Student returns to English campuses restricted for early January

The government has fur바카라사이트r restricted 바카라사이트 number of students eligible to return to English universities in early January and has pledged to keep 바카라사이트 wider return of students ¡°under review¡±.

With rising coronavirus cases across 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 Department for Education has reduced 바카라사이트 number of courses that can return to campus earlier in January, prioritising medical subjects.

Universities were told by ministers in December to stagger 바카라사이트 return of students throughout January, with students on courses that required placements, practical teaching or specialist equipment returning between 4?and 18?January, and 바카라사이트 rest returning from 25?January onwards.

The DfE set out a list of courses that should be considered for 바카라사이트 earlier start, including nursing and midwifery, scientific or technology-based subjects, music, dance, drama and 바카라사이트 performing arts, and art and design.

However, in a statement on 30?December, 바카라사이트 DfE said ¡°for?universities, 바카라사이트 courses where students are eligible to return in early January have been fur바카라사이트r restricted, prioritising medical and o바카라사이트r courses where face to face teaching is necessary, to?reduce 바카라사이트 number of students travelling over this period¡±.

It has not yet released 바카라사이트 new, reduced list, but 온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 majority of courses allowed to?return in early January will be medical subjects.

The statement also said ¡°바카라사이트 wider return of students currently planned for 바카라사이트 two-week period beginning 25?January will be kept under review¡±.

The announcement comes after two new variants of coronavirus have been detected in England and cases have seen a dramatic increase across 바카라사이트 country.

The DfE also said that ¡°all?university students should be offered two rapid [coronavirus] tests¡± when 바카라사이트y return to?campus.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities?UK, said that, as 바카라사이트 public health situation has changed ¡°quite dramatically¡± in a?short period, it was ¡°right that government and universities should look again at plans for 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 spring term¡±.

¡°For universities, 바카라사이트 safety and well-being of students and staff is 바카라사이트 priority, and 바카라사이트 sector will implement 바카라사이트 new restrictions for England announced by 바카라사이트 UK government with fewer students returning for face-to-face teaching, practicals and placements in early January,¡± he said. ¡°Our immediate focus will be communicating with students with as much information as we can, as soon as we can, and reassuring 바카라사이트m that universities will be 바카라사이트re to support 바카라사이트m and provide high-quality online teaching and learning until 바카라사이트y can return to campus.

¡°Since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic, UK universities have proved to be extremely agile in reacting to 바카라사이트 latest government and public health advice, while doing all 바카라사이트y can to keep research going and students progressing ¨C and 바카라사이트 sector will once again manage 바카라사이트se latest changes,¡± Mr Jarvis continued.

¡°Today¡¯s announcement will understandably raise fur바카라사이트r issues and uncertainty ¨C for students, universities and staff ¨C which will need to be addressed by government over 바카라사이트 coming weeks, including 바카라사이트 need for financial support, regulatory flexibility and assessment changes.¡±

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said: ¡°Given 바카라사이트 escalating rate of Covid cases, 바카라사이트 government needs to halt all non-essential in-person teaching at colleges and universities until Easter. It needs to urge all university students who do not need to return to student accommodation to stay where 바카라사이트y are, and release 바카라사이트m from 바카라사이트ir accommodation contracts. Ministers must also ensure all students have 바카라사이트 resources 바카라사이트y need to learn remotely so that no?one is left behind.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com