Queen's Students' Union urges all parties to work towards "a quick resolution" in light of Marking & Assessment Boycott
Kirsty King
The Scoop has requested a statement from Queen’s Students’ Union regarding how it is advocating for and supporting students currently impacted by QUB's response to staff taking part in a UK-wide UCU Marking and Assessment Boycott, particularly final year students who have been told they might not be able to graduate this summer.
A statement was received today, and began by saying that The Students' Union is “disappointed that the Marking and Assessment Boycott could have a significant impact on students, particularly those graduating this summer, and we are in discussions with the University to identify possible mitigations for those affected.”
It continues; “We have also been liaising with other Students’ Unions, and we have signed letters alongside other Russell Group SU’s and also with NUS calling on UCEA to reopen negotiations with UCU on pay and conditions.”
The statement concludes by highlighting that the group of students “most affected have had a very challenging University experience, including the impact of Covid and the Cost-of-living crises” and “we would urge all parties to work towards a quick resolution.”
Andy, a current final year student at Queen’s is in full support of the boycott and strikes, his grievances lying with upper management at the University. He says, “I received an email alerting me that my course is impacted by the marking boycotts that Queen’s University Belfast mistreating their staff has caused”. He continues, “there is a chance that I will be unable to graduate. Three years, debt, hours upon hours of work. For this?”
In an email to students and a video posted on Queen’s social media platforms last week, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Ian Greer announced that “approximately 40 students” would be unable to graduate this summer, who Queen’s would “meet with directly”.
Furthermore, students who are impacted following decisions by exam boards will be contacted by their head of school “no later than Thursday 15th June”. A dedicated helpline and a set of Frequently Asked Questions has been set up on the University’s website for students seeking support at this time.
Regarding the boycott, the Vice-Chancellor reiterated that he “remains open to discussions at any time to secure a local resolution to the specific issue that delivers the best possible outcome for our students”.
Meanwhile, an information graphic about the boycott for students posted on the QUB branch of UCU's Twitter page this afternoon explains that while “The QUB Vice-Chancellor has asked UCEA to negotiate”, the University is “still punishing and scaring staff by docking 50 per cent of staff pay for participating in legal industrial action.”
QUB also “told staff who support the Marking & Assessment boycott not to participate in exam boards, which may impact academic standards”. Both of these are steps which other universities have not taken. The graphic explains that students themselves can “ask the QUB Vice-Chancellor (vc.pa@qub.ac.uk) and the employer’s representative, UCEA, to negotiate: enquiries@ucea.ac.uk”.
A student protest has been organised for Thursday, June 15 outside the Lanyon building, which is calling for “fair treatment of students and staff” in light of the boycott. The organisers, who have created an Instagram page called ‘protestqub’ are “calling all students who are sick and tired of being disrespected by the University” to join for “student action for recognition, negotiation and resolution”.
A petition has also been launched by the organisers, demanding that the University “Give students the degree they earned”, “Give students a guarantee that their future will not be affected”, and finally “Provide transparency in the handling of the situation”.
Kirsty King is Head of The Scoop and an English graduate of Queen’s University Belfast