Universities minister Sam Gyimah has said universities should compensate students for teaching time lost because of academics' ongoing strike over pensions.
Gyimah said institutions should ensure any classes missed as a result of the 14 days of strike action are made up for on non-strike days, the Financial Times has reported, something the University and College Union has ruled out.
The UCU and Universities UK, the body representing employers, held talks on Monday over the pensions dispute and said the talks made progress.
The UCU has however said it will continue with the strikes. Staff walked out on a total of five days both last week and this, and will strike for four days next week and five days the following week. Gyimah called on the UCU to suspend its action.
The proposed pension changes would see the Universities Superannuation Scheme close the career average revalued earnings arrangement and set up a new defined contribution scheme, although UUK would commit "to consider in three years’ time if defined benefits can be reintroduced should the scheme’s funding conditions improve".
The DC scheme proposed by UUK would see employers pay 18 per cent in contributions, with employees having the choice to put in either 8 per cent or 4 per cent. Employers would pay the costs of investment charges, UUK stressed.
The £60bn USS has an estimated funding hole of £7.5bn, or £6.1bn taking into account the proposed switch to DC.
