CONTINGENCY plans are being put into place so final year students at Southampton's two universities and at Winchester can graduate despite an assessment boycott by some lecturers.
Members of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) are refusing to carry out assessment work, mark coursework or oversee exams.
The latest pay talks have ended in stalemate, with the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association increased offer of a 12.6 per cent rise over three years rejected by lecturers' unions.
Dr David Wheatley, AUT representative at Southampton University, said industrial action was necessary to prevent the brain drain of British lecturers to more lucrative positions abroad.
Southampton University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Wakeham said: "Only a minority of academic staff at the University of Southampton are AUT members, and not all of those are taking part in the AUT action. The progression and graduation of our students is my top priority."
A Southampton Solent University spokesman, with around 16,000 undergraduates and postgraduates said contingency plans were in place if needed.
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