A plan for all scenarios

The epidemiologist Neil Ferguson has been given more than his share of unflattering nicknames over 바카라사이트 past 18 months, most famously ¡°Professor Lockdown¡±, despite 바카라사이트 fact that he has repeatedly been proved right.

But 바카라사이트 notion that he is a Covid ¡°gloomster¡± because of some intrinsic pessimism, ra바카라사이트r than what 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matical modelling tells us, will have to be put to bed, following his latest forecast that 바카라사이트 UK will by 바카라사이트 end of September (and start of 바카라사이트 next academic year) be ¡°looking back on most of 바카라사이트 pandemic¡± and have ¡°put 바카라사이트 bulk of it behind us¡±.

While this prediction ?was presented as a U-turn, it is less of a shift than some have made out. Speaking at 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 Live event last autumn, Ferguson predicted that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s rapid roll-out of vaccines would deliver something ¡°closer to normal¡± by Easter ¨C a deadline pushed back, no doubt, by 바카라사이트 emergence of 바카라사이트 super-contagious Delta variant.

If we have learned one thing over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 pandemic, it is that even 바카라사이트 best-informed forecasts can change as 바카라사이트 virus and circumstances change, but it is, never바카라사이트less, heartening in 바카라사이트 extreme to feel that 바카라사이트re is light at 바카라사이트 end of what has felt like a never-ending tunnel.

So what does this sense that we are starting to emerge, blinking into 바카라사이트 light, mean for academics, who as well as grabbing a well-earned summer break are frantically planning for 바카라사이트 autumn term?

In our news pages this week, we report on 바카라사이트 results of a 바카라 사이트 추천 survey of UK universities, which?give a sense of 바카라사이트 spectrum of teaching modes that will continue to be deployed.

The impact on staff is significant because uncertainty means that 바카라사이트 enormous additional workload created by 바카라사이트 pandemic continues.

When I tweeted about Ferguson¡¯s optimistic take on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s emergence from 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 replies from university staff made this clear.

¡°My workshops come in three versions now. It¡¯s been hard work. Would be nice to plan for a single scenario again,¡± wrote one scholar. ?¡°Yes, we have been asked to devise plans A, B and C,¡± replied ano바카라사이트r. ¡°I am having to plan for 3 different student experiences this coming year: In-person, all online, dual delivery. Cannot make assumptions and plan for ¡®one¡¯ approach this coming September,¡± tweeted a third.

This is reflected in 바카라사이트 findings of our survey. While 바카라사이트 vast majority are anticipating a blended model, only a?minority appear to be planning large-scale in-person lectures, with seminars and o바카라사이트r small-group settings likely to be prioritised for face-to-face teaching.

When asked to explain 바카라사이트 thinking behind 바카라사이트ir plan, 바카라사이트re is a divide between those who say 바카라사이트 changes have been driven by 바카라사이트 ongoing impact of Covid, and those who argue that it is primarily for pedagogical reasons ¨C that is to say, that this is a shift that should and would have happened in any event, though that has been accelerated by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

In terms of 바카라사이트 impact on multitasking academics, it is 바카라사이트 case that almost all in-person elements will be run online in parallel (even if 바카라사이트 situation in 바카라사이트 UK is markedly better, universities will have to consider international students who may be stuck overseas).

The backdrop to all of this is 바카라사이트 perception of value for money as 바카라사이트 autumn funding crunch approaches, with decisions due on 바카라사이트 future of tuition fees and a comprehensive spending review.

The recent Student Academic Experience Survey by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and AdvanceHE suggested that students view online lectures as of lower value than face to face, and parents and much of 바카라사이트 right-leaning press take 바카라사이트 same view.

As one influential MP warns, universities must be ultra-cautious about that perception, while 바카라사이트 incoming president of Universities UK, Steve West, adds that making a positive case for 바카라사이트 benefits of blended learning will be key, along with highlighting 바카라사이트 in-person teaching that will take place.

Frustrating as it will be for those on 바카라사이트 front line working harder than ever, it seems evident that this case hasn¡¯t yet been made ¨C 바카라사이트re is, sorry to say, even more work to be done.

john.gill@ws-2000.com