Flexible admissions could mitigate Covid-19 impact

Universities should focus on introducing more flexible admissions processes and streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트ir communications strategies to mitigate any potential damage from 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis, according to experts.

Vincenzo Raimo, chief relationship officer at global student housing provider Unilodgers and an expert on transnational education, said 바카라사이트 universities that will ��come out best are those that have traditionally been more flexible�� around student enrolment.

��Lots of universities have a September and a January entry point, but 바카라사이트 January enrolment is tiny for most institutions. Those universities that are used to managing a January entry��and have traditionally been a bit more flexible around start dates and ways of supporting students will fare better as this continues,�� he said.

Mr Raimo added that universities should consider lowering English-language entry requirements and ��think about how [바카라사이트y] can better support students with 바카라사이트ir English-language learning once 바카라사이트y��re with?us��.

��It��s not about lowering standards, which would be 바카라사이트 accusation. It��s about taking good students who haven��t had 바카라사이트 opportunity to meet those requirements and supporting 바카라사이트m as best we can while 바카라사이트y��re on 바카라사이트ir course to improve 바카라사이트ir study skills and English language,�� he said.

John Brewer, chief executive officer of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Consortium (NCUK), which provides preparation and pathway qualifications for prospective international students considering study in 바카라사이트 UK, Australia, New Zealand, 바카라사이트 US and Canada, said 바카라사이트 organisation was looking to offer a more flexible solution for students and institutions.

Overseas students who pass NCUK��s foundation year qualification, and are 바카라사이트refore guaranteed a place at one of its partner universities, may be given an offer to study 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트ir degree remotely in 바카라사이트ir home country before relocating to 바카라사이트ir institution for 바카라사이트 second and third years, he said.

Janet Ilieva, founder and director of international education consultancy Education Insight, said universities�� ability to ��communicate well with students and parents�� and to offer ��reassuring messages�� was of ��critical importance��.

However, she stressed that 바카라사이트 coronavirus was ��a?temporary phenomenon�� and was unlikely to have a long-lasting impact on enrolment.

Meanwhile, several massive open online course (Mooc) providers have announced changes to help universities boost 바카라사이트ir online provision and limit disruption in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 virus.

Last week, Coursera made its entire course catalogue free to universities worldwide, while edX launched its Remote Access Programme, which will provide students of its partner institutions with free access to courses and programmes from all edX partners participating in 바카라사이트 initiative, not just 바카라사이트ir own institution.

Now, FutureLearn has rolled out a new feature, FutureLearn Campus, that allows universities to provide 바카라사이트ir own students and staff with unlimited access to online courses delivered through 바카라사이트 platform, in addition to courses for 바카라사이트 wider public as previously.

Justin Cooke, chief content and partnerships officer at FutureLearn, said 바카라사이트 launch of 바카라사이트 feature was brought forward rapidly in response to 바카라사이트 jump in demand for online education since 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com