Thousands of former students are poised to receive a portion of a £21 million settlement following a legal dispute concerning the impact of coronavirus lockdowns on their educational experience. University College London (UCL) has agreed to disburse the sum to approximately 6,500 individuals, emphasizing that they do not accept liability. The specific payout per person remains undetermined as of now, with students contending that the shift to online learning due to Covid restrictions resulted in an incomplete education.
Legal experts anticipate that this agreed settlement could set a precedent for other universities to compensate affected graduates. Student Group Claim is currently advocating for around 194,000 claimants from 36 different universities. UCL recently announced a confidential agreement in the case.
In a statement, UCL clarified, “While not admitting fault, we have reached this settlement to amicably resolve the matter and avoid diverting resources from our core mission of academic excellence and student support.” Adam Zoubir from Harcus Parker solicitors, representing the claimants, expressed satisfaction with the resolution for UCL attendees impacted by the pandemic. Meanwhile, Shimon Goldwater from Asserson solicitors, also representing the claimants, welcomed the commercial settlement and indicated a focus on assisting students from other institutions.
A spokesperson from Universities UK acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic, noting that universities, like other sectors, adhered to government directives to adapt swiftly. They highlighted the creative measures taken by universities to ensure students could complete their studies despite the disruptions caused by lockdowns.
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