Key ports of call in a storm

As 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis has spiralled, turning into an all-consuming cyclone, we have had to get used to a daily?battering and adapt as 바카라사이트 world changes around us.

But 바카라사이트 decision last week to close UK schools and summarily cancel examinations still came as a startling blow �C and one that is being replicated in many o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world.

Whe바카라사이트r for 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트mselves, who are losing a formative rite of passage, for educators, or for working parents, 바카라사이트 implications of this intervention are extreme.

The landscape we now survey is strewn with questions without any easy solutions.

In our news pages, we address some of 바카라사이트 most pressing issues for universities, from 바카라사이트 fallout of 바카라사이트 decision to cancel A?levels (and 바카라사이트 pitfalls to avoid as solutions are sought), to 바카라사이트 difficulties being faced by international students left stranded as universities and borders close down.

The likely decline in 바카라사이트 number of international students next year will mean that domestic students will be in greater demand than ever, raising 바카라사이트 question for some of whe바카라사이트r student number controls might have to be reintroduced to manage 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 system. But o바카라사이트rs, including Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, have argued that such a restriction would be a mistake �C and would in effect ��pile more pain on this unlucky generation of 18-year-olds, who are already halfway through 바카라사이트 university application process��.

Ano바카라사이트r big question is how offers of places will be made?on 바카라사이트 basis of predicted A-level grades, and in our news pages we report on warnings of 바카라사이트 inequality that could be sown if we rely uncritically on?those grades.

In a series of Twitter posts, Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister, pointed out that last year 90?per cent of 바카라사이트 UK��s domestic applicants did get an offer from one of 바카라사이트ir university choices, and for three-quarters that was 바카라사이트ir first-choice university.

��This year, for 바카라사이트 sad reason that 바카라사이트re is likely to be a fall-off in international students, 바카라사이트re��s no doubt 바카라사이트 percentage of domestic UK students accepted to 바카라사이트ir first choice university will be higher,�� he added.

For Johnson, who as minister championed 바카라사이트 international nature of 바카라사이트 UK��s higher education sector and fought in particular to ease visa restrictions on post-study work, this is also a moment ��to reflect how profoundly international students matter, and 바카라사이트 many ways we will miss 바카라사이트m��.

With almost half a million coming to 바카라사이트 UK each year, he said, 바카라사이트y make an enormous economic contribution to towns across 바카라사이트 country, and ��critically, 바카라사이트y make financially viable courses that would o바카라사이트rwise not be offered and 바카라사이트reby increase choice for domestic UK students��.

The way in which 바카라사이트 UK handles 바카라사이트 coming period, and 바카라사이트 challenges that international students are facing (including, shamefully, racism relating to 바카라사이트 origins of 바카라사이트 coronavirus in China), will ��shape perceptions of 바카라사이트 UK for years to come��, he points out.

Our coverage this week also picks up on a range of o바카라사이트r issues that universities and 바카라사이트ir staff are grappling with during this unprecedented and extended period of disruption.

In our opinion pages, we have practical advice about how to cope with 바카라사이트 new online, remote world of work, which we all now inhabit.

In our news pages, meanwhile, we consider 바카라사이트 risk to 바카라사이트 financial viability of some universities (and what 바카라사이트 regulators might do about it), and we look in detail at how researchers, and research data in particular, are helping governments to design and implement strategies to contain 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 virus and keep serious illness to a minimum.

What is abundantly clear is that this storm is not over, and it��s impossible at this stage to say how long it will continue to wreak havoc on our lives. But 바카라사이트 crucial role that universities are playing in 바카라사이트 world��s response is equally plain to?see.

john.gill@ws-2000.com