Universities could put students in 'bubbles' with coursemates to minimise mixing
3 June 2020, 00:38
University students could be made to live in "bubbles" with course mates to minimise social mixing when campuses reopen in the autumn.
Virtual freshers' weeks, smaller lectures and one-way systems are among the proposed plans for new arrivals to UK universities later in the year.
The measures have been drawn up in a bid to keep universities safe following relaxed coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Leaders from UK institutions unveiled the plans on Wednesday, including using a "blended" learning approach, with a mix of online and face-to-face classes.
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The vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University, Liz Barnes, said her institution may put students from the same courses into the same accommodation in order to keep a "bubble".
Staffordshire students could also be asked to come in for a day in a smaller assigned group to "minimise movement around campus" and to reduce the number of social interactions, she added.
Prof Barnes, who is also a member of the Universities UK (UUK) board to coordinate the sector's coronavirus recovery work, said other institutions are looking at a similar approach.
She said: "The bubble around accommodation has been discussed across a number of universities, about how best we can bring groups of students together.
"The more that we can keep them into a small group of regular interaction, the better in current circumstances."
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When asked whether universities would regulate what students do in freshers' week and whether they would discipline students for holding parties, Prof Barnes said: "We don't expect to have to police it heavily because they are adults and they do understand.
"We have processes if students misbehave in halls, which occasionally they do, we do have disciplinary processes in place and we would just apply those in the same way as we always have in the past."
It comes after a poll from the University and College Union (UCU) found that 71 per cent of applicants would prefer to delay the start of the academic year if they could get more face-to-face teaching.
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UUK has published a set of principles for universities to consider as they emerge from lockdown - including how to encourage social distancing.
Virtual work placements and an increase in the use of outdoor spaces for classes and extracurricular activities are some ideas being considered by universities.
Speaking about freshers' week, Professor Julia Buckingham, president of UUK and vice-chancellor of Brunel University, said: "We're working very closely also with our students' union to arrange a whole load of virtual events to make sure that we can guarantee students have social interaction with one another, irrespective of what the social distancing arrangements are at the time."
Shearer West, the vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham, said the institution was looking at how to make Welcome Week work within communities of halls of residence "rather than the all-singing, all-dancing, all across the university" experience they had before.
She said: "We're certainly planning to have people join things and get involved in societies, but we may just have to run freshers' fair in a different kind of way depending on what the rules are about social distancing."
Nearly half (49 per cent) of university applicants fear cuts made by institutions because of the Covid-19 crisis will negatively impact their education, according to the poll.
Prof Buckingham said Brunel University would introduce an optional new January start for international students who may not be able to travel in September, as well as other courses.
But on the UCU findings about students wanting more face-to-face teaching, she said: "I think it's a very exciting time for students to go to university and I would be encouraging students to think very strongly about the opportunities that a university education provides."
Universities minister Michelle Donelan said: "I know this has been a very difficult and uncertain time for students.
"I am pleased universities are making decisions and planning now for how courses might be adapted should restrictions be in place come autumn, providing much-needed clarity to students.
"Universities UK's principles will help the sector ensure the health and wellbeing of students and staff remains a top priority."
