A set of
high-level principles and supporting information for universities
to consider as they emerge from lockdown has been published today
[Wednesday 3 June] by Universities UK.
The principles
provide a framework for individual universities both in the
coming weeks and as they develop their plans for the new academic
year. While individual universities will tailor their approaches
depending on their settings and situations, the publication
highlights key considerations to support universities and provide
transparency to students on the work underway to give them the
full university experience next year.
An open
statement on behalf of the universities is set out below from
the President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor
of Brunel University London, Professor Julia Buckingham
CBE, and Professor Shearer West,
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, who is
chairing a specially convened sounding board to coordinate the
sector’s recovery work.
Open
statement:
The UK’s
universities are united in the view that students should have the
opportunity to benefit from a world-class higher education
experience that enables them to progress towards their
career and life goals. A university education is more relevant
and valuable than ever in these uncertain times. UK universities
will be open and ready to teach and support students at the start
of the new academic year.
New and
returning students can be confident their universities will be
providing high-quality, accessible and engaging
teaching and learning this autumn; and can look forward to a
positive student experience and wide-ranging support.
Universities will provide as much in-person learning, teaching,
support services and extra-curricular activities as public health
advice and government guidance will support. This will include
new ways of providing practical sessions in socially distanced
forms, innovative approaches to extra-curricular activities such
as welcome week programmes, and a continuation of important
student services such as mental health and wellbeing support and
careers advice.
These approaches
will be supplemented with carefully planned alternatives for
students where parts of the university experience may be
difficult to deliver in-person – such as large
lectures.
Across the
sector, the top priority is to protect the health, safety and
wellbeing of students, our staff and the wider
community. Universities are harnessing the
significant expertise which exists within our sector, and working
closely with the UK, devolved and local governments and public
health bodies on our approach. While the specifics will rightly
vary based on factors such as the location, size and type of
institution, universities’ approaches will be informed by a
common set of published principles.
These include making appropriate changes to university
layout and infrastructure and regularly reviewing and adapting
hygiene and cleaning protocols in all university spaces in
accordance with public health advice; working with civic and
local partners wherever appropriate; and reviewing teaching,
learning and assessment to ensure that the required flexibility
is in place to deliver a high-quality experience and support
students.
We understand
that current and prospective students – along with their parents,
carers and teachers – want to know much more about what their
university experience will look like. Universities are sharing as
much as they can now and are working hard to provide more details
as soon as they can. The way the world will look by the autumn is
not completely clear to any of us yet, but universities are
focused on their plans and will regularly update current and
prospective students as their strategies for 2020/21 take
shape.
Despite the
current uncertainties, we are committed to providing the same
world-class experience for which UK higher education is known in
the new academic year. We will continue to support students to
progress and achieve their learning outcomes, to overcome
barriers so they succeed and flourish, to offer a fulfilling and
varied learning experience, and to give them skills and hope for
the future.
ENDS
Notes:
1. The
full set of principles are attached to this email and will be
accessible on UUK’s
website after 00.01hrs on Wednesday
3 June 2020
2. The
principles have been informed by input from the Coronavirus
Recovery Sounding Board and the UUK Board, both of which are
cross-UK groups of vice chancellors with representation from the
different mission groups and unaligned
universities. They have also been shaped
via direct discussions with the higher
education representative bodies and mission
groups - GuildHE, MillionPlus,
the Russell Group and the University Alliance, as well as UCEA
(the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association) and the
NUS. UUK’s ongoing engagement with sector experts including AHUA
(Association of Heads of University Administration), USHA
(University Safety and Health Association), CUBO (College and
University Business Officers) and AUDE (Association of University
Directors of Estates) have also helped to identify priority
issues for universities relating to the emergence from
lockdown.
