News Release from Universities UK
Through leading research into developing a vaccine for Covid-19,
providing thousands of medical and nursing student volunteers,
and supplying specialist equipment and facilities worth millions
of pounds to support the NHS, UK universities are playing a
leading role in the fight against coronavirus.
Since the emergence of Covid-19, the lives of billions of people
around the world have been affected to a level not seen in
peacetime. The virus has impacted all parts of society, including
universities and their staff and students.
During the pandemic, UK universities, alongside prioritising the
support and welfare of their students, have risen to the
challenges posed by this outbreak and are committing their
resources to fighting back; working alongside government, health
services and their local communities.
As of April 3, almost 5,500 Year 3 student nurses from 35 UK
universities have opted to join NHS frontline staff. On World
Health Day, Tuesday 7 April, university staff and students will
be taking to social media to show their appreciation to the
researchers and the volunteers - staff and students - doing so
much in support of the national effort.
Examples published today by Universities UK include: The
University of Cambridge is leading a £20 million UK government
project, supported by a group of universities, to help understand
and control Covid-19; scientists at King’s College London are
developing a prototype for a ventilator that will be quickly
available; final-year medical students at universities have been
allowed to graduate early to support the frontline effort,
offering volunteer services to doctors, nurses and healthcare
workers; and researchers at Brunel University London, Lancaster
University and the University of Surrey have developed a device
to detect Covid-19 in 30 minutes using a smartphone application.
Additionally, tens of universities have contributed protective
equipment to hospitals across the UK, while several institutions
continue to produce hundreds of litres of hand sanitiser every
day, offer laboratories for testing purposes and accommodation to
NHS frontline workers. Medical students have also set up
initiatives to support NHS staff, offering babysitting, pet care,
picking up medicine and grocery shipping services, and are
volunteering at the NHS Nightingale Hospital.
Universities are also offering psychological support to staff and
students and exploring the societal impact of the virus with the
aim to make coping with the outbreak easier for everyone.
Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said:
"Universities have responded in the face of this unprecedented
challenge with great determination and invention. Coordinating
projects aimed at discovering a vaccine or improving testing,
providing specialist equipment and university space, or building
understanding of how the virus spreads are just some examples of
universities contribution to local communities and national
efforts."
"The expertise and skills of university staff and students are
central to the fight against Covid-19. The spirit and tenacity
shown by university staff and students is inspiring and will
continue to be vital as we look to come through these testing
times and move forward as a sector and a nation."
, Universities Minister,
said: "As Universities Minister I am so proud of the response I
have seen from our higher education providers, and the incredibly
creative and pragmatic ideas they have developed in such a short
space of time.
"This sector is at the frontline in the battle we are facing –
from developing ground-breaking research and supplying equipment,
to releasing thousands of volunteers to support our NHS.
"I know universities are also facing pressures at this uncertain
time and I am deeply thankful to them for stepping up in this
magnificent way to the response."
Professor Wendy Reid, Acting Chief Executive of Health Education
England, said: "We are extremely proud of the student doctors and
nurses up and down the country who are supporting the fight
against Covid-19.
"Thousands of student nurses have already opted to step up into
full-time roles and we have hundreds of student doctors applying
to graduate early following agreement from medical schools in
order to support the frontline effort.
"This is the most challenging time in the history of our health
service and it is fantastic that so many students are helping to
meet the needs of patients."
Notes
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A full list of what UK universities are doing to support
the nationwide effort against Covid-19 can be
found here
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Supported by the Medical Schools Council, medical
students are supporting the effort through a number of
different volunteering schemes.
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Universities UK is the collective voice of 136
universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Its mission is to create the conditions for UK universities to
be the best in the world; maximising their positive impact
locally, nationally and globally. Universities UK acts on
behalf of universities, represented by their heads of
institution. Visit: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
