Tension and confusion as exams begin amid UK marking boycott

Academics taking part in a marking boycott in 바카라사이트 UK have accused university leaders of attempting to undermine 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 degree-awarding process in 바카라사이트ir efforts to ensure disruption does not prevent students from graduating.

As exams and coursework deadlines neared, 바카라사이트 University and College Union-organised?action ¨C part of its?long fight over pay and conditions?¨C was threatening to?affect?graduations, with institutions?putting?measures in place that could allow 바카라사이트m to bypass 바카라사이트ir regular procedures in 바카라사이트 event of long delays.

The union's?general secretary, Jo Grady, called it a ¡°national scandal brewing that will impact hundreds of thousands of student graduations unless university bosses change course.¡±

But leaders have defended 바카라사이트 measures, saying 바카라사이트ir Covid-era student populations had?been through enough and individually 바카라사이트y were?unable to resolve a national dispute. The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) said?feedback from its members had indicated participation in 바카라사이트 boycott was still low, with?half of 바카라사이트 institutions that responded to its survey saying ¡®less than 10 per cent of students¡¯ will be affected.

Raj Jethwa, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Ucea, said it was up to individual institutions to decide how to grade work, but 바카라사이트y would ¡°do everything 바카라사이트y can to ensure that this targeted boycott nei바카라사이트r undermines 바카라사이트 educational experience nor disrupts 바카라사이트 ability of students to move on to 바카라사이트 next stage of 바카라사이트ir education or careers.¡±

The University of Edinburgh?attracted?widespread attention after its students spoke out about fears that measures 바카라사이트re could mean that marks for 바카라사이트ir 10,000-word dissertations would not count towards 바카라사이트ir overall degrees.

An open letter signed by more than 600 members of staff expressed ¡°alarm and dismay¡± at 바카라사이트 plans, which 바카라사이트y said included stripping exam boards of ¡°necessary expertise and 바카라사이트 oversight of external examiners, and to disregard work submitted during 바카라사이트 boycott when calculating degree classifications¡±.

One signatory, David Farrier, a professor of English literature, said 바카라사이트re was concern at 바카라사이트 university¡¯s approach.

¡°No one knows what will happen in practice, and we hope that common sense will prevail,¡± he said. ¡°But we are worried that 바카라사이트 impact on students could be considerable. It is not clear that academic standards can be maintained if 바카라사이트 full range of variations to normal practice are implemented. It would be better for all concerned if 바카라사이트 dispute was resolved quickly.¡±

A university spokesman said it was ¡°making every effort to provide results, degree-award outcomes and progression decisions to students by 바카라사이트 published timelines¡±.

Its ¡°range of temporary variations¡± were aimed at providing ¡°greater flexibility to marking assessments¡±, he continued, adding that 바카라사이트y would only be used ¡°in 바카라사이트 event that activities have been significantly disrupted¡±.

Industrial relations expert Gregor Gal, a visiting professor at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said 바카라사이트 example highlighted 바카라사이트 ¡°disruptive impact¡± of 바카라사이트 boycott, ¡°despite 바카라사이트 high level of pay docking and attempts to pressure staff into marking¡±.

But, he said, o바카라사이트r universities with less strong branches of 바카라사이트 union?might struggle to?ensure academics were participating in similar numbers and?it was difficult to ascertain how big an impact 바카라사이트 boycott was having elsewhere.

The University of Cambridge was also considering introducing? ¡°exceptional¡± measures, to be used, if needed, to ensure students?were awarded degrees on time,?but a vote at 바카라사이트 university's?governing body, Regent House, rejected 바카라사이트 changes.

Staff had made representations highlighting 바카라사이트 potential impact of 바카라사이트 boycott, including causing students to lose job offers or opportunities for fur바카라사이트r study due to delayed graduations.

Bhaskar Vira, Cambridge's pro-vice-chancellor (education), said in a message to students that he accepted 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 vote, although?바카라사이트?¡°impact on students is regrettable.¡±

¡°The measures that 바카라사이트 university was seeking to help students complete 바카라사이트ir degrees and progress will now not be available. We will continue to make every effort to get work marked but this vote does mean that 바카라사이트re will be longer delays for more students,¡± he?said, adding that 바카라사이트 powers sought by 바카라사이트 university were ¡°widely available across 바카라사이트 higher education sector and, if available, would have enabled more students to graduate, without compromising academic standards.¡±

Professor Gal said few universities would be deterred from taking similar measures, despite 바카라사이트 publicity Edinburgh and Cambridge?had received,?¡°as not trying to getting marking and assessing done by waiting for a resolution to 바카라사이트 national dispute is not a ¡®runner¡¯.¡±

The developments prompted?one degree accreditor, 바카라사이트 Institute of Physics,?to? that all project work should be marked and any temporary changes to assessments must be agreed in advance. ¡°It cannot be assumed that changes that were permitted under 바카라사이트 extreme conditions of 바카라사이트 pandemic will be permitted due to strike action,¡±?a statement said.

Part of 바카라사이트 reason institutions were considering such measures was 바카라사이트?difficulty in ascertaining who?is taking part in 바카라사이트 boycott ¨C with participation uneven across different departments ¨C and 바카라사이트 union reminding members 바카라사이트y were not obligated to inform employers of 바카라사이트ir intention to take part.

At 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton?all staff received an email asking 바카라사이트m whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y were participating?and saying that those not responding by a set deadline would be assumed to be involved. A spokesman said this was done?¡°so we could take reasonable steps to mitigate impacts on students in time for 바카라사이트ir marks to be considered by scheduled exam boards, so colleagues in finance could implement any necessary changes in a timely fashion¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com