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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Students full return to campus

507 replies

DoNotBringLulu · 13/04/2021 17:43

This came up on my Facebook feed:

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/apr/13/university-campuses-in-england-will-not-reopen-until-mid-may

If this is true, Boris et al have some explaining to do.

OP posts:
avenueq · 13/04/2021 17:54

No teaching left then! And almost at the end of rentral contracts! What is the point!?! Angry

wooliewoo · 13/04/2021 18:01

Scotland announced today return to on campus blended learning from 17th May.
Except May is exam season in most Scottish universities and all the teaching has finished 🤷🏼‍♀️

Flyonawalk · 13/04/2021 18:42

Appalling treatment of young people. Shocking.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 13/04/2021 18:43

I am so angry about this.

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 13/04/2021 19:06

Me too Kitten it's been on The News no explanation why students cant return after Easter - they didn't say it was advised by Scientists

OP posts:
Bakeandyarn · 13/04/2021 19:38

It’s a disgraceful way to treat our young people, the government couldn’t even be bothered to announce it properly, instead the news is snuck out at the end of the day. It makes no sense either, from what I gather from DS most of his friends are back and have been since January,

Abraxan · 13/04/2021 20:25

DD's course finishes the same week as the return for all begins.

Great timing!

So basically, there is now no more f2f for all until next academic year.
Many students (most?) will have had virtually no f2f for the whole year.
£9k to sit in their bedrooms and watch/listen online Hmm
Some will have also lost a term last academic year too.

I feel really cross at how badly students have been let down this year.

If 18 and 18 year old sixth formers are allowed to be taught f2f in classrooms I can't see any reason why 18/19y students couldn't have had the same.

Original poster
DoNotBringLulu · 13/04/2021 21:02

The reasoning and justification isn't even explained.

OP posts:
marmiteloversunite · 13/04/2021 21:07

My DD finishes uni on the 15th May. Out of nine possible terms, during three years, she has had face to face for four and a bit terms. So basically half of her uni experience has been online. That's also a lot of rent to pay on an empty room.

TrainWhistleChoir · 13/04/2021 21:08

I work in a uni. We were expecting to have had a formal announcement by now. This mid-May date hasn't been formally confirmed but is expected to be so later in the week, but unions are unhappy. Our student exams finish 1st week of June. What would students do for 4 weeks of exams then home again? Realistically, they won't be back then, in this academic year.

ListeningQuietly · 13/04/2021 21:10

Realistically, they won't be back then, in this academic year.
having incurred loans of up to £15,000
for what exactly ?

VERY VERY unimpressed

Newgirls · 13/04/2021 21:44

Appalling. Students have been screwed over by government and some universities who have not had their backs.

titchy · 13/04/2021 22:14

@TrainWhistleChoir

I work in a uni. We were expecting to have had a formal announcement by now. This mid-May date hasn't been formally confirmed but is expected to be so later in the week, but unions are unhappy. Our student exams finish 1st week of June. What would students do for 4 weeks of exams then home again? Realistically, they won't be back then, in this academic year.
Office for Students sent confirmatory emails this evening.
ListeningQuietly · 13/04/2021 22:28

Just call it a pub crawl and lectures can restart SadAngry

titchy · 13/04/2021 22:30

@ListeningQuietly

Just call it a pub crawl and lectures can restart SadAngry
And call halls of residence holiday cottages Angry
Eve · 13/04/2021 22:33

I have registered my 2 student sons for postal votes in council elections - they both want to make a point in our safe Tory stronghold!

I’ll be doing the same!

SMaCM · 13/04/2021 22:34

My DD hasn't had any face to face lectures or lab time this year. She's very unimpressed that she spent a fortune on accommodation she didn't need.

Newgirls · 14/04/2021 08:27

The brilliant vice chancellor at Portsmouth has said students can discuss their subject with a tattooist but not their tutor. More like him please in the universities!

bestbefore · 14/04/2021 08:34

@TrainWhistleChoir why aren't they happy?

MilduraS · 14/04/2021 08:36

I work at a university and we've had students in for a few weeks now. There was an exception made for "practical" courses and the students where I work are engineering. They're probably in the labs once every week or two but our university has used the exemption to get face to face lectures started too. Quite a few people were outraged about abusing the exemption but following this announcement, I'm glad they've used it.

GCAcademic · 14/04/2021 08:44

I teach a non-practical course, so we are not allowed back. Most of my students are back in their term-time residences. I did all my teaching f2f in the autumn term when the Covid rates were rather higher than they are now, and it was all fine (and that was without the twice-weekly testing that is now available). It's morally indefensible that you can go to a holiday cottage or a pub but not have f2f teaching. That just sums up the contempt the government holds our sector in - less important than pubs and holidays.

Badbadbunny · 14/04/2021 08:48

@GCAcademic

I teach a non-practical course, so we are not allowed back. Most of my students are back in their term-time residences. I did all my teaching f2f in the autumn term when the Covid rates were rather higher than they are now, and it was all fine (and that was without the twice-weekly testing that is now available). It's morally indefensible that you can go to a holiday cottage or a pub but not have f2f teaching. That just sums up the contempt the government holds our sector in - less important than pubs and holidays.
It's all down to money. Students have already paid for their accommodation they can't use. Unis have already received their tuition fees.

Compare that with pubs and restaurants and tourism where "new" money is urgently need to stop a total collapse of their industries.

Same with NHS etc - patients don't pay, so no need to improve their "experience" as again, no new money if things are better.

GCAcademic · 14/04/2021 08:54

It's all down to money. Students have already paid for their accommodation they can't use. Unis have already received their tuition fees.

Many universities have refunded accommodation fees. In each case that is many millions of pounds. Some universities are on the brink of collapse. But I suspect that is the whole point.

mumsneedwine · 14/04/2021 10:26

So get them back. Tell the stupid government to shove their guidance. My DD can go to the pub but not see her tutor f2f. Maybe lecturers snd seminars should be held in pub gardens.
The rules are ridiculous and the students are so upset. Motivation is low and self confidence is through the floor, having to learn so much stuff on their own.
If anyone is failed this year and thrown out I hope they sue. How can they be expected to learn alone and get the same grades as learning in person.