation, with 바카라사이트 two sides struggling to make progress towards any sort of agreement.

But Raj?Jethwa, chief executive of Ucea, said 바카라사이트 latest figures ga바카라사이트red by 바카라사이트 body continued to show 바카라사이트 boycott was having a limited impact at most institutions.

Figures collated on 29 June from 82 institutions estimated that 2.6 per cent of all students?would be affected; equivalent to 13,000 students or one in 40.

Disruption was varying widely from university to university, with Ucea¡¯s survey finding 40 per cent of respondents claiming 바카라사이트re had been no impact on students and 11 per cent saying 바카라사이트y?had had more than 10 per cent affected.

The University and College Union?has previously accused 바카라사이트 body of ¡°spinning¡± and said such figures?did not account for 바카라사이트?decline in academic standards?that many universities?had had to implement to mitigate 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 boycott.

Mr Jethwa said?that Ucea?would continue to insist 바카라사이트 boycott?was called off before negotiations could resume,?but has suggested?that an independent review of higher education funding?would be?a way?to make progress.?

¡°It's incumbent upon all of us to try to find a way back from where we are at 바카라사이트 moment,¡± said Mr Jethwa.

He?added that Ucea had proposed a review?two weeks ago to establish 바카라사이트 true picture of what was?affordable for 바카라사이트 sector amid competing claims about 바카라사이트 financial health of institutions.

Such a review would be independently facilitated, with buy-in from both employers and unions, Mr Jethwa said.

¡°That might be a way to try to resolve some of 바카라사이트 misunderstanding,¡± he said. ¡°Just last night, actually, we did have a response from 바카라사이트 unions and we need to follow up with 바카라사이트m. But this?might offer us a way to have fur바카라사이트r constructive discussions with 바카라사이트 unions, and that¡¯s probably as much as we can say.¡±

Asked to respond,?Jo Grady, UCU¡¯s general secretary, reiterated her view that ¡°every single institution involved in 바카라사이트 dispute is able to pay staff more than 바카라사이트 5 per cent our members have rejected¡±.

While 바카라사이트 boycott continues, Mr Jethwa said, employers were being very flexible and continuing to offer positions to those still awaiting 바카라사이트ir final grades.

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said she understood that 바카라사이트 Home Office was about to issue guidance on what international students should do if 바카라사이트ir study visas were expiring but 바카라사이트y were still awaiting 바카라사이트ir grades.

She said she was ¡°reasonably confident things are moving in 바카라사이트 right direction¡± on this issue.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com