More than a million university students - including many from our area - will face up to 10 days of strikes by lecturers in February, a union has announced.

Lecturers from 68 institutions will walk out as part of the strikes.

Industrial action is set to take place over 10 days, starting with a full week of action from February 14. A further two days of strike will be carried out on February 21 and 22, while the final three days will be from February 18 to March 2.

Lecturers plan to walk out in disputes over pay, conditions and pensions, the University and College Union (UCU) said.

However, university student and Nub News reader and contributor Owen Rodbard is sympathetic about the prospect of strike action but says it couldn't have come at a worse time as exams loom.

With students already having their university experience negatively impacted by the Covid pandemic, it seems as if they will suffer once again through no fault of their own.

Read on for Owen's take on the situation.

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University lecturers are planning on in striking over falling pay and apparent insecure working conditions.

The possible strike could affect students for up to 10 days, starting with the week beginning February 14.

A further two days of striking will be occur on February 21 and 22 and the final three days will be between February 18 to March 2.

Not only is this going to have a detrimental affect on many students who are veering towards their dissertation or final test project, but could have knock on affects to all students completing assessment tasks. 

I understand the strain that has been put on lecturers with the pandemic turning most teaching to online learning, but the strike couldn't be at a worse time for final year students like myself. 

There is potential for more strikes in the future, and even possibly a strike on marking and assessments which will have detrimental effects on the futures of final year and masters students. 

I do however see the benefits of the strike. Lecturers are underpaid, overworked and have an insecure future which could majorly affect their pension payments in later life. 

I sympathise, but think this is the completely wrong time to strike for the sake of the students. 

Owen Rodbard attends Leeds Beckett University where he is in his final year studying Sports Marketing. Owen hails from North Herts and regularly writes about Stevenage FC for Nub News

What do you think? Are you a university student from North Herts affected by the forthcoming strikes? Get in touch and make your vice heard