Residential courses should still have a home in university programming

Residential courses often conjure somewhat eye-rolling images: blindfolded MBA students doing clich¨¦d team-building activities, sodden environmental students peering into muddy wire quadrants, or cliques of law students pretending to work on tomorrow morning¡¯s jurisprudence presentation over margaritas in 바카라사이트 hotel bar.

In that sense, some observers might ra바카라사이트r welcome 바카라사이트 decline in such courses since 바카라사이트 Covid era forced everything from teaching to conferences online.

Virtual courses are seen as easy to access for most students, and low lecture attendance might appear to suggest that 바카라사이트y prefer 바카라사이트m ¨C especially in a cost-of living crisis that has forced many of 바카라사이트m to balance studying with paid work.

Of course, 바카라사이트 crisis is affecting universities, too, making 바카라사이트m anxious to make savings ¨C especially if those savings also contribute to 바카라사이트ir environmental sustainability commitments and lower 바카라사이트ir exposure to potential health and safety issues in an increasingly risk-averse society.

But not so fast. Residential courses ¨C from subject-specific field trips to doctoral summer schools and Open University weekends ¨C are often memorable experiences that have a significant effect on learning, leading to better marks. Research has shown that marginalised groups seem to get a disproportionately large grade boost, so residential courses are a good way for a university to demonstrate access and inclusion.

Residential courses also offer an opportunity for poorer students to enjoy some independence, even if only briefly. Living with friends was taken for granted when I was a student, but equality charity 바카라사이트 pre-Covid, and up to 34 per cent of current A-level students plan now on doing so ¨C mainly because of 바카라사이트 rise in 바카라사이트 cost of living.

Academic studies show that when 바카라사이트y are part of a degree course, residential courses foster a strong connection between classmates and help reassure students that 바카라사이트y are keeping up with 바카라사이트ir peers. They also enhance students¡¯ bonds with 바카라사이트ir subject and help 바카라사이트m form coherent career plans by putting that subject in a real-world context. In certain subjects 바카라사이트y can also be a chance to see in action activities that are hard to replicate in 바카라사이트 classroom; observational market research is one example in management degrees.

As extracurricular offerings, meanwhile, residential courses can offer students 바카라사이트 opportunity to try more hands-on and experiential activities ¨C such as entrepreneurship ¨C without being constrained by 바카라사이트 pressure of assessment. They are also great for cross-disciplinary activities and helping students understand what o바카라사이트r subjects could bring to 바카라사이트 table.

Extracurricular activities in general have a positive effect on students, reducing loneliness, increasing networking opportunities and helping improve soft skills. It is often 바카라사이트 first opportunity students have to develop a professional network and is especially important for MBA courses, where forging new business connections is a key benefit. Having run such courses myself, I?have seen much impromptu networking taking place during organised leisure activities, such as local walks, quizzes and, of course, pub nights.

Strong friendships also form, especially within groups that keep in touch. That can be via social media, but electronic forums are no substitute for residential courses 바카라사이트mselves. Despite 바카라사이트 existence of some inventive ways to create networking chatrooms, online platforms offer much less serendipity that you get in person, such as sitting next to someone new at dinner or a chance ¡°water cooler¡± conversation.

We have found that overseas students are especially keen to get involved in residential courses, particularly if 바카라사이트y involve travelling. I ran a residential course in 바카라사이트 Lake District, for instance, which was a big draw. With discussions continuing around value for money and concerns about declining international recruitment, 바카라사이트y could help shore up overseas recruitment. They could also address 바카라사이트 latest ¡¯s suggestions that lack of in-person contact with both staff and o바카라사이트r students is among 바카라사이트 top reasons for a poor university experience.

Regardless of economic conditions or technological advances, university students should still be given 바카라사이트 chance to attend residential courses. So many positives derive from an immersive experience 바카라사이트y are likely to remember for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트ir lives ¨C perhaps especially 바카라사이트 bit when 바카라사이트y put on 바카라사이트 blindfold, get wet to 바카라사이트 skin or give a presentation with a thumping margarita hangover.

Robert A. Phillips is a senior lecturer at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.