University lecturers announce marking boycott in cuts row

Lecturers at the University of Edinburgh are to begin a marking boycott this week in a row over planned cuts.

Academics who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) said the action was planned after the university refused to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of a £140m savings package.

The boycott, which begins on Friday, will halt all marking and assessment in writing, online and in-person, which could impact the upcoming exam season.

A spokesperson for the university said the move "purposefully targeted students", describing it as "completely unjustifiable".

A previous marking boycott affected graduations in 2023.

The university said the cuts were necessary to tackle "severe financial difficulties".

However, the UCU has accused the institution of "punitive" punishments for staff taking part in the action – including the deduction of pay for those participating.

The university said that constituted a "partial performance of duties" and a "breach of contract of employment".

The boycott will also cover exam invigilation and the administrative processing of marks.

UCU branch president Sophia Woodman said staff has been "forced into" the action by the university's reluctance to rule out mandatory job losses as part of the savings.

She added: "No-one wants to take part in a marking boycott but we've been forced into this by the inaction and unwillingness of management to resolve this dispute.

"Edinburgh University, a charity, is one of the richest universities in the UK.

"No charity should be sitting on savings of billions while cutting the staff who deliver their core purpose; in Edinburgh's case conducting world-leading research and teaching students."

Several unions, including the UCU, have been involved in an increasingly bitter dispute with the university since the savings plans were announced in February last year.

Earlier this month, a protester was ejected from a coffee shop close to Old College after allegedly accosting the university's principal and vice chancellor Sir Peter Mathieson.

Mathieson said the university was "profoundly disappointed, disheartened and frustrated" by the boycott.

He added: "We believe that this action is completely unjustifiable and will add unnecessary strain on our students during an already challenging and important time.

"Students will understandably have very real concerns about the disruption this boycott will cause, given that for some this may impact receiving awards or outcomes on progression.

"We will take all practical steps to keep exams and coursework submissions on track to support our students' ability to progress and graduate."

The previous boycott saw students graduate without knowing their final marks.

Some said they were handed "empty pieces of paper" at their graduation ceremonies.

However that involved UCU members at 145 institutions across the UK.

Students in George Square, outside the university's central library, were in favour of the action.

Fourth year student Fiona said the dispute had been dragging on since her first year.

"The people who have made my education here are the staff," she said.

"It's my lecturers, my tutors who have shown up for me even if they have been underpaid and dragged on by management.

"It must be exhausting as a staff member to be going through that for four years."

Third year student Misha added: "The university is intentionally framing this as staff against students, when staff have been forced into this position.

"This marking boycott is not inevitable if the university meets the demands the staff have for this."