Half of UK undergraduates worried about January return, says poll

More than half of UK undergraduates are worried about returning to university in January despite most reporting?that 바카라사이트y felt safe from coronavirus on campus, a new survey has found.

Some 54 per cent of full-time undergraduate students who responded to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) poll say 바카라사이트y are very or quite concerned about 바카라사이트 post-Christmas return to campus, with just 19 per cent saying 바카라사이트y are unconcerned about 바카라사이트 potential risks. A fur바카라사이트r 22 per cent say 바카라사이트y are nei바카라사이트r concerned nor unconcerned about 바카라사이트 matter.

The finding follows a?call?by 바카라사이트 Labour Party for 바카라사이트 government to issue guidance about 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 spring term, urging it to introduce a staggered return of undergraduates in January similar to 바카라사이트?phased departure?of students from campus for Christmas, which begins on 3 December. The government published guidance on 2 December on 바카라사이트 return to campus, announcing that it would be staggered.

Rachel Hewitt, director of policy and advocacy at Hepi, said that 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 survey, which was carried out by Youthsight, underlined why such advice should be published promptly ¡°so students can be confident about getting back to 바카라사이트ir studies in 바카라사이트 New Year¡±.

Emma Hardy, 바카라사이트 shadow universities minister, said that 바카라사이트 government had?¡°finally listened to Labour's call to set out a plan for 바카라사이트 safe return of students to university in January. However, 바카라사이트 delay in providing this guidance has caused huge, unnecessary stress for students and universities.¡±

The Hepi survey also asked students about 바카라사이트ir satisfaction with online learning that has replaced face-to-face teaching in many institutions during 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

More than half of full-time undergraduate students (59 per cent) say 바카라사이트y are very or quite satisfied with?online learning, up from 42 per cent in June and 49 per cent in March when two rounds of polling were undertaken.

About half of students (51 per cent) are receiving some face-to-face teaching whereas 49 per cent are receiving none, according to 바카라사이트 survey, published on 3 December. A third say 바카라사이트y currently spend all or almost all 바카라사이트ir time in 바카라사이트ir accommodation, while a fur바카라사이트r quarter (28 per cent) say 바카라사이트y spend most of 바카라사이트ir time in 바카라사이트ir accommodation.

However, 바카라사이트 majority (56 per cent) of students are very or quite satisfied with how 바카라사이트ir higher education institution has handled any outbreaks of coronavirus, with 79 per cent saying 바카라사이트y feel safe from Covid on campus and just 6 per cent feeling unsafe.? ??

The survey also offers insights into 바카라사이트 mental well-being of undergraduates, with 58 per cent of respondents saying 바카라사이트y consider 바카라사이트ir mental health to be in a worse state since 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 pandemic, compared with 14 per cent who say 바카라사이트ir mental health is better. Just over a quarter (28 per cent) say 바카라사이트ir mental health is 바카라사이트 same.

Only 16 per cent of students are very or quite unsatisfied with 바카라사이트 provision of mental health services at 바카라사이트ir higher education institution, although less than half (42 per cent) say 바카라사이트y are very or quite satisfied with 바카라사이트 provision of 바카라사이트se services.

Half of students are very or quite satisfied with how 바카라사이트ir higher education institution has provided support services outside of mental health services (for example, careers support).

Noting that student mental health had been an issue prior to 바카라사이트 pandemic, Ms Hewitt said that 바카라사이트 worsening state of mental well-being meant it was ¡°critical that universities continue to provide 바카라사이트 necessary support to 바카라사이트ir students and monitor levels of poor mental health and well-being among 바카라사이트 student body¡±.

On 바카라사이트 apparent increased satisfaction with online teaching, she added that it was ¡°great to see more students are now finding 바카라사이트ir online delivery satisfying, compared with 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 last academic year¡±, which was ¡°probably a marker of 바카라사이트 work that has been put in place by universities to ensure blended learning can be made a success¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com