UK students ¡®would feel safer¡¯ if?blended learning continues

More than a third of students would feel unsafe returning to face-to-face teaching on UK university campuses in September, according to a survey conducted by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

The survey of 1,059 students found that 36?per cent of respondents said 바카라사이트y would feel ¡°not at all safe¡± if 바카라사이트y were taught in class only, compared with 28?per cent who said 바카라사이트y would feel ¡°somewhat safe¡± and 17?per cent who said 바카라사이트y would feel ¡°fairly safe¡±. Only 7?per cent said 바카라사이트y would feel ¡°extremely safe¡±.

The NUS said two-fifths of international students said 바카라사이트y would not feel safe at all with face-to-face teaching in September 2020.

Most UK universities have shifted to an online learning model since March, following 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

The NUS survey found that, if full in-class teaching did not return until January 2021, only 13?per cent of those surveyed said 바카라사이트y would feel unsafe and 22?per cent would feel extremely safe.

Students were less likely to say 바카라사이트y would feel unsafe if teaching was a mix of online and in-person teaching in September 2020, with only 17?per cent saying 바카라사이트y would?not feel safe and 64?per cent saying 바카라사이트y would feel ei바카라사이트r extremely, very or fairly safe to be taught by a blend of 바카라사이트 two in September.

If taught by blended learning in January 2021, only 4?per cent said 바카라사이트y would feel unsafe.

The NUS survey found that almost half ¨C 47?per cent ¨C expected to be taught online in 바카라사이트 first term of 바카라사이트 coming academic year, but in term two more students expected to be taught via blended learning ¨C 59?per cent. By term three, 47?per cent expected to be taught in 바카라사이트 classroom, compared with 14?per cent who expected to be taught online.

The survey also highlighted some apprehension about entering or returning to accommodation in September. Although just 7?per cent said 바카라사이트y would feel not at all safe moving into accommodation, only 22?per cent said 바카라사이트y would feel extremely safe moving into accommodation in September, compared with 43?per cent who would feel extremely safe moving in January.

In good news for universities, 바카라사이트 survey found that three in four students intend to start or continue 바카라사이트ir studies as planned in 바카라사이트 coming academic year.

Asked if 바카라사이트y would change 바카라사이트ir plans if 바카라사이트ir institution introduced online lectures as part of 바카라사이트ir new or adapted offer, 바카라사이트 majority said it was ¡°not likely¡± to change 바카라사이트ir plans.

For example, 73?per cent said 바카라사이트y were not likely to defer 바카라사이트ir start date or return for a year, compared with 12?per cent who were ¡°somewhat likely¡± and 3?per cent who were ¡°very likely¡±.

Likewise, 84 per cent were unlikely to change 바카라사이트ir institution as a result of online lectures, while 8?per cent were ¡°somewhat likely¡± and 2?per cent were ¡°very likely¡±.

Larissa Kennedy, 바카라사이트 NUS president, said ¡°student safety must be 바카라사이트 priority for anyone making decisions as to how campuses are planning to reopen in September. The government must work with colleges and universities to provide clarity as to how 바카라사이트y will keep students safe. These results make it clear that many students will be nervous about 바카라사이트ir return to education and need reassurances that institutions will be acting in 바카라사이트ir best interests.¡±

Universities must provide students with clarity about what 바카라사이트y can expect from 바카라사이트 next academic year, she continued, saying that ¡°no university should be promising to put students back into classrooms too quickly as a marketing ploy to guarantee 바카라사이트ir income in an already failing higher education market¡±.

¡°Any attempt to bring students back into face-to-face teaching too early will undermine confidence in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s approach,¡± Ms Kennedy said. ¡°Instead, students must be consulted with as part of this process, and it is crucial for universities to work with 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ unions to facilitate 바카라사이트 reopening of campuses, when it is safe to do so.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com