POTENTIAL cuts in face-to-face teaching time at a university are being challenged by the lecturers’ union.

‘Live’ modules delivered at Durham University could be cut by by 25-per cent, with more courses to be rolled out online during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The proposals, revealed in the student newspaper Palatinate, could be introduced by the start of the new academic year.

But the University and College Union (UCU) has called for the plans to be halted to allow staff and students to be consulted.

UCU general secretary, Jo Grady, said: “Changes to our higher education system should be led by staff from the ground up, whether they are necessitated by Covid-19 or not.

“We will do everything we can to challenge this and any other similarly destructive proposals.

“The global pandemic is not an opportunity for universities to try to swiftly implement radical change.”

She said it appears to be, “an attack on the livelihoods and the professional expertise of hard-working staff.”

The proposals, shared among heads of departments, are to be considered by the university’s senate, next week.

Professor Antony Long, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor and provost, said: “We want to ensure we can continue to deliver the highest possible quality of educational offer for both current and future students within a strong collegiate and academic community.

“None of us yet know what the 2020/21 academic year will look like, but we must plan now so that when we do, we have options properly developed and ready to implement for our current and future students.

“Anticipating some, perhaps a significant number of students will be unable to travel to and live in Durham in 2020/21, we’re preparing an online, distance learning programme that is both inclusive and high-quality.

“We are extremely grateful for how our staff have responded to the Covid-19 crisis and we welcome their input, as well as that from trade union and student representatives, as we seek to take these proposals forward.”