Are university strikes impacting students learning?

With recent UCU Strike’s across the UK, students learning has been impacted and they have been left to question why they feel they’re being punished.

The UCU Strike action which took place on 24th, 25th and the 30th of November. It is estimated that 2.5 million students were affected by the cancellation of lectures, seminars, and workshops.

Although it was felt by many students that they were being punished for something that is

ultimately not their fault, university staff have been met with solidarity by students too along the picket lines. This is partly because the UCU strikes also relate to students, as the quality of their education relies heavily on the working conditions of the staff who work to support students.

Many students however have felt upset that their teaching has been hindered due to the strikes and feel it is not their fault.

On the University of Sheffield picket line, Ian Sudbry, from the School of Bioscience said: "I can understand that it is upsetting, I was upset.

"Students should complain about it to the powers, their heads of department, heads of programme, and the Vice Chancellor."

University staff who continue to receive low pay, unsustainable high workloads, insecure contracts and disparities in pay, feel overworked and therefore struggle to help students achieve the best possible education.

Mr Sudbry said: "The service students are getting at the minute probably isn't as good as it should be, they shouldn't be taught by people who are on temporary contracts."

Staff part of the UCU do not want to strike, but they want higher education to be a healthier place for staff and students, the current working conditions hinder this.

On the picket line Caroline Bland, from the Department of Languages and Cultures was carrying a banner stating: ‘I would rather be teaching’. She said: "It's a really hard thing to go on strike and withdraw labour from students."

The UCU strikes are not a matter of staff against students to impact their learning, it’s a bigger fight to provide better support for students and a richer, more meaningful education.

Edited by Caitlin Hart