Unitec is urging the Tertiary Education Union to return to the negotiating table and avoid further disruption to students' examination preparations.

Unitec, part of the Multi-Employer Contract Agreement (MECA) group, along with NorthTec, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Waikato Institute of Technology, and Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki, and Whitireia Polytechnic remain hopeful of reaching an agreement despite another breakdown in negotiations.

The group is concerned that industrial action by TEU members will have an adverse affect on students particularly so close to examinations.

"There is already enough pressure on students at the moment with their studying that the last thing they need to worry about is how this will affect their exams," says Unitec Chief Executive, Dr Rick Ede.

He says Unitec has a contingency plan in place to minimise disruption to students should further industrial action occur during the examination period.

These provisions include independent facilitators to supervise exam rooms, and rescheduling and re-allocating assessments that have been affected by the TEU's industrial action.