UNIVERSITIES breaking industrial action risk their reputations being “flushed down the toilet” by “degree inflation,” according to trade unionists.

As the dispute over sector over pay, pensions, terms and conditions rumbles on, UCU activists have accused universities of prioritising graduations and breaking the marking boycott over the resolution of their dispute — actions which they say will “dilute” standards.

One worker at the University of Glasgow said that the institution was resorting to “guessing” as it attempted to “circumvent missing marks,” saying: “The university has been keeping this quiet as it scrambles together a hasty plan and tries to hide the controversy.