UCU: Call for independent body for dispute resolution

Motion

Motion text: This congress notes that since the Higher Education Act of 2004 came into force, student disputes that escalate beyond internal procedures can be referred to an independent body, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
However, by abolishing the visitor system the act took away remedies for employee and employee/student disputes, leaving those involved in such complex issues with no recourse but to the courts.
This congress notes the negative impact of this development on dispute resolution within universities and colleges, and calls for the establishment of an independent body equivalent to the OIA to which such disputes can be referred.
This conference, noting numerous reported instances of poor grievance procedures and processes in HE, also instructs HEC to commission an audit of grievances procedures and processes in all HE institutions to report by next congress.