University bosses have offered students £50 Amazon vouchers as they face a potentially costly lawsuit after lectures were cancelled because of staff strikes.

The “goodwill gesture” was made today by University of Kent vice-chancellor Professor Karen Cox as the fallout of the industrial action in February and March threatens to end up in court.

Almost 300 students have already signed up to a potential class action against the university, seeking reimbursement of their tuition fees for the lost teaching hours.

Among them is first year law student Xavier Alexis-Greenfield, who said: “Our main concern isn’t about money - our main concern is that if the strikes happen again in the future, to make sure the university can’t act in the same manner and students can be kept in the loop.

“The university didn’t push back exams or give us any more time to prepare, which was desperately needed.”

When contacted by KentOnline yesterday, the University of Kent said it has not received notification of any class action.

Today, Prof Cox emailed all students due to finish their degrees this year, saying the university did not wish to profit from salaries being withheld from staff during the strikes.

She wrote: “Whilst we have understandably prioritised the academic mitigation of the impact of the action on you, Kent Union have been actively campaigning on your behalf to make sure that any money saved is used for the benefit of students.”

The vice-chancellor says money saved will be spent on activities and services for students, including student hardship funds and additional IT and library provision.

Students who paid out for travel or childcare only to find their lecture was cancelled will also be reimbursed.

Prof Cox ended the email by saying students will be sent a £50 Amazon e-voucher before July 2.

The University and College Union says that more than one million students were affected by the strikes, with a total of 575,000 teaching hours lost.

About 5,000 students have signed up to universitycompensation.co.uk, which has been set up by London law firm Asserson, which says it intends to bring the class action.

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.