Thousands of former students are poised to receive a portion of £21 million following a legal claim regarding disruptions to their education during the Covid-19 lockdowns. University College London (UCL) has agreed to disburse the multi-million sum to approximately 6,500 individuals, without accepting liability. The distribution amount for each student remains undetermined at this stage, as per reports from the Financial Times. The students alleged that due to the lockdowns, which led to campus closures and a shift to online learning, they did not receive the full educational experience they had paid for.
Legal experts suggest that this settlement may prompt other universities to compensate their graduates. Student Group Claim is advocating for roughly 194,000 claimants from 36 different universities.
UCL announced on Friday that a confidential settlement had been reached. The university clarified that while they did not admit fault, the agreement was made to swiftly resolve the matter to avoid diverting resources away from core activities such as teaching and research. The focus remains on providing an exceptional education and experience for students.
Adam Zoubir, a partner at Harcus Parker solicitors representing the claimants against UCL, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, highlighting that it concludes the claim against UCL but ongoing representation continues for students at other institutions during the pandemic. Shimon Goldwater, a partner at Asserson solicitors, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the positive resolution achieved for their clients against UCL and the forthcoming attention to claimants from other universities.
Responding to the settlement, Universities UK acknowledged the unprecedented challenges faced by universities and students during the pandemic. They noted that institutions, in line with government directives, swiftly adapted to ensure students could complete their degrees by implementing innovative teaching methods during periods of restricted in-person instruction.
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