Uni Students might have to stay in 'protective bubble'

[Kazzyhoward]

Looks like Unis are resorting to desperate measures. Proposals for "bubbles" where students doing the same course live together to share kitchens and other communal areas.

Probably sounded a good idea in theory, but nonsense in practice. Would anyone really want to be effectively "trapped" with a handful of people they've never met before, cooking and living together, with basically no escape (as everything else is closed), and to add insult to injury, they're all doing the same course as you, so no diversity, no meeting different people doing different courses etc.

I've just told my son who is about to "firm" his choice in a couple of weeks time to go in September and he says if they do that, he's definitely not going.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-52897727

I worry about this as have a child supposed to go in September. I worry they are moving far away for the first time only to sit isolated in their room doing everything online.

I read this as well, I also thought whats the point because second, third and forth years will be living in houseshares, most likely with people on different courses.

Lots of courses have regular seminars of 8-15ish people. So if you’re a first year on a course with seminars that have 10 students will they be the ten you are allocated to live with, or would it just be ten people from your course.

We see in the news every year that many universities cock up first year housing, imagine the cock ups if this was put in place for first year students.

What about catered halls, they only have very basic facilities, mine had a kettle, mini fridge and a sink. With each bubble have a specific dining time etc?

It just isn’t practical.

My uni have mentioned practical groups with only those we live with from the year... I live with the year above me. I’ve been told I’d have to complete practicals myself.

That can’t happen as it was break all the health and safety rules about being in pairs/threes for the last 3 years.

I would hope they would have safeguarding plans in place if a student were to disclose bullying or sexual assault from someone within their bubble.

I think I only really spoke to folk on my course or in the stop the war society when I was at university.
So it might work for a tiny minority of students with my neurological profile.
It does sound a bit like a budget Big Brother rerun though.

There’s also many universities that it wouldn’t work for, where there are a high proportion of commuter students and/or mature students, who are living at home with families.

How?

Are they going to buy out students who have already contracted for their private accommodation, so that their living quarters can be arranged by course?

It will of course be possible to arrange freshers in Halls on that basis. But I doubt they will prove to be the majority.

And what about social life? I suppose it'll have to switch to sports clubs and other activities that can be done outside

Not all universities are doing these 'desperate measures' ( what an odd turn of phrase...we're all just doing our best to figure out how we can still do out jobs and teach students in very difficult circumstances)
People need to stop generalising about the whole sector. There are close to 400 universities and we're all different so our plans are different. Course are different too so it's likely that students at the same university will have different experiences.

And by the way the 'bubbles' concept is a suggestion that's been made by a few people. It won't be rolled out ( if it happens at all) because it just wouldn't work at the vast majority of universities.

I think we need to give universities a chance to work through their ideas. I don't think there are any great solutions, it will be picking out the best of an unsatisfactory bunch. I'm just really hoping that they can physically go back.

Feel for people at this stage as they are going to miss out on so much.

You're we do need to wait to hear universities individual plans but we shouldn't assume they'll all be unsatisfactory.

It's likely my course will be delivered as a blended learning approach with some remote delivery and some face to face teaching. My returning students are delighted at this prospect....this is their ideal scenario.
However, I know that's not the case for all courses and all students.
The student body is diverse. There is no one size fits all. However, don't assume it's all going to be below par because that's not true.

I think a lot is students have been living in a bubble for years.

I bloody loved the campus bubble. Don't think I'd like this sort of bubble

This sort of bubble would only work on a campus based university. Where it's kind of a bubble anyway.

A city centre uni with a large number of commuter students? Nah, no chance.

I'm a mature student - I commute in. Are they going to kick me off the course?

This sort of bubble would only work on a campus based university. Where it's kind of a bubble anyway

I can't see it working at all if the university doesn't have full control of housing allocations. I doubt many do, at least not beyond the first year.

Very true phonelock
It won't happen

The campus bubble was more a state of mind anyway. I mean we still got busses and taxis and went to restaurants and bars off campus. We just didn't really pay a lot of attention to life outside our bubble.

I think we need to give universities a chance to work through their ideas.

There's only 2 weeks left before applicants have to "firm" their offers. You can't expect students to firm without knowing what will be the situation re living/studying/socialising arrangements when they start.

I think Unis are going to have to put back the deadline until they've made public their plans.

You told your son? Maybe if he's old enough to go to university you should let him decide for himself?

Most uni courses are modular based with optional modules. Are you really going to find a group of people who all want to do the same modules, live in the same standard of halls (i.e. ensuite, deluxe or standard, location on campus, college, catered or not catered etc etc)??

It's not remotely practical.

You told your son? Maybe if he's old enough to go to university you should let him decide for himself?

How about you read the comment properly?? I didn't tell him to do anything. I told him about the article!!

kazzyhoward
Universities have been told to provide 'absolute clarity' about their plans for next year and they will. But please understand this isn't an easy thing to plan.
If you haven't been given any information yet then contact the university.

Most uni courses are modular based with optional modules. Are you really going to find a group of people who all want to do the same modules, live in the same standard of halls (i.e. ensuite, deluxe or standard, location on campus, college, catered or not catered etc etc)?

Which is why it won't happen. ...

My DD is already committed to a house for next year ( her final year). She's going to go back when she can. She'll get on with life and studies as best she can, within the current constraints.