THE degrees standards watchdog has warned universities that emergency measures to award degrees amid an academic boycott threaten to devalue the qualifications.

As up to 400,000 students prepare for their final exams next week, the Qualification Assurance Agency has expressed concern that contingency plans to beat the industrial action, could put academic standards “in peril”.

Thousands of lecturers have refused to set, mark or invigilate exams and coursework since starting industrial action in March. Several institutions are preparing to award degrees before students get their full results. Others have appealed to solicitors and doctorate students to help to cover marking.

The warning comes as universities, students and the Government unite to increase pressure on the lecturers to accept the latest offer — a 12.6 per cent rise over three years.

Academics, led by the Association of University Teachers, its sister union, Natfhe, and EIS in Scotland, insist, however, that the offer falls far short of their demands and are refusing to ballot members.

The QAA warning comes after fears were raised that the integrity of degrees was at risk. Peter Williams, the QAA chief executive, admitted that universities faced difficult choices. He said that they had “contractual obligations to students, but cannot readily meet these if they are unable to assess students in the normal way”. By refusing to award degrees, they could be in breach of contract, as well as jeopardising career prospects.

“If, in these circumstances, an institution chooses to continue to assess students and award qualifications, we shall expect it to do so taking every measure available to it to ensure that its academic standards are not put in peril and the value of its awards is maintained,” he said.

In a letter seen by The Times, Mr Williams said that it was up to each university to decide on emergency measures and to ensure that it adhered to the code of practice. The QAA would examine arrangements if invited to do so by the funding council or the university.

Penalties for dropping academic standards could mean a reduction of funding grants.

Several top universities, including Birmingham and Cambridge, are preparing to award degrees on the basis of exams and papers marked so far. Students may take outstanding exams later if they feel their classification would be improved.

At Bristol, students will be awarded a temporary unclassified degree, getting marks later. Employers will receive references that will indicate the award expected.

The dispute has split academics, students and universities. Next week 35 student unions — representing more than 500,000 students — will have talks with AUT members to try to persuade them to enter into local pay deals, with a minimum threshold of 12.6 per cent over three years.

Last week Aberdeen, St Andrews and Huddersfield universities awarded local rises to staff of 5 per cent from August 1. AUT members at St Andrews had voted to end the boycott, but were overruled by AUT Scotland.

Gaston Dolle, the leader of Bristol student union, is one of 35 student presidents to have broken with the National Union of Students to find a resolution. “Natfhe and the AUT are being too stubborn,” he said. “I think if there are a few more incidents like those at Aberdeen and St Andrews, they will realise they’re not backed by their members on the ground.”

Universities, however, fear that the dispute has gone on too long to avoid serious disruption to degree examinations. Finals at most institutions should begin next week.

Drummond Bone, the president of Universities UK, said a deal was desperately needed. “Unless there is one by Monday, things are going to get seriously disrupted in a way that can’t be pulled back,” he said. “Parents are nervous and students are very worried. We are getting a lot of complaints.”

There was little sign of compromise yesterday, however, as the positions of both sides appeared to be hardening.

Lecturers want a 23 per cent pay rise over three years. They rejected an offer of 12.6 per cent put forward this week by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea). It said that the amount represented 90 per cent of the extra money coming into universities when tuition fees in England rise to £3,000 a year from September. Professor Bone said that the universities had “no more left to give”.

Several universities have said privately that they fear legal action for loss of earnings from students whose job offers depend on their getting at least a 2:1 degree.

DOING THE SUMS

A senior lecturer earning £38,772 in August could see a pay rise under the 12.6 per cent offer to £43,651 after three years. His pay will also rise on the pay scale, so that he is earning £47,698 by 2009

Figures from the AUT and Universities and Colleges Employers Association

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