Since the recent round of strike days came to an end earlier this week, we wanted to update you on what’s happening now, and what may happen next.
Your assessments and examinations
We know that some students have missed teaching and assessment and are concerned about how this may affect them. Schools and Institutes are working hard to look at the impact on students and to ensure that students are not disadvantaged in relation to their assessments and examinations. Guidance is being provided to staff about the different ways this could happen with details of how we will ensure that academic standards are maintained, and there is further detail on how this can be done for the most affected cohorts. A summary of this is available for you and we hope it provides some reassurance. Your School or Institute will be in touch with you directly with more details.
Please check through the answers to frequently asked questions and talk with your School or Institute about any detail of the impact on you. We recognise that this period may be stressful, particularly as you wait for more information. Advice and support is available to help you study well and live well.
Further industrial action
UCU, the trade union taking strike action, have announced that they may ask their members to take further strike action, and would give us formal notice of this two weeks in advance. In the meantime, they have asked their members to take action short of a strike (sometimes called ASOS or working to contract). Queen Mary will not withhold pay from staff if they participate in this sort of action.
The answers to frequently asked questions about why this industrial action is happening and what Queen Mary is doing to minimise the impact on students continues to be available online, and you can also call, email or drop in to the Student Enquiry Centre or contact your School or Institute if you want to talk it through. We’ll keep you updated on any developments in relation to the pensions dispute.
Bursaries and how we support students
I understand that staff and students are concerned about the changes to the QMUL bursary scheme for 2018/19. I’ve published information on MyQMUL to explain how the changes came about. We are talking with QMSU about these changes and how we’ll run the scheme in the future.
Best wishes,
Rebecca LingwoodVice-Principal, Student Experience, Teaching and Learning