10 September 2020

Universities should reduce face-to-face lessons in event of local outbreaks

10 September 2020

Universities should only offer face-to-face lessons for priority courses and students must not return to their family home if stricter measures become necessary amid local outbreaks, Government guidance says.

Institutions must have a plan in place that “assumes there is likely to be an increase in the number of cases, or an outbreak associated with their setting”, the Department for Education (DfE) advice says.

The updated guidance – published in the early hours of Thursday – comes as thousands of students prepare to return to campus for the start of term.

Universities should support students to socialise in Covid-secure environments – like campus bars and students’ unions – and they should identify “safer social activities” for them, the guidance says.

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from Monday in a bid to tackle rising coronavirus cases.

The creation of many new households brings with it a degree of risk, and we expect providers to take all reasonable actions to minimise this risk

Ahead of Freshers’ Week, universities have been told they should not allow students to have “private gatherings” in halls of residence which exceed the limits for gatherings in private households.

In student accommodation, universities are expected to identify “households” to manage routine contact as safely as possible.

These households in halls of residence would be students living in the same flat or on the same floor who share a kitchen or bathroom.

The guidance adds: “The reopening of campuses for academic year 2020 to 2021 will bring about a mass movement of students from across the UK and overseas, with the vast majority moving from other regions into student accommodation in the region in which their HE provider is located.

“The creation of many new households brings with it a degree of risk, and we expect providers to take all reasonable actions to minimise this risk.”

But the advice also calls on institutions to “consider students’ desire to interact socially and creatively” with peers as part of their experience.

It says: “You could look to designate specific areas (‘creative spaces’) for students to socially and creatively interact beyond the usual teaching environment. These areas could include markings to allow for social distancing or the use of screens.”

The advice adds that universities should base their plans for local outbreaks on a four-tier system of restrictions.

Blended learning – a mix of face-to-face tuition and online lessons – has been recommended as the “default position” when campuses reopen this month.

It says face coverings should be worn “where social distancing is difficult to maintain outside of teaching situations” – like corridors and communal areas.

Smaller teaching group sizes should be used where it is not possible to maintain social distancing.

It says: “You might consider reducing the sizes of casts in drama, the size of orchestras, or the number of students involved in movement sessions.”

Universities should open windows and look at offering some tuition outside, it adds.

Tier two – described as the “fallback” position – advises that universities should move to an increased level of online learning where possible.

Tier three calls for institutions only to retain face-to-face provision for priority courses and “in as limited number of situations as possible”.

At this stage, it says students should not return to their family home to “reduce the risk of transmitting the virus through travel”.

The last resort would be for university buildings to close to everyone except key workers and for the majority of provision to shift online.

The safety and wellbeing of university staff and students is our priority

It comes after Government scientific advisers warned that significant outbreaks of coronavirus linked to universities are “highly likely” and they risk amplifying the transmission of the disease across the country.

A paper by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), published on Friday, warned such outbreaks could coincide with Christmas and pose “a significant risk” to extended families.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), said: “We are unimpressed with the latest government guidance for English universities which contains confusing, expensive and, at times, silly suggestions.

“Moving learning online would remove the need for universities to consider teaching outside or opening doors and windows in the winter months, as the guidance suggests.”

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “The safety and wellbeing of university staff and students is our priority.

“Universities have been making a mammoth effort to safely open campuses and buildings to students this autumn, and the Government has worked closely with them to ensure they are well prepared for the return of students.

“The updated guidance includes the recent Sage advice and will help university leaders access the information they need, and assist their existing plans to keep students and staff as safe as possible.”

Universities UK (UUK), a group which represents vice-chancellors, said they had been working very hard to put significant Covid-secure safety measures in place for the start of the academic year.

Chief executive Alistair Jarvis said: “Life across all of society will be different this autumn, with university life no exception, with differences to previous years. However, students can look forward to a high-quality, rewarding and enjoyable experience at university this academic year.”

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