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 the sector could avoid further disruption this year.
Appearing in front of MPs investigating the fallout of the University and College Union (UCU) action, Robert Halfon said some universities had regulations that had made it “difficult to adapt” and suggested that the sector regulator, the 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 further study or employment.
Explaining the “disparate” impact of the action – with some universities far worse affected than others – Mr Halfon said the differing regulations in place, the difficulties some had in recruiting alternative markers and the level of union representation were all significant factors.
