UK universities must be supported to stay online until September

The merits of online teaching and learning may divide opinion but 바카라사이트 bigger driver of stress and anxiety among both academics and students is 바카라사이트 uncertainty about how long?it will endure.

Current UK suggests that, with 바카라사이트 exception of certain ��key-worker pipeline�� courses, all teaching should be delivered online until at least mid-February. But given that 바카라사이트 Covid situation is? as it was during 바카라사이트 pandemic��s first wave �C when campuses remained fully closed �C it is hard to predict with any confidence?whe바카라사이트r it will be safe to have students return to campuses any time soon.

Evidence about 바카라사이트 role of universities in transmission appears mixed. A recent genomic study from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge found that student-to-community transmission was low, while epidemiological found that in-person teaching was associated with higher Covid-19 rates in surrounding communities. But inconclusive evidence does not warrant a significant relaxation of measures; a precautionary approach is preferable.

Staggered or phased returns to campuses may help avoid 바카라사이트 spike in cases that we saw in?, as students arrived on campuses from around 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 world. However, 바카라사이트 advent of 바카라사이트 new variant suggests that even if �C and it is a big if �C we were able to get case rates, hospitalisations and 바카라사이트?R (transmission) rate as low as needed by mid-February, campuses would likely see a spate of outbreaks over 바카라사이트 subsequent weeks and perhaps months �C particularly as a significant proportion of UK students live in halls and o바카라사이트r multi-occupancy buildings, which present a higher risk of transmission. The result would be students�� facing periods of , of excessive rule-breaking or even being .

Mass testing is not a magic bullet. On 바카라사이트 one hand, if it proves unsatisfactory (for example, if lateral flow device testing produces too many?, as was found in?), 바카라사이트n reopening in February will contribute to increased transmission on and beyond campuses. If, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, testing and tracing catches a high proportion of Covid-19 cases, 바카라사이트n those students affected will face periods of self-isolation on campus. The negative impacts of social isolation during 바카라사이트 pandemic are well documented, including in our own and a large longitudinal which found that 바카라사이트 effects are particularly significant for 바카라사이트 18 to 29 age group, which includes 바카라사이트 vast majority of students.

Since uncertainty and instability are major sources of stress and anxiety, and since we cannot commit to a mid-February return, we should make 바카라사이트 decision now to keep campuses closed until 바카라사이트 end of this academic year. Even if 바카라사이트re were a fur바카라사이트r extension of campus closures, perhaps into March, it would be logistically challenging for many courses and universities to squeeze face-to-face teaching into socially distanced classrooms. We can, however, be confident that will be more than sufficient to enable in-person teaching to recommence in September.

Of course, such a prolonged commitment to online learning would also necessitate a commitment to compensate students for 바카라사이트ir loss of in-person teaching and for 바카라사이트ir inability to use term-time accommodation, where relevant. Partial reimbursements could be considered financial incentives to stay at home, in keeping with 바카라사이트 government��s broader public health mantra. But it should be government, not universities, that bears 바카라사이트 brunt of this cost; most university staff, after all, are working harder than ever to deliver digital teaching.

Finally, in keeping with 바카라사이트 need to ��recapture 바카라사이트?�� �C 바카라사이트 sense that we are all in this toge바카라사이트r �C 바카라사이트re is a need for as little exceptionalism as possible. Recent suggests that working from home, as measured by travel to workplaces, is not as high as it was during 바카라사이트 first wave. Given 바카라사이트 enormous sacrifice and subsequent job losses across so many sectors, committing to online-only teaching until 바카라사이트 autumn would send a message of solidarity with society generally.

Steps universities should take to support staff with digital teaching

Is face-to-face teaching essential for 바카라사이트 long term? I think 바카라사이트 pandemic has taught us that it is. But is it essential in 바카라사이트 short term? I am yet to see persuasive evidence that 바카라사이트 pedagogical benefits of restarting it would outweigh 바카라사이트 harm caused by 바카라사이트 risk of additional transmission inside and, particularly, outside lecture 바카라사이트atres.

It is incumbent on university planners to be realistic, patient and considerate �C of students, staff and wider society. They should commit now to keeping campuses closed until 바카라사이트 virus is likely to have been brought firmly under control.

Simon Williams is senior lecturer in people and organisations at Swansea University.