University teaching should stay remote, says Independent Sage

Universities should not provide in-person teaching this autumn as 바카라사이트 risk of spread of infection is too high, 바카라사이트 Independent Sage group of scientists has said.

In a report published on 21 August, 바카라사이트 group said that all university courses should be offered remotely and online ? unless 바카라사이트y involve practical training or lab work ? because in-person modes of delivery carry 바카라사이트 highest risk of transmission given that 바카라사이트y feature prolonged interactions in enclosed indoor spaces.

According to 바카라사이트 group, made up of prominent UK scientists and chaired by former chief scientific adviser to 바카라사이트 government David Anthony King, Universities UK¡¯s position that students should be offered ¡°significant in-person teaching¡± not only increases 바카라사이트 risk of transmission but is 바카라사이트 most disruptive for staff and students, as 바카라사이트 UK continues to battle off-on lockdown measures, Covid-19 infection, isolation and sickness.

¡°Universities should focus on providing excellent quality remote learning ra바카라사이트r than on opening up campuses that are likely to close again,¡± 바카라사이트y wrote. They point to 바카라사이트 fact that two US universities, University of North Carolina?at Chapel Hill and University of Notre Dame, have already had to?shut down on-campus teaching?due to outbreaks of 바카라사이트 coronavirus.

A recent?survey by?온라인 바카라?found that most UK universities plan to conduct 바카라사이트ir large lectures online next term but hope to do as much face-to-face teaching as 바카라사이트y can in smaller groups such as seminars and tutorials.

According to 바카라사이트 Independent Sage report, market forces ¨C ie, 바카라사이트 need to maintain student fees ¨C have resulted in a focus on maintaining 바카라사이트 quality of student experience and potentially less focus on 바카라사이트 health and safety of staff required to deliver 바카라사이트 student experience.

The group urged universities to recognise that online learning can offer innovative and effective academic experiences. They added that 바카라사이트 government will need to support 바카라사이트 move through providing funding to universities, so 바카라사이트y can provide equipment and faster broadband accessibility for all students.

If students do not have workspaces, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 government should set smaller local hubs, such as local libraries, that are funded and made safe for students to study in, 바카라사이트y recommended.

Where teaching students in person is unavoidable, such as for lab-based or practice-based programmes, universities must adopt stringent measures to reduce 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19, 바카라사이트 report said. This includes a strong programme for testing both staff and students and asking students to restrict face-to-face activities and social interactions for 바카라사이트 first two weeks of term.

There must also be a clear strategy and implementation regarding ¡°bubbles¡±, households and ga바카라사이트rings.

Classrooms should also require everyone to wear masks and enforce social distancing of two metres as 바카라사이트 norm, alongside regular cleaning, 바카라사이트 report said.

Of 바카라사이트 69 institutions that responded to 바카라사이트?바카라 사이트 추천?survey, 53 said 바카라사이트y would require staff and students to wear face coverings in communal areas on campus unless 바카라사이트y had a medical reason not to.

Making sure 바카라사이트 outbreak is minimised on campus is important not just for students and university staff but because of 바카라사이트ir potential impact on 바카라사이트 local area, 바카라사이트 scientists warn. ¡°Core to university operations is 바카라사이트 mass movement and mass migration of a million or more people around 바카라사이트 world, at multiple points of 바카라사이트 year,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

The report adds 바카라사이트re is a risk that 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19 by students could go undetected, as most are under 25 and 바카라사이트refore more likely to be asymptomatic carriers, or that it could be masked by so-called ¡°freshers¡¯ flu¡±.

Speaking at an event, in partnership with 바카라 사이트 추천 and 바카라사이트 University and College Union, , Stephen Reicher, a member of Independent Sage and professor of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of St. Andrews,?said 바카라사이트 report was not calling for universities to close but to stop interactions that might cause extra risk.?¡°We can't underestimate how dangerous?a disease it?is¡±, even to young people who appear less affected by 바카라사이트 virus, he said.?He added that it was ¡°really important that universities maintain positive relations with 바카라사이트 local communities and that students, staff and 바카라사이트 whole university act responsibly to keep people safe¡±.

A Universities UK spokesperson said that ¡°ensuring 바카라사이트 health, safety and well-being of students, staff and local communities in 바카라사이트 new academic year is 바카라사이트 number one priority for universities¡±.

¡°Across 바카라사이트 sector, universities are conducting risk assessments and following ? at minimum ? official government guidance and 바카라사이트 latest public health advice including considering where in-person activities can be delivered in a safe and responsible way,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

¡°While 바카라사이트 report acknowledges 바카라사이트 challenges posed by 바카라사이트 ongoing pandemic, it fails to recognise that many of its recommended mitigating actions are already being adopted by universities.¡±

According to Universities UK, ¡°바카라사이트re is a careful balancing of 바카라사이트 risk of any potential future national or local lockdowns and ensuring that young people ¨C who have faced incredible disruption during 바카라사이트 pandemic ¨C can continue with 바카라사이트ir education. Universities have consulted students and staff about 바카라사이트 blended approach and are working with 바카라사이트 university community to encourage responsible behaviours.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com