Fed-up lecturers are hoping to shut down University of Kent campuses as they go on strike from today.

With the ambition to completely stop all lessons until next Wednesday, members of the Universities and College Union (UCU) are refusing to work over a dispute about pay and conditions.

Both Canterbury and Medway campuses will feel the heavy effect of the eight-day strike, leaving thousands of students without tutorship.

Students, some of whom have key essays and coursework to submit, have been told over email to expect seminar and lecture cancellations.

Professors have informed their classes they won't be responding to questions over email during the eight-day period.

One disgruntled masters student says she is "deeply concerned by the impact it will have on her degree programme".

"It feels as if we are being punished," she said.

KMTV report as students across Kent face major disruption

"I am particularly concerned about the effect it will have on my upcoming essays due next month. My professors have told me that they will not even be contactable by email.

"The university says we will not get any financial compensation because ‘tuition fees relate to your education as a whole - including the facilities - rather than individual teaching sessions' - it's complete nonsense.

"What students primarily pay for is exposure and interaction with academic staff, and the university will still get paid by students during these eight days."

The university says it cannot guarantee cancelled lectures or seminars will be rescheduled.

UCU regional official Mike Moran, who believes the action is in "everyone's best interest", says the mass walkout is due to employers ignoring lecturer's pay and equalities claim.

"Parents having to pay fortunes for their children's education need value for money," he explained.

"And value for money means a properly resourced and secure workforce - not one which is overworked and unable to give it's best.

"We hope to shut down the university totally for the duration of the strike - that is our intention.

"We don't wish to harm students - we have been forced into this position and we found out that most student unions are supportive of our actions.

"Although it will impact negatively on them, they realise a well-rewarded and secure workforce delivering education to them is in their interests at the end of the day."

Protests will take place at the campuses from 8am for the next eight days.

Some 850 members at the university - ranging from lecturers and teachers to support staff working in computing, information services and administration - were asked to take part in the vote about whether to take action.

A ballot earlier this month saw 75% back the strikes - which will run until Wednesday, December 4.

Mr Moran, who warns of more strikes if better wages aren't secured, says protests will be "noisy, peaceful and fun".

"None of our members who dedicated to their profession would do this lightly," he said.

"We're doing this because we've seen our wages stagnate by 20% over the last 10 years, we've seen gender and ethnic minority pay gaps get wider and wider.

"We hope to get employers back to the negotiating table and for them to offer a serious solution to the problems of declining pay, increasing casualisation and increasing gender pay gaps and workload."

The University of Kent will be part of 60 other universities across the nation to be affected by the strikes.

Mr Moran says lecturers have worked millions of extra hours over the past year without getting paid for their overtime, equating to 25,000 free full-time jobs.

Lecturers have previously gone on strike over pensions

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