Issue 143

By Hook Or By Crook You Will Graduate

08th November 2005

Students will graduate - that's the message from the University, AUT and Students' Union.

In spite of the ongoing pay dispute, leaders from all three bodies have assured students that exams will go ahead and they should continue with their revision. Now that the master timetable for exam dates has been published only one exam has been rescheduled, affecting just two students, although Waterfront knows of at least one aural language exam that has been rescheduled, affecting twenty students or more.

"No exams will be cancelled, nor is there was any intention of cancelling," said Hugh Morris, Swansea University Academic Registrar. "Although the master timetable for exams has been posted, I am reviewing the exam timetable and only reshuffling exams if I consider the workload to be too much for the students or in the event of a clash."

The Vice Chancellor and the President of the Students' Union, Becki McKinlay, have also confirmed that students should "keep revising" as exams will "undoubtedly go ahead".

"This is a national dispute," continued Professor Richard Davies, Vice Chancellor. "Here at Swansea, the effect is patchy and staff across the campus are working hard to resolve any local difficulties. The remarkable success of the University in recent years, including the massive achievement of winning the Times Higher award for Best Student Experience, evidences the dedication and professional commitment of our staff.

"My personal view is well known: salaries should reflect excellent performance whether it be at a personal or institutional level. It is therefore particularly appropriate at Swansea that we have above-inflation salary increases over the next few years. The University does not have a single contingency plan. We are reviewing a range of options on a day-to-day basis. The emphasis is upon achieving as close to "business as usual" as possible.

"I remain confident with regard to the internal strike, and I would like to reassure students that the University will endeavour to ensure that graduation takes place on time. I do not believe for a minute that the AUT action will continue long enough to affect graduation or enrolment for next year. If I am proved wrong, the University will draw up contingency plans, as appropriate."

But with the strike continuing throughout the UK, media reports have contributed to student anxiety. Howard Moss, a committee member of the AUT, was keen to allay student fears. "By hook or by crook, students will graduate," he said in a recent Waterfront interview.

The dispute is rolling on in spite of a 12.6% pay deal that was put on the table last week by UCEA, the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association, which is responsible for co-ordinating the university response to the strike.

Coincidentally, last week was also the date of an annual meeting of 300 AUT delegates in Scarborough. A vote over whether to accept UCEA's offer of a 12.6% pay rise over the next three years was collectively rejected.

"It was not as much as teaching staff had originally been promised," said Mr Moss. "It worked out that the percentage for the three years in which the 12.6% would have been split, would have been close to the rate of inflation."

Frustration is evident amongst lecturers who are both torn between their students and their right to a better pay. On Wednesday 17 May both the AUT and UCEA were brought together by a Parliamentary Select Committee in order to discuss the situation and find a solution, and both parties now seem to be at a stand-off. At the time of going to press, the Vice Chancellor, along with other universities from across the UK, was due to meet with UCEA to explore a way forward.

The government has now stepped in with the Labour MP Barry Sheerman heading the committee. He is reported to be "hopping mad" with the situation that has needed government intervention. All parties seek a resolution now that the government has intervened in the dispute. Sheerman resolved, "We were trying to air issues and perhaps get a dialogue going."

Emma Rogers