Office for Students (OfS) chief executive, Nicola Dandridge has
responded to the HEPI Student Academic Experience Survey 2020-21
ahead of her speech to the HEPI annual conference later today.
In her speech, Ms Dandridge will say that universities could plan
for face-to-face teaching while being clear to students where any
future pandemic restrictions might require some course content to
move online.
Nicola Dandridge said:
“It’s been an exceptionally tough year for students. And I don’t
think any of us can be surprised to see this reflected in HEPI’s
latest student survey which – as ever –provides useful insights
into students’ experiences over the last year. If we are going to
learn lasting and meaningful lessons from the pandemic, listening
carefully and responding to students’ views will be essential.
“It is clearly of concern to see such a significant increase in
the number of students saying that their course presents poor
value-for-money – largely driven by the limited availability of
in-person tuition. We know that staff worked hard to deliver
courses under extremely difficult circumstances, and many will be
looking forward to getting back to campus in the Autumn,
providing it is safe to do so.
In her speech later today, Ms Dandridge will urge universities to
continue with plans for in-person teaching in the autumn whilst
being clear to students the circumstances in which some course
content could move online such as in response to any renewed
pandemic restrictions. She will say:
“During the pandemic we took the view that no matter how courses
were provided, whether face to face or on-line, all students
should receive a high quality academic experience and if they did
not we would intervene.
“The survey highlights an increase in the number of students
saying that their experience was worse than expected. This
reflects the importance of students being given clear and timely
information about what they can expect before they start their
courses, so that what they get is what they expect.
“In our view, it is perfectly reasonable to be clear with
students that the intention is to plan for face-to-face teaching
but to make it clear to students that elements of teaching might
need to move online if restrictions are re-introduced. Or set out
how in-person elements may be complemented by online teaching. I
would expect universities and colleges to be thinking through, as
far as they can, the approach they would take to delivering
courses in different scenarios and finding ways to communicate
that effectively to both current and prospective students, so
that students can start the year with realistic expectations
about the teaching they will receive.”
