Wollongong Undergraduate Students’ Association president Sam Tedeschi claimed members of the university’s academic union ‘’blocked’’ the reforms at a recent meeting of the university’s academic senate.

‘’We have carried on the fight for all lectures to be recorded and made available online because we stand up for all students,’’ he said. 

‘’...The absurd fear expressed by some lecturers that the recordings of lectures will be used to monitor their performance is just a poor excuse to deny the rights of students.’’

Mr Tedeschi said students had lobbied for 12 months to implement the policy, which would bring UOW into line with many other universities.

However National Tertiary Education Union Wollongong branch president Associate Professor Georgine Clarsen maintained that many of its members used the Echo360 system to record lectures for online use.

‘’We use it where it can be demonstrated to improve the learning outcomes for students, where there is a specific need and where it compliments the face-to-face teaching experience,’’ she said.

‘’However not all academics feel that way. Some have genuine concerns the over reliance on Echo360 will reduce the quality of learning for students via the loss of in-class interaction and engagement with academic staff.’’

She said the union welcomed ongoing discussion on the issue, and supported the right of academics to engage in these – and share their concerns if desired.

Mr Tedeschi said the student union would continue to fight for the reforms.