Queen’s University Belfast won’t be compensating students whose courses have been affected by lecturers recent strike actions.
Many students who have been affected have had lectures and seminars cancelled and fear this has
caused them to lose money and be unfairly disadvantaged in achieving in their course with some signing
petitions demanding compensation.
caused them to lose money and be unfairly disadvantaged in achieving in their course with some signing
petitions demanding compensation.
Over 60 universities across the UK have also been disrupted by lecturers taking strike actions over a
dispute in staff pensions.
dispute in staff pensions.
Students at Queen’s were informed by an email sent last March from acting vice-chancellor Professor
James McElnay that, “no form of reduction in fees or compensation is being considered.”
James McElnay that, “no form of reduction in fees or compensation is being considered.”
The email goes on to state that the university will be making every effort to ensure that students will not
be disadvantaged in their end of year exams and assessments when the strike is over.
be disadvantaged in their end of year exams and assessments when the strike is over.
Anna Moore who is a first year student representative at Queen’s University says that although many
students supported the strikes, she still received multiple complaints from students, “whose time in
lectures were majorly disrupted.”
students supported the strikes, she still received multiple complaints from students, “whose time in
lectures were majorly disrupted.”
“There has definitely not been enough support for the students who missed out on major teachings of
certain assessed modules due to their lecturers decision to go on strike” said Anna, who is studying
Psychology.
certain assessed modules due to their lecturers decision to go on strike” said Anna, who is studying
Psychology.
“Most students were extremely cross about not getting reimbursed, especially Foreign Students who
are paying more for their fees and have lost out on vast amounts of money.
are paying more for their fees and have lost out on vast amounts of money.
“I have sympathy for my lecturers and understand they have a right to take industrial action but I feel
like the strike may have really compromised student’s education.
like the strike may have really compromised student’s education.
“I know I’ve personally missed out on a lot of learning material for my course and I’m just hoping that
it won’t affect the rest of my degree” said Anna.
it won’t affect the rest of my degree” said Anna.
Queen’s University members of The University and College Union (UCU), who organised the strike are
now asking for Professor James McElnay to talk to the umbrella organisation of higher education
University UK to settle the dispute over pensions.
now asking for Professor James McElnay to talk to the umbrella organisation of higher education
University UK to settle the dispute over pensions.
The Union has warned that further strike action will take place if the issue is not acceptably resolved.
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